Modern shower head could cut utility bill in half

Dear Jim: I have three daughters who take long showers. I want to install some lower-flow shower heads to save hot water and lower my utility bills. What options do I have, and are those new shower towers very effective? – Val M.

Dear Val: Heating water for showers is one of the major energy consumers in most homes. If your three daughters are taking long showers and you still have old high-flow shower heads, switching to lower-flow ones can easily save $100 per year or more on your utility bills.

By law, new shower heads must be designed to flow no more than 2.5 gallons per minute at a water pressure of 80 pounds per square inch. Many older shower heads flow nearly twice this much water, so any model you install should cut your water heating costs by about half.

The four basic design options you have are adjustable, rain shower, fixed and shower tower. Adjustable shower heads are still the most popular. These allow you to adjust the water force from a heavy, slow shower to a more invigorating spray. The more expensive ones also often include a pulsating massage setting.

When selecting an adjustable shower head, pay attention to the adjustment method. With wet, soapy fingers, some can be difficult to adjust. Ones with levers are generally the easiest to operate. Hand-held adjustable shower heads are effective, particularly for rinsing hair. If a shower head is more convenient to use, your daughters can take shorter showers.

Rain showers are becoming more popular. These are large, round, usually nonadjustable, shower heads that extend farther out from the wall. The water flows down over your head and body. They look stylish, but they do not provide an invigorating spray. They also make it difficult to shower without getting your hair wet.

Inexpensive, super-low-flow fixed shower heads are available, which use much less water. These often provide a needlelike spray that some people prefer. Many of them also have a push-button lather valve, which allows you to stop the water flow while lathering for even more hot water savings.

Shower towers have multiple shower heads built into a tall vertical fixture. These usually have a standard shower head at the top with several body spray heads located beneath it. Each head is allowed to flow the 2.5 gpm maximum, so shower towers can use a lot of hot water very quickly. I don’t recommend them for your children’s showers.

Do-it-yourself shower tower models require no additional plumbing behind the wall. Everything is housed in the add-on fixture which is attached to the wall. These range in price from about $70 to more than $1,000. If you are going to install one in your master bathroom, the more expensive models provide a more satisfying showering experience.

Send inquiries to James Dulley, 6906 Royalgreen Dr., Cincinnati, OH 45244, or visit www.dulley.com.