Install a Low-Flow Showerhead

By Brian Clark Howard

With much of the country reeling under serious drought conditions, it's refreshing to know that there's a way to save water and money effortlessly, and still have ample water pressure. Get a handy low-flow showerhead.

One of the top users of water around the home is the shower, where Americans stand under more than 1.2 trillion gallons of H₂O each year, reports the EPA. A typical shower uses up to 25 gallons of the wet stuff, while each American uses an average of 100 gallons of water a day total.

Low-flow showerheads slash bathing water consumption 50 to 70%. You’ll also use less energy heating up the water, unless you have a tankless heat system, in which case it’s a moot point. Letting your faucet run for five minutes uses as much energy as it takes to keep a 60-watt lightbulb lit for 14 hours, according to the EPA.

Low-flow showerheads are simple to install and start around $8. Many styles and features are available, including flow-adjusting dials and a pause button, which allows you to break for a bit of lathering up, then return to the same temperature and pressure. The EPA is currently developing efficiency standards for the devices through its WaterSense program.

Related stories:

COMMENTS ()