Showerheads are measured by flow—the number of gallons they deliver per minute (gpm). Flow is affected by water pressure, measured in pounds per square inch (psi). The greater the pressure pushing water through pipes and showerheads, the greater the volume of water forced out.
Water pressure on the high side—80 psi, for example—will push a greater amount of water through a showerhead than low water pressure, say 20 psi. This same principle is in effect when you don’t turn on the water full blast. Water pressure varies from community to community and even from house to house. A few years ago, showerheads delivered about 5 to 8 gallons per minute (gpm) at 80 psi. The current standard for low-flow heads is 2.5 gpm at 80 psi. Some showerheads deliver only 1.6 gpm.
It’s easy to judge your present showerhead’s flow rate. Just hold a gallon container under the head and clock the time it takes to fill it. If it fills up in 15 seconds, the flow rate is about 4 gpm. If it's full in 10 seconds, the flow rate is closer to 6 gpm. With a low-flow head, it should take 24 seconds or more.
A quality showerhead will feel good at both high and low water pressures. Some have flow restrictors that can be reversed or removed to allow more water through on low-pressure lines, allowing you to achieve the right amount of water flow for your water pressure.
Others have restrictors that work automatically. For example, Teledyne Water Pik offers one highly rated “Shower Massage” showerhead that automatically senses the available water pressure and adjusts to deliver 2.5 gpm.
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Why we like it:
• Very easy to install
• Water-saving rainfall with force
• Lifetime warranty
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Low-Flow Showerhead Types & Features There are two main types of showerheads: the regular, stationary type and hand-held models attached to a flexible hose. Most hand-held showerheads can be clipped onto a wall-mounted hanger, swivel, or bar for hands-free showering. The flexible hose screws directly onto the shower arm, onto a diverter valve between a standard showerhead and the shower arm, or onto a deck-mounted diverter valve on a bathtub.
Hand-held models are generally a bit more expensive because they include a flexible hose, but they are also more versatile and use water more efficiently by directing the flow to where you want it.
As a class of fixtures, they also offer a slight energy savings over stationary heads because the water travels a shorter distance between the showerhead and your body, cooling less in the air. The net result is that you can adjust the water temperature slightly lower.
Prices for low-flow heads range from less than $10 for simple, no-frills plastic ones to more than $100 for designer heads. The cost of a particular showerhead has little to do with how well it delivers a satisfying shower. Cost is more a gauge of features and the construction materials and finish.
One of the main features of showerheads is the ability to adjust spray settings—narrow to wide, spray only, pulse, and so forth. This is particularly handy if different family members like different types of spray.
There are two other devices that aren’t really showerheads but help save water in the shower: flow-control inserts (basically a washer with a small hole to reduce water flow) and control valves that reduce flow and provide on/off control above the head. These fit between the shower pipe (arm) and showerhead.
Some showerheads combine water-saving technologies. For example, the Evolve showerhead pictured here offers low flow at 1.59 gallons per minute but also features an ingenious valve that allows you to save water and the energy used to heat it before you step into the shower. You can turn on the water to let it warm up and go brush your teeth—the valve automatically reduces the flow to a trickle once the temperature reaches 95 degrees Fahrenheit. Then, when you’re ready to shower, you simply flip the valve for full flow. Evolve estimates the head saves about 8 gallons of water and the energy to heat it for every five- minute shower. Over a year, this can save you more than 2,000 gallons of water.
