This is the shower calculator page. This calculator will help you determine the right size water heater for your shower. You can also use this calculator to estimate your water savings if you simply use a more efficient shower head. Click the image above to proceed to the calculator.

These days “Green” is the buzz word. Green plumbing, Green plumbers, green energy, everything is green. Sometimes, being green costs a lot of green. For example, even with federal tax breaks and income tax incentives, a solar power system can cost thousands, an investment that would take years to pay back.  What if you could make a highly effective baby step towards green with a simple tweak to your plumbing?

First, consider water waste. We’re not talking about reducing water usage to that of a wilderness back packing expedition. We’re simply considering excessive water use, water that goes down the drain without having done much of its intended good. Your showerhead is a good place to start. A well designed water saving shower head can go a long way towards reducing water waste while still delivering a satisfying shower. Before you dismiss this lowly plumbing appurtenance, consider a few underlying facts: 

Saving water is saving energy. When we reduce water usage, we reduce the demands for the energy it takes to produce and deliver that water. Energy requirements vary according to the water resources in your region, but all water treatment plants require huge amounts of energy just to treat and deliver your potable water supply. Huge pumps must circulate the water through various settling tanks, filters and treatment units before delivering it to your home. The water pressure you get from your faucet or tap is created by pumps. These pumps use lots of energy. Just for your own sake, check with your local utility company and ask them where the water department ranks on their customer list. You may be surprised! 

But what if you’re on a well and don’t need the public utility? You’re still using energy. Here’s a simple experiment you can do: Go to your electric meter and watch it spin so that you can get an idea of how fast it is spinning. Next, go turn on your garden hose (don’t aim it at the electric meter!) Now, while the water is running, go watch the meter. You’ll probably be able to tell when your pump kicks in because the meter will start spinning noticeably faster. What this means is that every time you run water, you’re using electricity.  

Hot water adds to the energy usage. If you want a warm shower, you must heat the water. If you have a typical household, your water heater ranks second in energy demands with the top rank going to your indoor comfort such as heating and air conditioning. The longer you take in the shower, the more energy you consume. But time isn’t the only factor. Some shower heads spray more water than others. Think of it like gas mileage. A sub compact economy car gets better gas mileage than an SUV. The same is true for shower heads, some get better gallons per minute than others. The trick is to find a shower head that delivers a decent shower while economizing on water. It can be done and this is why we’ve launched this very simple to use shower calculator.  

Consider the savings: What if you could cut your hot water usage by half?

What if you could extend the life of your well pump by years? Isn’t it worth it to save a little water? We’re not asking you to deprive yourself. Just use a little less. It’s easy!