To make your shower last longer, you can increase your hot water supply capacity or reduce the rate at which you use hot water.
Based on common methods, you can achieve longer hot showers through two primary approaches:
1. Increase Your Hot Water Capacity
One direct way to ensure a longer hot shower is by having more hot water available. According to the reference, a key method is to:
- Get a bigger tank with a bigger burner. A larger hot water tank holds more heated water, allowing for extended use before the supply runs cold. A bigger burner helps reheat the water faster, although the primary benefit for shower duration comes from the larger volume.
This essentially increases the reservoir of hot water you can draw from.
2. Reduce Your Hot Water Usage Rate
Another effective strategy is to slow down how quickly you use the hot water that is available. This is commonly done by controlling the flow rate of your shower head.
- Using shower heads with strict flow limits the amount of water coming out per minute. The reference notes that these typically range from 1.5 to 2.5 gallons per minute (gpm).
By using less water per minute, your existing hot water supply lasts for a longer period.
Understanding Shower Head Flow Rates
Shower heads are rated by their maximum flow rate, measured in gallons per minute (gpm). Standard shower heads historically had higher flow rates, while modern, water-efficient models significantly reduce this.
Here's a simple comparison:
| Shower Head Type | Typical Flow Rate (gpm) | Impact on Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Older/Standard | Often > 2.5 | Shorter shower duration |
| Water-Efficient/Low-Flow | 1.5 - 2.5 | Longer shower duration |
Choosing a shower head on the lower end of the 1.5 to 2.5 gpm range mentioned in the reference will conserve hot water more effectively, helping your shower last longer.
In summary, making your shower last longer primarily involves either increasing the total volume of hot water available or decreasing the rate at which you use it during your shower.
