Getting exactly the right water temperature for your shower can be a tricky endeavor, and no one likes unpleasant surprises. Whether the water’s too hot or too cold also depends a lot on your personal preferences, which often means turning the shower on for a while to let it run so you can get it “just right” before hopping in.
Approximately 20 percent of all shower water is wasted according to recent studies conducted by the EPA. For an average shower, it normally equates to approximately 4 gallons of wasted water, but you need to remember that it’s not only water that’s being wasted … it’s also the energy needed to heat that water.
There are a lot of different factors involved when determining how long it takes for hot water to get to your shower, including:
- your home’s water pressure
- how far away your shower is from the hot water heater
- the size of your home
- the diameter of your home’s pipes
Even considering these variables, you may not realize that the few minutes the water is running pre-shower can actually be very wasteful. Think about how much hot water is going straight down the drain, and how much lower your bill would be if you could adjust your shower temperature more efficiently.
The good news is there’s a device available that will help cut down on your utility costs while also conserving water. It’s called a thermostatic shower head, and it can help you get the perfect temperature in less time.
There are a variety of options available including heat sensing technology that can be added right to your current showerhead or stand-alone shower head units. The general purpose for both is essentially the same. When the water reaches a certain temperature, the flow shuts off, saving both water and heat energy.
If you’d like more information about thermostatic showerheads or assistance with installing a thermostatic shower device, feel free to contact Action Plumbing. Our plumbing experts are happy to assist you and are available 24 hrs. a day, 7 days a week.