One of the easiest ways you decrease your water bills is to invest in a water-saving shower head. In this article we’ll outline how they work and the options you have alongside a few other ways you can save water. For the majority of people, a daily shower is probably their biggest usage of water, which is why it’s an excellent place to start saving.
It’s been estimated that the average person in the UK uses approximately 150 litres of water a day, and demand for water is currently growing at 1% per year.
How Can Shower Heads Save Water?
A shower head can help reduce your water consumption by up to 50% by either regulating the flow of water through the shower head, or adding air to the water. Both of these will allow you to have a great shower whilst using less water.
Aerator Shower Heads
Aerator shower heads mix air with the flow of water to create larger droplets. As a result, it will feel as though there is more water coming out of the shower head than there actually is. You can therefore have a luxuriously silky shower experience, while using as much as 50% less water.
The Best Water Saving Shower Heads
Here at Drench, we have a great collection of water saving shower heads in some modern, stylish designs. Take a look below at some of our bestsellers.
Flow Regulators
Flow regulators are a great way to save water in the bathroom if you’re on a tight budget and don’t want to change your entire shower head. These regulators screw onto your shower hose and control the flow of water, reducing the maximum flow and saving you large amounts of water.
The average flow rate of a shower is between 10-15 litres per minute, but with a flow regulator this can be reduced to 4-10 litres per minute so will save you water.
Due to an improvement in boiler technology, many homes in the UK now have high levels of water pressure which means you might be using more water than required each time you shower. Using flow regulators is a great way to control the amount of water coming from your shower, thus saving you some pennies!
Other Ways To Save Water In The Shower
Other than the two we’ve already mentioned, there are a number of other ways you can save water in your shower which won't have an effect on your shower experience.
Adjustable Shower Heads
An adjustable shower head can help you improve your shower experience, without needing to increase the amount of water you use.
Adjustable shower heads allow you to change the flow of water through the shower head to increase or decrease the flow. Some settings will push the water through a smaller number of holes, which will have the effect of increasing the strength of the flow. This works in a similar way to the increase in pressure when you put your finger over your garden hose.
Although this won’t help you save water directly, it will allow you to enjoy a stronger shower experience using the same amount of water.
Keep Your Shower Head Clean
Another easy way to improve the performance of your shower head is by keeping it clean. Shower heads can become clogged up with limescale and mineral deposits, particularly in hard water areas. If this limescale blocks the nozzles, you'll need to turn up the power on your shower to get the same flow. Even worse, if the nozzles are directing water sideways, this water will be diverted away from you and go straight down the plug hole.
Cleaning your shower head will ensure it continues to work at its best without wasting any water.
Use Water Saving Settings
Many shower valves now include a setting which runs your shower at a lower flow rate. A lot of showers run at a level which isn’t necessary for a good shower experience, so running at a lower flow rate, if your home water pressure allows, will help you to save water and money.
Time Your Showers
Whether it’s been a long day at work or it's a self-care day, sometimes there’s nothing better than a nice long shower. However, having a long shower regularly can lead to large amounts of water wastage.
If you want to cut down your shower time and save water, think about having a clock somewhere in your bathroom so you can keep an eye on how long you’ve been. Even better, pick up a Bluetooth mirror and keep your daily shower as short as your favourite song! If you're looking for more inspiration, here are 10 ways to recycle household water to cut your water bills even more.
That concludes our guide to water saving shower heads. If you want to start saving water in your home, take a look at our complete guide to saving water.
