How to be Water Efficient With Your Shower

When temperatures rise, so too does our water usage

In warmer months, we tend to use more water around the home so it is a good time to make sure you’re being as water efficient as possible. Not only will you save water, but you will probably avoid a shock when your next water bill arrives.

Your shower is a good place to start because 25 per cent of household water is used in the shower. Here we explain some things to look for so that you get the most from your upgrade.

Make sure your new shower has a WELS rating

Nowadays all showers sold in Australia must have a WELS rating. Generally, most showers have a 3 Star WELS rating with a flow rate  9 litres per minute. As a comparison, before WELS, a standard shower could use up to 25 litres per minute! If your shower is outdated, switching to a water efficient shower head will reduce your household water usage considerably!

But this doesn’t mean the sensation of your shower should be compromised.

Add some sparkle to your water

Some shower manufacturers put significant technology into their products to give you a more pleasurable experience, while still meeting water efficiency standards. One of these technologies is based on mixing air with water to give the feeling of more volume to the water.

For example, Hansgrohe AirPower showers mix three parts air to one part water to give the sensation of more water. The air is sucked in through a jet disc on the shower, which then penetrates the water supply. The added air makes the droplets plumper, lighter and softer, giving a wonderful sense of well-being.

There is also a great range of hand/rail showers available which have multi-jet spray options: for example, rain, massage and a mix of both. These are a convenient choice if you want to indulge yourself with a more powerful jet stream.

Consider upgrading your taps too

Faulty taps or shower mixers will cause your shower to leak and add to your water bill. Taps need to have their spindles replaced over time because of usage and water quality. Similarly, shower mixers will need the cartridge replaced.

If you are renovating, the choice between taps or a single lever mixer comes down to bathroom design style and personal preference. Shower mixers can be more efficient because they better control water temperature and you can set the lever in the same position, avoiding wasting water while adjusting the taps to find the right temperature.

The next level for your shower control is a thermostatic mixer. While they have been commonplace in Europe for years, only in recent years have they made their way into Australia. They operate with dials or buttons that control the on/off function and the temperature setting. Some models also cater for more than one water outlet, for example an overhead and hand shower.

 

Ready to save water? Take a look at some of the showers we love.