Disadvantages Of Low-Flow Shower Heads

Stepping into a hot shower soothes your sore muscles and makes the stress of the world melt away, even if it's just temporary. But spending too long under a high-flow shower head may cause at least a little twinge of guilt over all the water you're using. Better yet, a high water bill makes those enjoyable showers much less enjoyable. That might lead you to explore low-flow options when picking out a shower head. After all, it's a simple way to do your part for the environment and save a little money. What you might not think about though, is how a low-flow shower head may negatively affect your shower experience. You might dislike the decreased water pressure, the water might take a while to heat up, and you may find the shower head doesn't efficiently rinse soap and shampoo.

When you turn on a typical shower head, you're using about 2½ gallons of water per minute. If you're still hanging on to an older model, you could be using much more. Some models used up to 5½ gallons per minute before 1992. Low-flow shower heads are designed to use much less — typically less than 2 gallons per minute. Manufacturers achieve lower flow rates in two ways: Aerating shower heads mix air in with the water, creating higher pressure with less water. Laminar shower heads, on the other hand, use larger individual streams, resulting in a gentler feel and less steam. While there certainly are drawbacks to some low-flow shower heads, it all depends on the particular model you're using.

The quality of low-flow shower heads varies significantly. Overall, because the shower head uses less water, it might have weaker water pressure, so it might not be the best type of shower head for homes that already have low water pressure. With aerating shower heads, you may also deal with cooler water or a longer heat-up time. That happens because the shower head mixes the water with the air in the room — if the air is cool, it can decrease the temperature of the water. Other low-flow shower heads can also take longer to heat up — this can increase your usage and energy to heat the water. Aerating shower heads also tend to produce lots of steam once the water finally warms up. That could be a problem if your bathroom doesn't have adequate ventilation.

Additionally, you may end up spending more time (and wasting more water) in the shower if the stream doesn't efficiently rinse your body. Low-pressure shower heads often have a smaller area of water, which restricts how much of your body you can rinse at once. The difference in the stream might also make it difficult for major rinse jobs, such as removing hair masks or rinsing the shampoo from thick hair. You won't save on your water bill if you have to rinse longer. These downsides don't necessarily apply to all low-flow shower head products, however: Those that carry the WaterSense label are required to deliver a satisfying shower experience that's the same or better than conventional shower heads.