How Do Low-Flow Shower Heads Work, And Do They Save Money?

Most modern homeowners would do anything to reduce their bills. Low-flow showerheads are increasingly common, and many people switch to them to save money. So, how do low-flow showerheads work, and do they save money?

Low-flow showerheads work by mixing air with water or reducing the water to fewer streams at a time. Laminar showerheads that use smaller streams offer the most savings and they don’t reduce heat like the kind that mix air with water. You can reduce your water consumption by up to 40%-60% per year if you upgrade to a low-flow showerhead.

The main downside to low-flow showerheads is that the temperature can be somewhat unpredictable. You may have to tweak the heat in your shower more than you would need to with a standard showerhead.

Follow along as we explore how low-flow showerheads work and highlight how much money they save.

Low-flow showerheads work in one of two ways. The first and most common way is that they pull air into the water stream to make it misty. This helps to save money as the showerhead doesn’t push as much water out.

Laminar low-flow showerheads are the other type. These showerheads don’t mix air with water. Instead, they make use of smaller single streams of water compared to a traditional showerhead. Many homeowners prefer laminar showerheads because you don’t experience any temperature loss with them.

Showerheads that pull air into the stream are more likely to cool down quickly. This can be off-putting to many homeowners, especially on a cold day. That isn’t a problem with laminar showerheads because no air interrupts the stream of water.

Low-flow showerheads can cut your water use by up to 40% per year. Your savings vary based on several factors such as water consumption, how many showers you have, and how many people live in your household. Even installing a single low-flow showerhead in a home with multiple showers can save money.

In some cases, you can reduce your water bill by as much as 60% per month if you have multiple people in your household.

However, low-flow showerheads aren’t guaranteed to provide great savings if you aren’t careful with how much water you use. For example, some homeowners are unable to get significant savings with low-flow showerheads that mix air with water.

That is because the water is more likely to cool down much faster. Because of that, some people overcompensate and spend more time in the shower so that the water can heat up.

This may negate your water savings in some cases because your water heater will have to work harder if you increase the temperature.

You can tell that you have a low-flow showerhead if the label reads 2.5 GPM or lower. By comparison, standard showerheads use at least 2.6 gallons of water per minute.

Check the rim of your showerhead to see how many gallons of water it consumes per minute.

You are unlikely to have a low-flow showerhead if you live in an old home with a stock showerhead. Luckily, you can easily upgrade to a low-flow showerhead. On average, low-flow showerheads cost $55, but they can cost as little as $35.

It’s rare for low-flow showerheads to cost more than $80 unless they are made of premium materials. The cost also goes up if you hire a professional to install it for you.

The main benefit of low-flow showerheads is that they reduce your water consumption. This can save you a fortune on your water bills throughout the year. The environmental benefits of low-flow showerheads also reduce your carbon footprint on the earth.

Low-flow showerheads can also reduce your heating bill. That is because there is less water moving through your system at a time. Your water heater won’t have to work quite as hard because there isn’t as much water to heat.

The biggest downside of low-flow showerheads is that the temperature may drop while you are in the shower. This can be quite uncomfortable, and the temperature drops are often somewhat unpredictable.

You may also experience poor water pressure because they don’t put out as much water at a time compared to standard showerheads.

Low-flow showerheads also have a slow reaction time when it comes to changing the temperature. You may not feel the water heat up for a moment after you increase the temperature.

This can be quite uncomfortable in some cases and you may have to spend more time in the shower.

Currently, the Bricor UltraMax is the showerhead with the lowest GPM. This showerhead only consumes 0.62 gallons of water per minute. That is significantly lower than a standard shower head and it’s a gallon less per minute than most low-flow showerheads.

This is a great option if you want to save the most water per month. However, you will notice a pressure drop even when compared to the average low-flow showerhead.

With that said, the savings are worthwhile for many homeowners looking to reduce their monthly bills and maximize yearly savings.

Low-flow showerheads are a great way to save money. Laminar low-flow showerheads make use of fewer, smaller streams to reduce your water consumption. The other type of low-flow showerhead pulls air into the water stream, making it mistier and requiring less water at a time.

You can save between 40% and 60% on water per year if you strictly use low-flow showerheads. They cost up to $80 and you can easily install one without hiring professional help.

It’s worthwhile to upgrade to a low-flow showerhead even if the water can cool down faster than a standard showerhead.