Can you put a timer on your shower?

Installing a timer on your shower is an effective way to reduce showering times. In turn, shorter showers are an effective way to use less water. GreenYour reports that if every person in the United States reduced the amount of water he or she use to shower by just 1 gallon a day, that would save 85 billion gallons of water a year.

There are two types of shower timers. One is an actual timer that adheres to the wall of the shower. In this case, the person showering is on the honour system to turn off the shower when the timer expires. As you can guess, this is an imperfect method for reducing shower times.

The second type of shower timer attaches to the shower head and actually restricts the flow of water when the time expires. The water flow will not resume to full power until after a five-minute period has elapsed. As you see, this is the best method for reducing the shower time of a shower lover.

An attached shower timer attaches to the shower head, as opposed to sticking on the wall. An example of an attached shower timer is the Shower Manager, which works with most shower heads, except ultra low-flow models. This is important to know because the Shower Manager doesn't come with a shower head -- you'll need to provide your own.

The Shower Manager fits between the service pipe and the shower head. As such, it restricts the flow of water coming out of the shower head, but not the flow of water in general. In other words, the water must be turned on and off at the faucet.

The timer on the Shower Manager can be set for 5, 8, or 11 minutes. A warning beep sounds 60 seconds before the timer expires. When the time has expired, the water switches from a steady shower to low-flow mode. It has a five-minute reset period, which means that the Shower Manager can't be outsmarted by resetting it immediately.

One important drawback to the Shower Manager is that flushing the toilet while the Shower Manager is in use will put it in low-flow mode. Consequently, the person showering can't resume the shower until after the five-minute reset period has elapsed.

If you're wondering about how, literally, the Shower Manager works, the answer is simple: a 9-volt battery (in keeping with the energy saving theme). The Shower Manager can be easily installed by a layperson in less than five minutes, and instructions are included.

Using a shower timer has more benefits than just saving water. It also reduces the need for hot water, which then reduces your energy bills.

For families, using a shower timer can help slow family members stay on schedule. The shower timer also ensures that there's enough hot water left for the next person.

For landlords, installing shower timers is a good way to regulate water expenditures in rental units.