20 year old shower head yeild 1/5gpm????

13 years ago

I must be doing something wrong. I have a teanager who can not seam to get out of the shower before 20 minutes...twice a day! I read that old tech shower heads could be using 4 - 5 gallons of water per minute. Well our home is 20 years old, we bought it 3 years ago, I assume the shower head is likely original. It sort of has 3 positions but we only ever use one and have no complaints. Its made of plastic. I was thinking that this sucker must be using 5 gallons a minute and I could save a bundle by putting a 1.5 gpm head in...save on my hot water heater too!

I took a 1.25 gallon bucket and it filled in 60 seconds. HOW CAN THAT BE? Was water saver tech around 20 years ago?

I have not tried the kids bathroom yet, just mine. It would seam I should leave weel enough alone...?

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Comments (10)

gildomilo
13 years ago
We had one in my house at least 25 if not 30 years ago.
lazypup
13 years ago
If your shower heads are 20 years old no doubt the tiny holes in the shower head have by now been either restricted or obstructed by mineral scale deposits and its time to replace the shower heads.
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kudzu9
13 years ago
Many older showers have had flow restrictors added to them. It's about a 10 cent piece of plastic and takes only a couple of minutes to install.
andrelaplume2
Original Author
13 years ago
so are you saying folks could spend ten cents instead of $35 for a new head!?
lazypup
13 years ago
The first step should be to remove the shower head and measure the flow directly from the shower arm. If your getting good flow from the shower arm then you know the problem is in the shower head.

If you determine the problem is in the shower head you may have success with soaking the shower head overnight in a solution of limeaway or CLR.

Now in regards to spending $35 on a new shower head, I have seen shower heads ranging from $4 to over $1400. personally my favorite one is chrome plated solid brass and produces a spray that feels like a pressure washer for a mere $4.
kudzu9
13 years ago
andrelaplume-
If you are only trying to reduce the flow through the showerhead, then yes. It's just a little plastic disc with a small hole in it. You take off the showerhead and place the disc up in the threads and then screw it back on. My utility gives them away for free.

Now if you have a showerhead with clogged holes and can't clean them out with a needle, then you may want to buy a new showerhead.
baymee
13 years ago
The shower head restrictors go back to the late '70s when we were in the second "energy crisis". But, if your head has plugged up to the point of 1.25 gpm, why replace it? That's what you want anyway, right?
homebound
13 years ago
"But, if your head has plugged up to the point of 1.25 gpm, why replace it? That's what you want anyway, right?"

Agreed.
andrelaplume2
Original Author
13 years ago
NO, its no plugged up at all! It provides a nice shower. I just assumed since it was old there would be something more efficient...guess I was wrong...I am leaving it alone!
asolo
13 years ago
You could teach your teenager about "Navy showers".....wet down, turn water off while you soap-up/scrub-up, then rinse. Similar procedure for tooth-brushing.