Saving water in the shower (2024)

FAQs

Saving water in the shower? ›

Spend less time in the shower

Regardless of the showerhead model you have, you can save water by taking shorter showers. You also can save water by shutting off the water flow while soaping-up or shampooing. Some showerheads have a quick shut-off lever that allows you to turn the water on and off without adjusting the water temperature.

The average shower uses about four gallons of water; the average bath uses 50—so even if you shower 12 times a day, you'll save more water than if you took one bath. Especially if you shower together.

If you have a window in the bathroom, open it. Set up some fans, as well, being careful to keep cords out of water. You can also set up a dehumidifier to help remove excess moisture in the air.

The easiest fix to improve the quality of the water when taking a shower is to install a showerhead filter. Before the water can reach your skin and hair in the shower, it must first pass through the filter to remove contaminants. It will remove chlorine, minerals, and metals from the water supply.

An easy way to reduce water use is by taking shorter showers. Reducing a ten-minute shower to just five minutes can save 12.5 gallons of water each time. While this may not sound like much, it can add up quickly! Remember, the shorter the shower, the greater the savings.

Older Adults Need Not Shower Every Day

At a minimum, taking a shower once or twice a week can already help most older adults to prevent skin infections and breakdown. Making use of warm washcloths to wipe groin, armpits, feet, genitals, and skin folds will also help in minimizing body odor in between full baths.

The CDC and dermatologists note the average shower lasts around 8 minutes, aligning with the recommended 5 to 10 minutes for optimal skin health and avoiding over 15 minutes to prevent skin dryness (1). Gender differences in shower time are slight, with women spending just 39 seconds more than men.

Is a 20 minute shower too long? ›

Most dermatologists say that your shower should last between five and 10 minutes to cleanse and hydrate your skin, but no longer than 15 minutes to avoid drying it out. You can still benefit from the shower length you prefer, whether long and luxurious, quick and efficient or somewhere in the middle.

How do water saving showers work? Water-saving showers typically use a low-flow showerhead, which restricts the flow of water while still providing adequate pressure. This can be achieved through various means, such as aeration, flow restrictors, or laminar flow.

First, if you have metal pipes, pour boiling water down the drain. Then remove hair from the drain. If that doesn't work, use a mixture of vinegar and baking soda. If the clog persists, use a plunger, plumber's snake or chemical drain opener.

If your pressure is higher or lower, then you'll need to install, repair, or adjust your pressure regulator to comply. Adjusting your regulator is easy, as long as it's working properly. Simply tighten the screw down clockwise to increase pressure and counter-clockwise to decrease pressure.