What Uses More Water: a Bath or a Shower?

In today's modern world of energy conservation and awareness it is important to keep an eye on the resources you use daily, not only for the planet, but for your wallet as well. A common question that many homeowners ask is how much water do they use and what activities in their home contribute to water waste and energy loss? An everyday shower or bath can flush gallons of clean water down the drain and knowing which method of self-care uses less resources can help. Keep reading to find out what uses more water, a shower or a bath, and how to cut back on any energy wasting habits.

Why a Shower?

Many of us love a hot shower at the end of a long day and do our best thinking under the shower head. The good news for shower lovers is that, on average, a ten-minute shower uses less water than a fully filled bathtub. The average bathtub holds up to thirty-six gallons of water or more, while a ten-minute shower usually uses about twenty-five gallons or less, depending on the duration. If you're looking for a more energy efficient way to clean the day off, a shower may be the right way to go for your home and your wallet.

Shower Gallons Per Minute

If you're wondering how long your shower should be to make the most of your water bill, you're not alone. On average, each shower uses approximately two gallons per minute, coming out to a little less than twenty-two gallons for the entire process. How long is the average shower? The consensus is about eight minutes. So, if you take a roughly ten-minute shower, you're using less water than a standing bath, and you'll see yourself start to save money every month. If you want to cut your water bill down even further, you can try shaving your shower time down to five minutes, using half of the total amount of water at about eleven gallons.

Bath vs Shower Water Usage

So, how many gallons in a bathtub get filled with water when you take a bath? A typical bathtub takes upwards of forty-two gallons of water to fill to the brim, already pushing it well over the threshold of a ten-minute shower. Some baths even require as much as seventy gallons or more to get the job done. Of course, your bath using more water than your shower does heavily depend on the duration of the showers you take. If you take a forty-five-minute shower you'll be using almost fifty gallons of water, which may come out to more than your forty-two-gallon bath. At the end of the day, your water usage depends on how large your tub is versus how long your showers last. Weighing these two facts may help you determine which one is best for your needs. Also, consider that bath water gets colder over time, and you may end up filling your tub with additional hot water to figure out how to keep your bathtub water hot.

How to Take Shorter Showers

The shorter the shower, the more money you'll save. But have no fear; if you're one of those types of people who want to save water by taking showers, but enjoy showers that last more than ten minutes, there are many tips and tricks you can use to cut your shower time in half. An enjoyable trick that you may find useful is creating a "shower playlist" of music that times out to exactly ten minutes. Set your phone aside and let the music play as you wash, and once the playlist is done, make sure to shut the water off. Another good idea that can help you save time and water is switching to a water efficient shower head or learning to take navy showers. Learn more about how to reduce your daily hot water use on the Energy.gov site.

Of course, the most important aspect of enjoying your time in your bath or shower is having the right one installed in your home. A shower with all the proper energy conserving features, paired with an aesthetic and style that you love, will make your time in it more enjoyable and energy efficient. If you're looking to research more about the various styles of showers or tubs that you can have installed in your home, Expo Home Improvement offers a variety of services at your disposal, including one-day installations. Sift through the various options and figure out what style shower or bath is right for you, then put your energy savings tactics into practice.