Water-Saving Shower Heads: Consumer’s Guide

Taking a shower every day proves to be beneficial to our health. Thus, choosing the best overhead or handheld shower head that gives optimal shower experience is a trend by most home shoppers lately.

If you’re reading this article, then you’re probably a new homeowner looking for the best low flow shower head for your bathroom or someone who just want to replace your old one. Good thinking!

Did you know that the United States Environmental Protection Agency has encouraged homeowners to be meticulous in buying shower head products?  They basically recommend you choose shower heads with a WaterSense label.

What Does WaterSense Label Mean?

WaterSense Label is a special program by the Environmental Protection Agency or EPA which aims to encourage the U.S. citizens to practice water conservation through using water efficient products.

This program was launched last 2006. Here, the organization uses a special label — WaterSense Label — on products that has water efficiency and performance. They are also responsible to maintain the WaterSense Label’ integrity by testing these products and ensure their WaterSense specifications.

If a product has a WaterSense Label in it, this means that the product saves up to 20% more water than the products in similar category. It also guarantees water-saving results on national level.

Water-Saving Shower Heads

A shower head is one of the popular products that EPA tested to earn that WaterSense Label. But first, let’s discuss the standard gpm or gallons of water per minute of most shower heads.

A standard shower head is usually advertised with a 2.5 gpm flow rate. Thus, one would most likely assume that this flow rate is an accepted flow rate for water conservation.

Now here’s the truth— Water-saving shower heads with WaterSense label only use a flow rate of no more than 2.0 gpm. Surprise? Well, according to EPA, the 2.0 gpm flow rate has enough water coverage and spray intensity for a good shower experience.

EPA makes sure that they test and assess each product bearing the WaterSense Label. This is to ensure that they develop a criteria specific for a certain line of product.

For shower heads, for instance, a 2.0 gpm flow rate limit is ideal while bathroom sink faucets, on the other hand, have a recommended 1.5 gpm limit.

Therefore the criteria for the WaterSense label depend on the kind of product and the purpose of the product. EPA’s goal is not to limit your usage of water. It’s more on limiting your unwanted usage of water.

The organization’s goal is to save more water without sacrificing performance, hence the strict third-party certification process.

Is Low Flow Shower Head Water-Saving?

As mentioned earlier, standard shower heads have a flow rate of 2.5 gpm based on the recent U.S. regulations. Meanwhile low flow shower head only uses 2.0 gpm or even lower. So, low flow shower head is indeed water-saving.

Moreover, most low flow shower heads earn the WaterSense label, but for your assurance, it’s better to check the WaterSense label on the product.

For your reference, we’ve listed a few reasons why you should choose a low flow shower head than the standard ones. Check them out below:

Conclusion

There are various ways to protect the environment and contribute to the conservation of water and energy resources. Buying products with WaterSense label is one of them. With this simple conservation act, you help protect the environment without sacrificing your full shower experience.

Should you buy a low flow shower head? You don’t have a reason not to do so.

We hope you find this article helpful. If you do, let us know in the comment section below! Thanks for dropping by!