Ask an Expert: Low-Flow Showerheads

Standard showerheads use 2.5 gallons per minute (gpm), while low-flow fixtures use only 2.0 gpm or less. Showering accounts for 20% of residential indoor water use, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). That's about 40 gallons per day or 1.2 trillion gallons used each year in the U.S. just for showering.

The EPA estimates that the average family could save 2,900 gallons per year by installing WaterSense labeled showerheads. Since these water savings will reduce demand on water heaters, they will also save energy. In fact, the average family could save more than 370 kilowatt hours of electricity annually, enough to power a house for 13 days.