Showerheads: An In-Depth Guide

Less than one percent of all the water on earth is suitable and available for human use. As global warming continues to affect the climate patterns of our world, the availability of freshwater might become scarcer and harder to secure for domestic use. Finding ways to reduce the amount of water our homes use is a key fundamental element of sustainable living.

While watering our yards accounts for millions of gallons of household water usage, about one-fifth of all water used inside the home comes from the showers we take. State governments around the country regularly recommend that citizens limit the length of the showers they take during periods of drought. However, the type of shower head installed in your bathroom will often be much more influential in terms of the amount of water used while showering.

What Is GPM?

The efficiency of different showerheads is rated in GPM, or gallons per minute. Gallons per minute is the flow rate that measures how many gallons of water flow from a water fixture each minute. Standard showerheads use 2.5 gallons of water per minute, as mandated by federal regulations.

How Much Water Does the Average Shower Consume?

Since the average length of a shower is just over 8 minutes, around 20 gallons of water are used for each shower. However, some people enjoy taking longer showers, which can significantly increase the amount of water used. Shorter showers and more efficient showerheads can offer a similar experience while reducing the amount of water used.

What Is the Recommended Showerhead GPM?

The U.S. Department of Energy recommends that homeowners opt for showerheads with a flow rate of under 2.5 gallons per minute. Ultra-low flow showerheads deliver a flow rate of 1 gallon per minute as opposed to 2.5 gallons per minute in traditional products. If a family of four showered once per day and took an average of 10 minutes per shower, the family would reduce their daily water usage from 100 gallons of water to 40 gallons. They would be saving almost 22,000 gallons of water each year.

Are Water Saving Showerheads Worth It?

Since the average price of water across the United States is $1.50 per 1,000 gallons, the family could expect to save around $33 per year by simply changing the showerheads in their home. Low-flow showerheads will also reduce your electricity bill by cutting back on the amount of energy needed to heat the water for your showerheads. One website estimates that for every 6,000 gallons of water reduced, homeowners can expect to save $90 per year on their heating bill. For our theoretical family of four outlined above, switching their showerheads could lead to total savings on both water and heating bills of around $350 per year.

How Often Should You Clean Your Showerhead?

Many types of bacteria thrive in moisture. While cleaning our showers and bathtubs is common practice, many of us are guilty of never cleaning our showerhead. Even those on municipally treated water should still look to clean their showerheads as additives in the water settle and form sediment in your water pipes while waiting for use. Showerhead cleaning is especially true for people who have unfiltered well water or hard water. Cleaning solutions are readily available at most hardware and grocery stores. It's essential to look for safe and natural cleaning solutions or opt for white vinegar.

The most common sediment that almost all of us will notice is calcium. Over time, calcium begins to collect in the nozzles of our showerheads to form white, rocky material. Showerheads should be cleaned every 6 to 9 months or as needed if calcium or other buildup becomes noticeable. In severe hard water cases, you may notice the appearance of little black dots on your showerhead, which is the formation of black mold. While black mold is tough to get rid of, you can avoid using harsh chemicals by soaking your shower head in white vinegar or hydrogen peroxide. Ensure the entire shower head is submerged in the hydrogen peroxide for one hour.

Changing out your showerheads for low flow options should be a no-brainer based on the numbers that we looked at above. However, when it comes to finding the best make and model, things get a bit more complicated.

What Are Fixed Showerheads?

Fixed showerheads, often referred to as single spray, are the most common in homes across the country. Also known as a wall-mounted showerhead, these are usually smaller in size, with an average diameter of 4-5 inches, and attach to the wall or ceiling of the shower. Newer models of showerheads offer dozens of settings and options. Some homeowners might prefer the simplicity of a showerhead that delivers water savings by doing nothing more than turning on the shower faucet. There are also multi-function fixed showerheads that allow you to play with different spray patterns for a more personalized shower experience.

What Are Rain Showerheads?

Rain showerheads are another option in this category. These showerheads mount from the ceiling or the shower wall with a diameter of up to 12 inches. This means that you have a wider area of coverage for your shower. If you opt for low-flow rain showerheads, smaller amounts of water will be delivered across the 12-inch diameter, thus making for less water pressure.

What Are Handheld Showerheads?

Handheld showerheads usually include a detachable hose and a holder that is mounted to the wall. These types of showerheads are popular with families who have young children and for the elderly who prefer to sit on a shower bench when bathing. If you prefer a fixed shower, you can place the handheld device onto the mount. This option offers the most versatility for families with different bathing needs.

What Are Shower Panels?

Shower panels, commonly referred to as shower towers or shower spas, consist of several different jets of water, different levels of pressure, mists, and even lighting options. While most shower panel systems use considerably larger amounts of water, there are simpler shower spa products that use similar amounts of water to a bath. Shower panels can be mounted on the wall and easily attach to standard plumbing. This leads to a simple and often easy installation. Most panel showers include a fixture similar to a rainfall shower, one or more body jets. Some models even include a handheld shower attachment. All of these water outputs can work individually or together at the same time.

What Are Sliding Bar Showerheads?

Sliding bar showerheads are perfect for families with young children or mobility issues since the height of the showerhead can be adjusted by sliding the showerhead up or down. Once the ideal height is reached, it can be conveniently locked in place. Sliding bar showers often have multiple heads, which provide easy bathing of the head, the back, feet, and other hard-to-reach areas.

What to Look For When Buying Showerhead?

Low Flow Showerheads

Finding low flow showerheads that have a flow rating of 1.5 gallons of water per minute allows you to save at least one gallon of water for each minute of showering.

EPA Watersense Label

WaterSense is a voluntary partnership program sponsored by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). This program offers a label to help homeowners opt for water-efficient products in the home. The showerheads that receive the WaterSense label must prove a flow rate of under 2.0 gallons per minute.

Aerating or Laminar Flow Patterns

Another consideration when choosing a showerhead is determining whether you prefer aerating or laminar flow patterns. Aerating showerheads mix the water that is mixed with air, thus creating a more mist-like spray. Laminar flow showerheads, on the other head, send out individual streams of water. If you want more of a massage-like experience when showering, laminar flow heads are generally preferred while aerating showerheads offer more of a misty, spa-like shower.

Shower Valves and Temperature Controls

A thermostatic shower valve can also be installed along with low-flow showerheads. These valves blend hot water with cold water. They are thus able to ensure a constant outlet temperature for your showerhead. Not only is this a safety measure that can prevent scalding, but it will also automatically shut off if hot or cold water supply fails. You can even personalize the water temperature with one of these valves and thus increase savings on your heating bill through opting for a warm (rather than hot) shower temperature.

Our Favourite Showerhead Brands on the Market Today

Several high-quality showerhead brands offer high performance while also maximizing both water and energy savings. Below, we look at four of the top brands and products.

Nebia

Nebia offers a unique spa shower that covers you in warm steam and spray. It includes ten precision-tuned nozzles that atomize water and can deliver millions of micro drops to hydrate your skin. Through the unique technology, this shower spa can help you save on your water bill by switching from standard 2.5 GPM showerheads. A single unit starts at $499.

Delta

Delta is another company offering a wide range of low-flow showerheads, hand showers, and other shower accessories. Their HydraChoice Body Spray System uses 1 gallon of water per minute, while the unique H2Okinetic technology increases water velocity to enhance spray performance and maintain temperature. This showerhead can also rotate up to 50° in any direction, and each head costs roughly $20 from the manufacturer.

GROHE Power & Soul Cosmopolitan

At 5 inches in diameter, the Grohe Power & Soul Cosmopolitan offers immersive showering with four spraying options in a convenient showerhead and hand shower combo. If you're looking to save on water, the GROHE Rain O2 setting features air-infused water droplets that provide a similar experience at a fraction of the water use. GROHE DreamSpray technology delivers consistent water distribution while GROHE SpeedClean prevents limescale buildup. The shower bar is 24 inches in length and a 69-inch shower hose.

Moen

Moen eco-performance showerheads are also a great way to save money and water in your household. Their Chrome Eco-Performance Handshower Handheld Shower has a flow rate of 2.0 transitioning to 1.75 GPM and is manufactured from high-quality materials for a limited lifetime guarantee. The one-function 2" diameter spray head conserves water without sacrificing performance. The included slide bar also makes it easy to adjust the handheld shower height for different members of the family. This showerhead starts at $277.15.

Kohler

The company Kohler also offers several low flow and high-performance showerheads for the sustainable home. Their Artifacts® single-function 1.75 GPM hand shower with Katalyst® air-induction technology currently costs $121.25. It features a full, consistent spray, regardless of your home's water pressure. The Katalyst air-induction technology maximizes the air/water mix for a powerful, even flow. At the same time, the ergonomic spray head pivots to allow precise adjustment for targeted hydromassage.