The price of energy and water is rising, and many are looking for ways to save money in their daily lives. Besides the electricity bill, a surprisingly large hidden cost is hot water, and the biggest guzzler of it is almost always the shower. Efficient water saving in the shower not only reduces your water bill but also significantly cuts energy consumption.
Instead of general advice, we will now calculate with concrete figures how much an average Finnish family saves per year by replacing their old shower head with a modern water-saving model. The final sum might surprise you.
What exactly makes up the cost of a shower?
The cost of a shower is not just the price of water; it consists of two parts:
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Cost of cold water: Payment for water delivered to your home and then directed to a wastewater treatment plant after use.
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Cost of water heating: This is often a larger expense. Heating water to the desired temperature consumes energy, whether the heat source is district heating, an electric boiler, or geothermal heating.
Many only look at the water meter and liters, but forget about heating. By saving hot water, you save twice: on water and on energy. That's precisely why the shower is such an effective place to start saving.
Let's calculate: Old shower vs. water-saving shower
Let's calculate what the savings mean in practice. The example uses a family of four and the average water and energy prices in Finland.
Step 1: Measure your old shower head's flow rate
Not sure how much water your current shower uses? You can find out in a minute with a simple bucket test.
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Take a bucket of about 10 liters or a large pot.
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Turn on the shower to its normal operating intensity.
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Start a stopwatch and place the bucket under the shower.
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Stop the timer when the bucket is full.
Result: If the 10-liter bucket filled in less than 45 seconds, your shower head is quite a water guzzler (flow rate over 12 L/min). If it took about a minute, the flow rate is moderate (about 10 L/min). Modern water-saving models, such as many Aroma Sense showers, achieve a flow rate of about 8–9 liters per minute without compromising the feeling of pressure.
Step 2: Calculation example for a typical family
We use the following assumptions in our calculation:
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Family: 4 people.
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Shower duration: Each person showers for an average of 7 minutes per day.
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Old shower head: Flow rate 15 liters / minute (common for older models).
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New water-saving shower: Flow rate 9 liters / minute (a good compromise between saving and comfort).
Consumption with old shower head:4 people x 7 min/day x 15 L/min = 420 liters per dayAnnually: 420 L x 365 days = 153,300 liters or 153.3 cubic meters (m³).
Consumption with new water-saving shower:4 people x 7 min/day x 9 L/min = 252 liters per dayAnnually: 252 L x 365 days = 91,980 liters or 92 cubic meters (m³).
The annual saving amounts to a whopping 61.3 cubic meters of water.
What does this mean in euros?
Let's convert the saved cubic meters into money. The total cost of water and wastewater in Finland is, on average, €4.50/m³. Water heating costs approximately €5.50/m³, depending on the heating method.
Thus, the total cost of one cubic meter of hot water is roughly €10.
Annual savings:61.3 m³ x €10/m³ = €613
Yes, you read that right. Just changing the shower head can bring a family of four over €600 in annual savings. The investment in a new, high-quality shower head typically pays for itself in just a couple of months.
Savings without compromising the showering experience?
A persistent misconception is that a water-saving shower is the same as an anemic trickle. This might have been true 20 years ago, but technology has advanced significantly.
At Showerguy, we have tested dozens of models and can assure you that a modern water-saving shower even feels more powerful than an old, wasteful model. The secret is in the design. For example, the patented, triangular nozzle holes in Aroma Sense shower heads accelerate the water's speed and create a powerful yet soft flow. Even though up to 40% less water is used, the showering experience is invigorating.
Saving therefore does not require compromising on comfort – on the contrary, changing can even improve your shower experience.
How to choose the right water-saving shower?
The market is full of options. How to distinguish a good model from a bad one? We've put together a few tips:
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Check the flow rate (L/min): The product data figure tells you what's essential. Anything under 10 L/min is already a good saving. We recommend models around 9 L/min, which offer the best balance between saving and user comfort.
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Invest in quality: The cheapest model is rarely the best. Quality materials and smartly designed nozzles ensure that the shower works flawlessly for years and doesn't immediately clog with limescale.
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Consider extra features: Many modern shower heads, such as those in our selection, have built-in filters. They remove chlorine, limescale, and impurities from the water, which is good for the skin and hair and extends the shower head's lifespan.
Changing a shower head is a small act, but also an effective eco-deed and a wise financial decision. It's one of the easiest ways to reduce a household's carbon footprint and save real money without having to give up life's little pleasures.
Are you ready to upgrade your shower experience and start saving? Explore our selection of high-quality and tested water-saving showers and find the right model for your home.
Frequently Asked Questions
How quickly does a water-saving shower pay for itself?
The payback period depends on the family size and showering habits. According to our calculations, a family of four typically recoups the cost of a new shower head in 2–4 months. Even for a single person, the investment pays for itself in well under a year, after which all savings are pure profit.
Does a water-saving shower affect water pressure?
On the contrary. Many of our customers report that the feeling of pressure has even improved. Modern technology creates a powerful shower sensation with less water, so it's not about weakening the pressure but about more efficient use of water.
Does a water-saving shower head need to be installed by a professional?
No, a professional is not needed. Changing a shower head is one of the easiest home maintenance tasks that anyone can do. The old shower head is unscrewed from the shower hose and the new one is screwed in. The thread is a standard size (G1/2") in almost all Finnish homes, so there are usually no compatibility issues.
Does shortening shower time save more than changing the shower head?
Both are effective methods. However, the advantage of changing the shower head is its automatism: it saves water and energy with every shower without having to think about it or constantly check the clock. It's a sure and permanent improvement that works in the background every day.
Does a water-saving shower work in an old house?
Yes. Shower threads have been standardized (usually G1/2") decades ago, so you can safely install a modern water-saving shower even in an older detached house or apartment. The installation is just as easy as in a new build.
Are you ready to upgrade your shower experience and start saving? Explore our selection of high-quality and tested water-saving showers here and find the right model for your home.
