T
The Daily Insight

What is WaterSense shower

Author

Sophia Edwards

Published Feb 28, 2026

The EPA’s WaterSense program promotes water-efficient practices at home. Under the program, products like shower heads, toilets, and faucets that meet the EPA criteria for water efficiency can be awarded the WaterSense label – assuming the product is tested and certified by an independent laboratory.

What does Moen WaterSense mean?

A great indicator for certified sustainability in the bathroom is the WaterSense® label, which is granted by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). … WaterSense aims to decrease indoor and outdoor water use through water-efficient products and simple, water-saving practices.

What is considered a water-saving shower head?

A quality, water-saving shower head should use less than 2 gallons of water per minute but still produce a powerful stream of water. It should be easy to install, and complement your bathroom’s decor.

What are the different types of shower heads?

The 12 main types of shower heads are standard fixed, handheld, dual, filtered, waterfall (rain), massage, high-pressure, low flow, shower panels, LED, RV, and Navy shower heads. Each kind of shower head has it’s own unique advantages and disadvantages.

What are WaterSense products?

The WaterSense label makes it simple to find water-efficient products, new homes, and programs that meet EPA’s criteria for efficiency and performance. WaterSense-labeled products and services are certified to use at least 20 percent less water, save energy, and perform as well as or better than regular models.

Are Moen shower heads low flow?

Optimizing water flow without sacrificing performance. All of our new bath faucets feature a 1.5 gallon per minute (gpm) flow rate which uses up to 32% less water, while still maintaining the same great performance you expect from Moen.

Are Low flow shower heads worth it?

Benefits: Low flow shower heads can decrease water consumption by 40% or more! This not only conserves water, but it cuts down on your monthly water bill providing significant end-of-year savings. Showers take energy to heat the water, thus cutting down on water usage also cuts down on energy usage.

Does WaterSense apply to kitchen faucets?

Install WaterSense® labeled bathroom sink faucets and accessories, which can reduce a sink’s water use by 30 percent without sacrificing performance, and install kitchen sink faucets that are rated at a maximum of 2.2 gallons per minute (gpm).

Are Moen faucets WaterSense?

All Moen bathroom faucets are certified to meet the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) WaterSense criteria, using up to 32% less water while maintaining the same great performance you expect from Moen.

Are shower arms universal?

Almost any shower head manufactured in the United States will fit on the shower arm installed in your bathroom.

Article first time published on

What is a sunflower shower head?

The sunflower showerhead, with it’s sunny face and porcelain accents, is the perfect finishing touch to your shower. The old-fashioned look is the latest in bathroom remodels and new bath construction, offering that little nod to the past with a cheerful touch.

Can I add a handheld shower head to my existing shower head?

A handheld shower head also can be installed onto a tub spout that has a special diverter fitting. … A standard fitting attaches to the existing shower arm and replaces the old showerhead with a flexible hose and handheld shower unit that can serve both as a stationary head or a handheld shower.

Is 2.5 gpm shower head good?

This means no more than 2.5 gallons of water should flow out each minute. The GPM flow rate for shower heads has decreased over time. If your current shower head was made in the 1980’s or 1990’s, its flow rate could be 3.5 GPM or more!

Do large shower heads use more water?

Because they’re so much bigger than the average showerhead, but still provide the same amount of water (which can vary by water-saving mandate depending on where you live), it’s just math: The same amount of water delivered across a bigger surface = less pressure.

What is the most gpm shower head?

Across the United States, 2.5 GPM is the maximum flow rate allowed for shower heads. That said, some states have even harsher restrictions. In Colorado, New York, and California, 2.0 GPM is the maximum allowed.

What are WaterSense requirements?

To earn the WaterSense label, a toilet must pass the test of flushing 350 grams of soybean paste with a flush of 1.28 gallons or less of water – that’s at least 20% less water than the current federal standard maximum of 1.6 gallons per flush (gpf).

What are the factors for WaterSense designation?

Products bearing the WaterSense label: Are 20 percent more water efficient than average products in that category. Realize water savings on a national level. Provide measurable water savings results. Achieve water efficiency through several technology options.

What is EPA WaterSense certified?

The WaterSense® program offers consumers a simple way to make product choices that use less water, with no sacrifice to quality or product performance. Products bearing the WaterSense® mark are certified more water-efficient than products that don’t meet WaterSense® standards.

How many gallons of water do low flow shower heads save?

With a 2.5 gpm showerhead, you’ll soak up nearly 440 gallons of water in one month from shower use alone. With a low-flow showerhead, 175 minutes of showering uses just 262 gallons of water. Which means you save about 60 percent every month.

Is 1.5 gpm enough for a shower?

When it comes to Shower Heads, you’ll typically find 2.5 GPM, 2.0 GPM, 1.8 GPM and 1.5 GPM. If you’re looking for the most pressure, go for the 2.5 GPM Flow Rate, unless you are restricted because you reside in California, Colorado or New York. … That’s 40% less water output than the 2.5 GPM Flow Rate.

What makes a low flow shower head?

Myth 1: Low-Flow Shower Heads Don’t Have Enough Pressure First, a primer on how showerheads are measured: Flow is affected by water pressure, which is measured in pounds per square inch (psi). The greater the pressure pushing water through the showerhead, the greater the volume of water forced out.

Should I remove shower head flow restrictor?

The National Energy Act requires that shower head manufacturers install a flow restrictor or flow controller in shower heads. … Removing the water restrictor will return your shower pressure to normal, but it may also increase your water bills. Remove the shower head from the shower arm pipe with a wrench.

How do I fix low shower pressure?

  1. Clean the shower head. …
  2. Check for a flow restrictor. …
  3. Check for kinks. …
  4. Check that the valve is fully open. …
  5. Check for leaks. …
  6. Open the water heater shut-off valve. …
  7. Flush the water heater. …
  8. Buy a low-pressure shower head.

What is the most efficient faucet?

  • Delta 9178T-DST Kitchen Sink Faucet ($249.63)
  • Delta 21996LF-OB Kitchen Faucet ($114.99)
  • Delta Lewiston 2-Handle Widespread Faucet ($158.95)

What is the most efficient toilet?

Our top pick for the best water-conserving toilet is the TOTO Drake Toilet. TOTO Drake Toilet has the highest MaP rating for its class, which makes it the most efficient toilet with the best performance. It also comes with a Sanagloss coating that will reduce bacteria, mold, and mildew.

Do Moen shower heads have flow restrictors?

Removing the Flow Restrictor With a Moen showerhead, the first thing you’ll see inside the connection of the showerhead should be a rubber O-ring or gasket. … The flow restrictor will be the plastic piece sitting beneath this setup, and it will look like a small plastic piece with a number of small perforations in it.

What flow rate is a sink faucet at?

The average flow rate of a kitchen faucet is 2.2 gallons per minute. Most new kitchen faucets have an aerator, the screw-on tip of the nozzle on the faucet. Bathroom faucets have a more restrictive flow of 1.5 or even . 5 gallons per minute.

What are the two top uses of residential water in homes?

The largest use of household water is to flush the toilet, followed by taking showers and baths. Toilets account for nearly 30 percent of an average home’s indoor water consumption.

Is 1.5 gpm enough for kitchen faucet?

Standards are rigorous. A low-flow showerhead must not exceed a maximum of 2.5 gallons per minute (GPM) water flow. A low-flow sink faucet must not exceed a maximum of 1.5 GPM. A low-flow toilet must use no more than 1.5 gallons per flush (GPF).

What is the standard shower arm size?

The American Standard 12-inch right angle shower arm is designed for wall mount applications and fits virtually all showerheads.

Are all shower heads a standard size?

The good news is that for most homes, there is a straightforward answer: Showerheads have a universal thread size in the United States and Canada, which is designated as ½-inch NPT. As a result, any locally sold showerhead should be compatible with your shower arm.