Shower Heads -Blasting Money Down the Drain

There is an old wives' tale that states that low-flow shower heads do not reduce the flow of water. Well, that's just a lot of uninformed prattle. Just like putting your thumb over the end of a hose th new shower heads scan spray hard with less water.

Studies have shown that a low-flow spray, which hits as hard as the old-fashioned kind, uses up 2-3gallons a minute as opposed to the old kind which uses 5-8 gallons a minute. This is a significant savings, not only in water-starved areas, but against the rising cost of heating it.

We are a funny animal. If we are running toward a brick wall we have to feel the wall before we will try and dodge it. This is the same with energy. We have to experience $4.00 a gallon fuel costs before we drive slower or get a more fuel efficient car.

Well, the Feds have done this for us. They have mandated that new shower head flow rates must not exceed 2.5 gallons per minute (gpm) at a water pressure of 80 pounds per square inch (psi). In addition new faucet flow rates are not to go over a rate of 2.5 gpm at 80 psi or 2.2 gpm at 60 psi.

Try this test: Place a bucket marked with gallon increments underneath your shower head. Get a watch with a second hand and then turn on the shower as you would if you were taking one. If it takes less than 20 seconds to for the bucket to hit a gallon then you need a better shower head.

Hey, it's literally money down the drain!