Choosing the Best Low Flow Showerhead for Your Needs

Do you use low flow showerheads at home? If you’re not sure, here’s a simple test: measure the time it takes for your showerheads to each fill a 1-gallon bucket; if each take less than 20 seconds to fill up, then they need to be replaced. 

Why? Because low flow showerheads will save you money by helping you use significantly less water. Better still, unlike low flow showerheads of yesteryear, today’s showerheads are engineered to provide satisfying showers, to be affordable (prices start around $10), and easy to install and maintain. 

Putting in a low flow shower head doesn’t mean you have to put up with a thin water stream, low pressure or reduced water temperature due to excessive aeration. Today’s low flow shower heads are engineered to provide you a satisfying shower experience while still:

• Saving thousands of gallons of water per year (along with savings on your water bill).
• Conserving the energy used to heat the water which means more savings for you and for the environment.
• Allowing you to live responsibly without sacrificing your lifestyle.

When choosing the best low flow shower head for your needs, you’ll want to think about price, appearance and comfort features. Here are some things to consider:

• Aerating vs. Non Aerating Shower head. Non-aerating means air is not mixed into the water stream, as it passes through the shower head; as a result, less temperature is lost between the shower head and you.
  
  The 1.5 gpm Niagara Low Flow Showerhead (N2917CH) does not aerate the water, so you won’t have to crank up the hot water for a comfortable shower temperature. Moreover, it installs without tools and is adjustable to deliver soft relaxing sprays to deep, therapeutic 9-jet massages.
  
  Aerating shower heads by contrast mix air into the water stream. So you can get a fuller shower with a steady pressure however it won’t be as warm since some of the heat is lost in the process of aerating the water.

• Appearance. Shower heads have a come a long way.. you don’t have to stick to the standard white or chrome finish. There are a few brushed nickel low flow shower heads as well.

Installing a low flow shower head is one of the simplest and most effective things you can do to help the environment and start saving money immediately. 

In addition to lower gpm, low flow showerheads have evolved to pack in state of the art technology such as:

• Hot water savings. Some showerheads and shower arm adapters have integrated hot water saving technology. For example, when the running water reaches a certain temperature (e.g., 95° F), the device reduces the water stream to a trickle. This is both to save and to signal the hot water that’s ready for use.

• More water savings. Many lines of showerheads offer switches (i.e., on the showerhead or handle) for you to pause the water flow while you’re shaving, shampooing, and lathering, so that you may prevent even more unnecessary spending of water in the shower.

• Self-pressurizing. To elevate the shower experience, some shower heads have built-in self-pressurizing technology. For example, some automatically adapt to low and variable water pressure to deliver a great shower regardless of water pressure.

• Usability. Fixed mount showerheads with offset balls for better showerhead angle adjustment or multi-spray patterns for variety and relaxation are offered to further enhance your shower experience. Often, the size of the showerhead (diameter) and number of nozzles, together with the variety of spray patterns elevate the usability.

• Convenience. Most low flow showerheads are easy to install, and typically include features such as anti-clogging, self-cleaning nozzles and anti-corrosion fixtures.

Deciding on the best low flow showerhead will depend upon your budget, aesthetics and any advanced technology options you require. The good news is, there are plenty of options.