December 6, 2021

How to Measure the GPM Flow Rate of a Faucet or Shower | The Spruce

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December 6, 2021

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PROJECT OVERVIEW

WORKING TIME: 2 mins

TOTAL TIME: 2 mins

SKILL LEVEL: Beginner


There are several reasons to measure the flow rate of your home's faucets and showers. For example, it can be a critical factor in choosing the size for a new water heater, whether it's a  tankless  or a traditional tank-style model. Measuring the flow rate can also be helpful information when you are buying or selling a house and are evaluating the efficiency of the plumbing fixtures. Perhaps most importantly, a flow rate measurement can tell you definitively how much water a specific fixture is using, so you'll know exactly how much those long showers are costing in water use.


How Flow Rate Is Measured

The standard of measurement for water flow in plumbing fixtures is gallons per minute (GPM). Sometimes you will see a rating for flow rate printed on the packaging of a showerhead or faucet. For water conservation purposes, the Federal Energy Policy Act of 1992 requires that all bathroom faucets sold in the U.S. have a flow rate of no more than 2.2 GPM at a water pressure of 60 psi (pounds per square inch). According to the same law, showerheads may have a maximum flow rate of 2.5 GPM. The  water pressure  in your house may be higher or lower than 60 psi, and as a result, the water usage of each fixture may be below or above the product rating. That's why it's a good idea to measure the flow rate at each fixture yourself.


A small pitcher is an ideal container for catching the water from faucets because it makes it easy to pour out the water for measuring. A large bucket is best for a showerhead because it makes it easier to catch all of the water from the showerhead's spray. For timing, most people use the timer feature on a smartphone, or you can go old-school by using a watch or clock.


What You'll Need

Equipment / Tools

  • Bucket or another container for catching waterTimer or stopwatchMeasuring cup

Materials

  • Piece of paper (optional)

Instructions:


  1. Collect the Water
  2. Set the timer to 10 seconds. Turn on the cold water full-blast. Start the timer and simultaneously place the container under the water stream or spray, making sure all of the water is collected. Collect the water for exactly 10 seconds, then shut off the fixture.


  1. Measure the Water
  2. Measure the quantity of water in the container, using the measuring cup. You might want to note the cupfuls on a piece of paper, so you don't lose track. Convert the measurement to gallons. (There are 16 cups, or 4 quarts, in a gallon.) The measurement can be expressed as a simple fraction. For example, 8 cups equals 8/16, or 1/2 gallon.


  1. Calculate the GPM Flow Rate
  2. Multiply the measured quantity of water by 6 to calculate the flow rate in gallons per minute (GPM). In our example, 1/2 gallon was collected in 10 seconds. That number multiplied by 6 (to determine one minute) equals 3 gallons. Therefore, the flow rate is 3 GPM.


Tips for Changing a Fixture's Flow Rate

In most cases, the reason for changing the flow rate on a faucet or shower is to reduce water usage.


Bathroom Faucets

As a general guideline, the faucet flow rate in the bathroom should be 1.5 GPM or less. This is the maximum flow rate established by the EPA's WaterSense program,1 and generally speaking, that's more than enough water for a bathroom faucet. If you're concerned about water use, you can save more by installing a ​ low-flow aerator  that restricts the flow to 1.0 GPM or even less, and it's unlikely you'll notice the difference.


Kitchen Faucets

Kitchen faucets typically have a maximum flow rate of 2.2 GPM. It might make sense to lower this to 1.5 GPM by using a low-flow aerator, but the tradeoff is that it will take longer to fill pots of water. If you rinse a lot of dishes with the faucet on full-blast however, it might make sense to reduce your kitchen faucet's flow rate to save water.


Showers

The maximum flow rate for showerheads is 2.5 GPM. If your measured flow rate is any higher, replace the showerhead. The new unit will quickly pay for itself in water savings and, more significantly, in reduced water heating costs. For a typical user, the shower flow consists of about 70 percent hot water.


Source: https://www.thespruce.com/determine-faucet-shower-flow-rate-gpm-1824859

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