---
title: "Low Flow Taps And Showers"
url: https://betterhomebetterplanet.com/catalogue/low-flow-taps-and-showers/
description: "Fitting aerators and restrictors so fittings use less water without feeling weaker."
---

# Low Flow Taps And Showers

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| »Categories[Building Envelope](https://betterhomebetterplanet.com/catalogue/building-envelope/)5[Heating, Cooling & Water](https://betterhomebetterplanet.com/catalogue/heating-cooling-water/)6[Water & Outside](https://betterhomebetterplanet.com/catalogue/water-and-outside/)4[Materials & Finishes](https://betterhomebetterplanet.com/catalogue/materials-and-finishes/)3»Project Types[Sealing and draughtproofing](https://betterhomebetterplanet.com/catalogue/air-sealing-gaps-and-cracks/)[Insulating](https://betterhomebetterplanet.com/catalogue/attic-and-loft-insulation/)[Water and pipework](https://betterhomebetterplanet.com/catalogue/hot-water-pipe-insulation/)[Planting and drainage](https://betterhomebetterplanet.com/catalogue/drainage-and-ground-levels/)[Surfaces and finishes](https://betterhomebetterplanet.com/catalogue/low-voc-paints-and-finishes/)»Quick FindJump straight to the entry that covers a common complaint.[Lower electricity bills](https://betterhomebetterplanet.com/catalogue/how-to-reduce-electricity-bill/)[Draughts](https://betterhomebetterplanet.com/catalogue/air-sealing-gaps-and-cracks/)[Cold rooms](https://betterhomebetterplanet.com/catalogue/wall-insulation-choices/)[Condensation](https://betterhomebetterplanet.com/catalogue/secondary-glazing-and-films/)[Damp at low level](https://betterhomebetterplanet.com/catalogue/drainage-and-ground-levels/)[Noise between floors](https://betterhomebetterplanet.com/catalogue/floor-underlay-and-acoustics/)[Slow hot water](https://betterhomebetterplanet.com/catalogue/hot-water-pipe-insulation/)[Summer overheating](https://betterhomebetterplanet.com/catalogue/planting-mulch-and-shade/) | WO-02Straightforward · Any seasonFitting aerators and restrictors so fittings use less water without feeling weaker.Section[Water & Outside](https://betterhomebetterplanet.com/catalogue/water-and-outside/)ReferenceWO-02DifficultyStraightforwardSeasonAny seasonTypical scopeAn hourWhat it affectsWater used, hot water demandWhat this isAn aerator mixes air into the stream leaving a tap, and a flow restrictor limits the volume passing a shower fitting. Both reduce how much water is used while keeping the stream feeling full, and because much of that water is hot, they reduce heating demand as well as water use.Telling whether your home needs itTaps that splash hard into the basin, or a shower that feels more forceful than it needs to be, are the usual candidates. Unscrew the tip of a tap spout and look: if there is no insert, or only a plain washer, an aerator can go in. Limescale packed into an existing insert is worth clearing whether or not you change anything else.What the job involvesTap aerators are threaded inserts that unscrew from the spout tip, usually by hand or with a soft-jawed grip to avoid marking the finish. Take the old one with you to match the thread and whether it is internal or external. Shower restrictors sit in the hose connection or in the head, and some heads have one fitted already that simply needs cleaning.Things to watchNot every system suits a restrictor. A gravity-fed shower running at low pressure can be reduced to a trickle, and some instantaneous water heaters need a minimum flow to operate correctly, so check what feeds the fitting before restricting it. Aerators need occasional cleaning in hard water areas or they clog and the flow drops away for the wrong reason.**More in Water & Outside:** [Drainage And Ground Levels](https://betterhomebetterplanet.com/catalogue/drainage-and-ground-levels/) · [Planting, Mulch And Shade](https://betterhomebetterplanet.com/catalogue/planting-mulch-and-shade/) \| [All Water & Outside entries](https://betterhomebetterplanet.com/catalogue/water-and-outside/) \| [Catalogue index](https://betterhomebetterplanet.com/catalogue/) | »Catalogue StatusThis catalogue holds **18** entries across **4** sections.Entries are written to be read and worked from. Nothing here is ordered, priced or supplied.»Start Here[Air Sealing Gaps And Cracks](https://betterhomebetterplanet.com/catalogue/air-sealing-gaps-and-cracks/)[Attic And Loft Insulation](https://betterhomebetterplanet.com/catalogue/attic-and-loft-insulation/)[Weatherstripping Doors](https://betterhomebetterplanet.com/catalogue/weatherstripping-doors/)[Thermostat Settings And Zoning](https://betterhomebetterplanet.com/catalogue/thermostat-settings-and-zoning/)[Radiator And Baseboard Care](https://betterhomebetterplanet.com/catalogue/radiator-and-baseboard-care/) |
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|  | WO-02Straightforward · Any seasonFitting aerators and restrictors so fittings use less water without feeling weaker. |  |
| Section | [Water & Outside](https://betterhomebetterplanet.com/catalogue/water-and-outside/) |  |
| Reference | WO-02 |  |
| Difficulty | Straightforward |  |
| Season | Any season |  |
| Typical scope | An hour |  |
| What it affects | Water used, hot water demand |  |

4 sections · 18 entries · 5 index pages

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[Building Envelope](https://betterhomebetterplanet.com/catalogue/building-envelope/)

[Heating, Cooling & Water](https://betterhomebetterplanet.com/catalogue/heating-cooling-water/)

[Water & Outside](https://betterhomebetterplanet.com/catalogue/water-and-outside/)

[Materials & Finishes](https://betterhomebetterplanet.com/catalogue/materials-and-finishes/)

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