In this article, we will discuss how much water a 20-minute shower use. Some people consider taking a shower as an easy and convenient way to remove dirt and freshen up. On the other hand, other people consider a shower as a way to relax and de-stress after a long day at work. It is a fact that other people take a long time to shower. If you are concerned with the amount of water spent every minute that you shower, you can check out the rest of this article for more information.
How much water does a 20-minute shower use? The water used in a 20-minute shower will have to depend on the type of showerhead that is installed in your bathroom. Less water and less pressure are expected for a low-flow showerhead. On the other hand, more water will be used and more pressure is expected from a rain-type shower head. 5 Liters of water is used per minute of a shower on average.
Which uses a lot of water: a shower or bath? How many liters of water are used in a 10-minute shower? These are some of the questions that we will discuss in this article. Showers are tied with faucets as the second-largest indoor use of water according to the 2016 Residential End Uses of Water Study. If you are concerned with the amount of water that you use while you shower, we have also shared shower water-saving tips that you can follow.
How Much Water Does a Shower Use in Litres?
Approximately 9 liters per minute is used by a water-efficient showerhead. On the other hand, older-style showerheads use approximately 19 liters of water per minute. This means that having a 5-minute shower every day using an older style shower head can amount to about 36,500 liters of water in a year.
How Much Water Does a 5 Minute Shower Use?
About 2 gallons of water each minute is used for a low-flow showerhead which equates to 10 gallons for a 5-minute shower. However, if a standard shower head is used, it will likely emit an extra half-gallon of water per minute which makes a 5-minute shower amount to 12.5 gallons of water.
How Many Litres in a 10 Minute Shower?
Modern showers usually use between 10 to 12 liters of water per minute. For a 10 minute shower, approximately 100 liters of water is used depending on the type of showerhead and how much water pressure is used.
Shower Water Saving Tips
Some things that you can do to save water while showering includes the installation of a low-flow showerhead, turning off the shower while you shampoo your hair, and taking shorter showers. Saving water is important if you want to cut your bills.
Short Showers
Taking short showers can save water. Shortening your shower even by one minute can save gallons of water usage. This will also save you on your heating costs associated with showering.
Low-Flow Showerhead
Another way to save water while showering is to install low-flow showerheads with less than 2.5 gallons per minute. You have the option between an aerating showerhead that mixes air with water to create a misty spray and a laminar-flow showerhead that forms an individual water stream. Both are effective in saving water. On the other hand, if you have shower fixtures that predate 1992, you need to replace them because they use 5.5 gallons of water per minute.
Navy Shower
Doing the navy shower can also save water. What you need to do is to turn off the water while you shampoo and soap. This way, you can reduce your average shower length to as much as five minutes using this shower technique.
✅ Video – How to Save Water by Taking a Shorter Shower
Howcast shared the video below on YouTube that discusses how to save water by taking a shorter shower. Follow these steps if your goal is to save water at home. Watch the video below to learn more.
Is a 20 Minute Shower too Long?
A 20-minute shower is too long. Many experts would agree that anything more than 10 minutes is too much. Make sure that you keep your shower time between five to ten minutes. While it is tempting to stay under the shower for a long time, this will cause some health problems and will also waste a lot of water.
How Much Water Does a 15 Minute Shower Use?
A 15-minute shower can use up to 120 gallons of water. Take note that 75 percent of those 120 gallons is hot water which you pay to heat by either gas or electric. The average use of a shower usually depends on two things: how long the shower is and the type of water flow on the showerhead.
How Many Showers Can You Have in a 40 Gallon Tank?
If you are not using any other water appliances, a 40-gallon water tank can provide two showers in an hour. However, this will have to depend on two factors: how long you take the shower and what other water-demanding fixtures are running at the same time. You can also check out this article that we have written titled, how big should a laundry sink be? We have shared different sizes of laundry sinks that you can choose from.
Why Does my Shower Run Out of Hot Water So Fast?
There are different reasons why your shower can run out of hot water fast and this includes the use of multiple appliances that uses hot water, thermostat issue, broken dip tube, old water heater, and the build-up of sediment. There is no doubt that one of the worst things that can happen while you take the shower is for the hot water to run out. This will leave you cold and freezing especially during the winter season.
Sediment Build-Up
The sediment from loose minerals like rust and sand can deposit in the water supply and eventually settle at the bottom of the water heater tank. On the other hand, sediment can sometimes take a lot of space and leaves less room for hot water to flow. Moreover, the minerals insulate the water from the tank into its heating source which is located at the bottom of the tank. This can result in hot water running out faster.
Use of Appliances that Uses Hot Water
One of the reasons why hot water runs out fast is multiple uses of appliances that use hot water. If someone is using hot water in other areas of your home while you are showering, this can result in the fast depletion of hot water. Avoid using dishwashers and washing machines while you shower to save hot water. We have also written this article that discusses if you can use a regular shower curtain for a stall shower. You can check out the article for more tips and information about the topic.
Damaged Dip Tube
Another reason why hot water runs out fast is because of the damaged dip tube. The dip tube causes the cold water in the water heater to move to the bottom of the tank so that it gets heated. If the dip tube is broken, the cold water will rise to the top of the tank and will not be properly heated.
Thermostat Issue
The water heater is designed with a thermostat. If you run out of hot water, you can try resetting the thermostat. If the same issue happens, raise the thermostat temperature to see if the water will heat. If it still does not work, then you need to hire the services of a plumber to determine the issue.
Old Water Heater
If you notice your hot water running out fast, you might consider updating your water heater. Water heaters have a shelf life. It can last between 8 to 12 years on average. If your water heater is ten years old or more, it is time to replace it.
Which Uses Less Water, a Shower or a Bath?
A shower uses less water as compared to a bath. A full bathtub will need about 70 gallons of water while a 5-minute shower only uses 10 to 25 gallons of water. While few people fill the tub to the top when taking a bath, a simple calculation still shows that baths use more water. Moreover using a low-flow showerhead can be able to save water while you shower. A 6-minute shower with the use of a low-flow showerhead can save at least 3 gallons of water. You can also check out this article that discusses why shower bases are so expensive. We have shared an in-depth discussion about the topic.
How Much Water Does a Toilet Use?
Conventional toilets can use between 5 to 7 gallons of water per flush. On the other hand, low-flow models can use about 1.6 gallons of water per flush. The average person flushes more than five times a day and the gallons can add up. While the toilets look alike, the amount of water released when they are flushed varies from one toilet to another. Older toilets use more water.
How Much Water Does a Bath Use?
Most people use around 30 gallons of water when bathing. On the other hand, if the standard tub is filled, it can be able to hold 42 gallons of water. However, some of the water will be displayed when you enter the tub. Hence, tubs are rarely filled to their capacity. You can also check out this article that we have shared that talks about what size shower stalls come in? We have shared useful tips and information about the topic.
Conclusion
You have reached the end of this article that discusses how much water is used for a 20-minute shower. We have found out that the amount of water used usually depends on the type of showerhead used. Low-flow showerheads can save a lot of water so they are ideal for any type of bathroom. On the other hand, rain-type showerheads use a lot of pressure and water which is not ideal if you are saving water at home. We have also shared tips on how you can be able to save water while taking a shower. Thank you for reading!