Question about my showerhead (pressure).
October 2, 2024 6:17 PM Subscribe
When I moved in my new apartment, my shower had very low water flow. Maintenance came in and replaced it with a new one, which says MOEN Eco Performance. Water is coming down very quickly and feels amazing — but is that normal?
The original showerhead was the same as the new one — no adjustable lever at all. I suspect the original showerhead was worn out or whatnot.
The new one has amazing water pressure — it's not too hard or too low, but it does come out pretty quickly. I'm a bit surprised because I thought all new shower heads were supposed to be low flow/pressure, according to environmental laws, and this shower, while not a gushing hard showerhead, does feel pretty high-pressure. Is it possible the maintenance team removed the flow restrictor? When the water runs from the showerhead, it looks normal/not collecting or anything. It looks like it could easily be more than 1-2 gallons per minute, but I don't have any definitive data on that.
The question I had is above, but also, is it possible for a 1.75/2.5gpm shower head to feel high pressure/flow?
I was wondering because I pay the water bill and don't want a surprise high water bill due to taking those showers. I don't have any past water bills to compare because I recently moved in.
A photo of the showerhead, if that helps.
The original showerhead was the same as the new one — no adjustable lever at all. I suspect the original showerhead was worn out or whatnot.
The new one has amazing water pressure — it's not too hard or too low, but it does come out pretty quickly. I'm a bit surprised because I thought all new shower heads were supposed to be low flow/pressure, according to environmental laws, and this shower, while not a gushing hard showerhead, does feel pretty high-pressure. Is it possible the maintenance team removed the flow restrictor? When the water runs from the showerhead, it looks normal/not collecting or anything. It looks like it could easily be more than 1-2 gallons per minute, but I don't have any definitive data on that.
The question I had is above, but also, is it possible for a 1.75/2.5gpm shower head to feel high pressure/flow?
I was wondering because I pay the water bill and don't want a surprise high water bill due to taking those showers. I don't have any past water bills to compare because I recently moved in.
A photo of the showerhead, if that helps.
Yeah my vote is also that the old shower head was clogged up with crud.
One of my college party tricks was to remove the aerator from the bathroom taps for folks, tap out all the little pebbles and shit, and screw them back on while everyone marvelled at the new and beautiful laminar flow.
posted by phunniemee at 6:40 PM on October 2 [2 favorites]
One of my college party tricks was to remove the aerator from the bathroom taps for folks, tap out all the little pebbles and shit, and screw them back on while everyone marvelled at the new and beautiful laminar flow.
posted by phunniemee at 6:40 PM on October 2 [2 favorites]
Modern showerheads can produce high pressure even with low water flow, but if you have a bucket and a stopwatch, you should be able to get a pretty accurate measurement of the actual gallons per minute quite quickly.
posted by Mr.Know-it-some at 6:42 PM on October 2 [6 favorites]
posted by Mr.Know-it-some at 6:42 PM on October 2 [6 favorites]
Everyone here has given you the right answer, but nobody is addressing the elephant in the room.
Because your new, eco showerhead has substantially better flow than your old, unintentionally very-low-flow one that was likely clogged by years of hard water deposits, the new eco showerhead likely is indeed using more water per minute than the old likely-clogged showerhead.
Does it allow you to take a somewhat shorter, but more pleasant shower? If so, it's probably a wash. (Get it? A wash? I'll be here all week.)
But seriously, we'd sort of need to get into how long your showers are now versus with the old showerhead, how much water costs are per gallon in your community... it's a tough one. I think for the time being, I'd simply recommend enjoying your now-more-pleasant showers.
posted by eschatfische at 7:19 PM on October 2 [3 favorites]
Because your new, eco showerhead has substantially better flow than your old, unintentionally very-low-flow one that was likely clogged by years of hard water deposits, the new eco showerhead likely is indeed using more water per minute than the old likely-clogged showerhead.
Does it allow you to take a somewhat shorter, but more pleasant shower? If so, it's probably a wash. (Get it? A wash? I'll be here all week.)
But seriously, we'd sort of need to get into how long your showers are now versus with the old showerhead, how much water costs are per gallon in your community... it's a tough one. I think for the time being, I'd simply recommend enjoying your now-more-pleasant showers.
posted by eschatfische at 7:19 PM on October 2 [3 favorites]
is it possible for a 1.75/2.5gpm shower head to feel high pressure/flow?
Sure, because the subjective experience of shower pressure depends more on how hard the water whaps into your skin than on exactly how much of it is doing that.
Take two extreme cases as models: first, a pipe with no shower head at all so that water can just flow freely from the outlet; second, a nozzle with a single tiny hole in it. Now adjust each model's supply pressure so that the water delivery rate, as measured by how long it takes to fill some standard sized container, is the same.
It should be pretty obvious that in order for the narrow nozzle to match the open pipe's volume delivery rate, the water is going to have to move through the narrow nozzle a hell of a lot faster, which would make it whap into any exposed skin it encounters that much harder. For a super extreme example of this kind of thing, have a look at the Hydraulic Press Channel being cruel to watermelons and GelBob NoPants.
In practical bathrooms the maximum supply pressure is fixed by a regulator where mains water enters the property. When the shower taps feeding a flow-restricted shower head are fully open, the water pressure immediately upstream of the head will therefore always stay pretty close to what exists within the pipes under no-flow conditions, and the flow rate you get through the head will always be lower for a head with narrower apertures. So an old shower head whose apertures have all been narrowed by years of mineral deposits will inevitably deliver a lower flow rate than a new one of similar design, and probably a lower peak droplet speed as well because friction, and you'll definitely feel the difference on your skin.
Replacing a clogged showerhead therefore will increase water consumption given a fixed duration of showering. On the other hand, actually getting clean under a feeble dribble takes longer, so the duration might well not be fixed.
The best way to predict your likely water bill, then, is not to rely on subjective experience but simply to measure the shower's flow rate directly by setting the taps as you normally would and then seeing how fast it will fill a bucket of known volume. If you get a result somewhere in the ballpark of two gallons per minute then you can be pretty sure your new shower head is working as designed and your bills will therefore not be crazy high compared to others you've paid elsewhere.
posted by flabdablet at 7:24 PM on October 2 [1 favorite]
Sure, because the subjective experience of shower pressure depends more on how hard the water whaps into your skin than on exactly how much of it is doing that.
Take two extreme cases as models: first, a pipe with no shower head at all so that water can just flow freely from the outlet; second, a nozzle with a single tiny hole in it. Now adjust each model's supply pressure so that the water delivery rate, as measured by how long it takes to fill some standard sized container, is the same.
It should be pretty obvious that in order for the narrow nozzle to match the open pipe's volume delivery rate, the water is going to have to move through the narrow nozzle a hell of a lot faster, which would make it whap into any exposed skin it encounters that much harder. For a super extreme example of this kind of thing, have a look at the Hydraulic Press Channel being cruel to watermelons and GelBob NoPants.
In practical bathrooms the maximum supply pressure is fixed by a regulator where mains water enters the property. When the shower taps feeding a flow-restricted shower head are fully open, the water pressure immediately upstream of the head will therefore always stay pretty close to what exists within the pipes under no-flow conditions, and the flow rate you get through the head will always be lower for a head with narrower apertures. So an old shower head whose apertures have all been narrowed by years of mineral deposits will inevitably deliver a lower flow rate than a new one of similar design, and probably a lower peak droplet speed as well because friction, and you'll definitely feel the difference on your skin.
Replacing a clogged showerhead therefore will increase water consumption given a fixed duration of showering. On the other hand, actually getting clean under a feeble dribble takes longer, so the duration might well not be fixed.
The best way to predict your likely water bill, then, is not to rely on subjective experience but simply to measure the shower's flow rate directly by setting the taps as you normally would and then seeing how fast it will fill a bucket of known volume. If you get a result somewhere in the ballpark of two gallons per minute then you can be pretty sure your new shower head is working as designed and your bills will therefore not be crazy high compared to others you've paid elsewhere.
posted by flabdablet at 7:24 PM on October 2 [1 favorite]
Looks like this one. 2.5 gpm, so it's legal. There are reviews that complain about loss of pressure over time.
posted by H21 at 8:17 PM on October 2
posted by H21 at 8:17 PM on October 2
I was wondering because I pay the water bill and don't want a surprise high water bill due to taking those showers. I don't have any past water bills to compare because I recently moved in.
Do you have access to your water meter? It might be worth checking it now, and then checking again in two weeks or so to see how much water you're actually using with the new showerhead. Utility companies sometimes do billing estimates for several months in a row, so don't assume that the first bill you get after the change is accurate!
posted by Blue Jello Elf at 9:51 PM on October 2
Do you have access to your water meter? It might be worth checking it now, and then checking again in two weeks or so to see how much water you're actually using with the new showerhead. Utility companies sometimes do billing estimates for several months in a row, so don't assume that the first bill you get after the change is accurate!
posted by Blue Jello Elf at 9:51 PM on October 2
Unless you shower for hours, I doubt that one high-flow shower a day is going to make much difference in your water bill. What makes the bill spike is a continuous flow, like, say, when your sump pump decides to run all the time for several weeks, ask me how I know.
posted by JanetLand at 5:36 AM on October 3 [3 favorites]
posted by JanetLand at 5:36 AM on October 3 [3 favorites]
Yes, low-flow showerheads can feel great especially when you're used to a crappy one. However, flow restrictors can usually also be removed fairly easily with a pair of pliers. If maintenance thought they were doing you a favor, they might have removed it without telling you. Seconding all above to measure water usage at the meter or by timing how long it takes to fill a gallon jug.
posted by little king trashmouth at 8:09 AM on October 3
posted by little king trashmouth at 8:09 AM on October 3
It is easy to measure the rate of water in the shower. Get a 1 qt measuring cup from the kitchen. Time how long it takes the shower at highest setting to fill the measuring cup. One quart is 1/4 gallon, so if it takes 15 seconds to fill, the water flow is 1 gal/minute.
The 2.5 gal minute, which some people feel is skimpy, will take 6 seconds. Four gal/hour, which is pretty generous, will fill the 1 qt pitcher in 3.75 seconds.
If your shower faucet is not too old, it's probably set to control the water pressure that will allow the shower head to function correctly. However, based on two clown that were once in my house, not all plumbers can do this correctly.
posted by SemiSalt at 8:58 AM on October 3
The 2.5 gal minute, which some people feel is skimpy, will take 6 seconds. Four gal/hour, which is pretty generous, will fill the 1 qt pitcher in 3.75 seconds.
If your shower faucet is not too old, it's probably set to control the water pressure that will allow the shower head to function correctly. However, based on two clown that were once in my house, not all plumbers can do this correctly.
posted by SemiSalt at 8:58 AM on October 3
However, based on two clown that were once in my house, not all plumbers can do this correctly.
The pressure regulating valve is built into the shower head itself. generally a flow restrictor. If you take off your shower head (they are generally removable) you could find the flow rate for the shower pipe, which is probably pretty high.
posted by The_Vegetables at 9:25 AM on October 3
The pressure regulating valve is built into the shower head itself. generally a flow restrictor. If you take off your shower head (they are generally removable) you could find the flow rate for the shower pipe, which is probably pretty high.
posted by The_Vegetables at 9:25 AM on October 3
In my experience the water restrictor is just a plastic disk with a hole in a hose connection, easily removed. In my case, I was just getting a dribble of water. The clowns blamed the house water pressure but the cause was an adjutment in the faucet.
posted by SemiSalt at 10:23 AM on October 3
posted by SemiSalt at 10:23 AM on October 3
The new one has amazing water pressure — it's not too hard or too low, but it does come out pretty quickly. I'm a bit surprised because I thought all new shower heads were supposed to be low flow/pressure
You're most likely getting the same amount of water delivered to your showerhead; if your showerhead is designed so that a relatively small amount of gallons per minute comes out at a high velocity, it feels like more water is being delivered. Basically, if you're watering your garden with no nozzle on the hose, then put your thumb partway over to blast away something on the walkway or hit plants further away, you haven't increased the amount of water coming from the source, you've just increased the velocity of the stream by forcing it through a smaller aperture.
If your old showerhead was designed to operate with more gallons per minute, water might feel like it's trickling out because it's coming out at a low velocity. On the other hand, if it was blocked by mineral deposits to such an extent that delivery was affected, you may genuinely be getting more gallons per minute right now.
posted by oneirodynia at 2:38 PM on October 3
You're most likely getting the same amount of water delivered to your showerhead; if your showerhead is designed so that a relatively small amount of gallons per minute comes out at a high velocity, it feels like more water is being delivered. Basically, if you're watering your garden with no nozzle on the hose, then put your thumb partway over to blast away something on the walkway or hit plants further away, you haven't increased the amount of water coming from the source, you've just increased the velocity of the stream by forcing it through a smaller aperture.
If your old showerhead was designed to operate with more gallons per minute, water might feel like it's trickling out because it's coming out at a low velocity. On the other hand, if it was blocked by mineral deposits to such an extent that delivery was affected, you may genuinely be getting more gallons per minute right now.
posted by oneirodynia at 2:38 PM on October 3
Response by poster: Thanks for all the helpful input!
I have a gallon container (actually, about 1.375, but using a general look/estimation) so did a test and it seems for roughly 25 seconds, it reached a gallon of water (roughly). So, it seems about right that the showerhead does ~2.5qt per minute, based on my math. Correct me if I'm wrong.
(I used this - says 22 cups, which converts to 1.375 gallons.)
posted by dubious_dude at 9:44 AM on October 4
I have a gallon container (actually, about 1.375, but using a general look/estimation) so did a test and it seems for roughly 25 seconds, it reached a gallon of water (roughly). So, it seems about right that the showerhead does ~2.5qt per minute, based on my math. Correct me if I'm wrong.
(I used this - says 22 cups, which converts to 1.375 gallons.)
posted by dubious_dude at 9:44 AM on October 4
Response by poster: ~2.5gal per minute, not qt. Oops! End of threadsitting :)
posted by dubious_dude at 1:05 PM on October 4
posted by dubious_dude at 1:05 PM on October 4
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posted by a humble nudibranch at 6:36 PM on October 2 [8 favorites]