Latest news with #showerhead
Irish Times
22-05-2025
- Climate
- Irish Times
Bathroom upgrades: How to boost energy efficiency without sacrificing style
After a few glorious weeks of sunshine, the kind of weather we long for all year, the downside of this long dry spell is beginning to show. Hosepipe bans, dwindling reservoirs and calls to conserve water. While it's easy to blame thirsty lawns and wilting flower beds, the real water guzzler at home is often hiding in plain sight – the bathroom. Paul O'Neill of Sonas Bathrooms has some tips for making your bathroom more efficient without sacrificing comfort or style . Simple swaps 'Swapping your shower head is one of the quickest and most effective ways to reduce water usage at home,' O'Neill says. Modern water-efficient designs can cut consumption by up to 60 per cent compared with older models, without compromising on comfort. Many now feature air-infused spray technology, delivering a powerful flow while using far less water. And it's not just the shower head that matters. Thermostatic valves help to maintain a steady temperature, so you're not wasting water trying to get the settings right. Some systems also include eco modes or flow restrictors, reducing water use to as little as six litres per minute – about half that of a typical shower. 'With modern heating systems like heat pumps and other renewables, it can take much longer to reheat water compared to older immersion or gas boilers,' O'Neill says. 'So if your teenager takes a long shower, it might be hours before the next person has hot water again.' READ MORE Smart fixtures Taps are another easy win. Aerated models blend air with water to reduce flow while still giving a full-feeling stream. Many modern tap collections are designed to use as little as five litres per minute. Look out for taps that include cold-start technology, meaning cold water is the default when the tap is switched on. It's a small but clever way to avoid unnecessarily heating water. 'Reducing water usage doesn't just help the environment, it saves money too,' says O'Neill. 'A large portion of your heating bill goes toward heating water, not air. So when you reduce flow rates, you're also cutting your energy costs.' Attachments Guest WC designed by Optimise Design Toilets have also come a long way. Dual-flush systems are now standard, but even these vary in performance. Some eco-flush toilets use as little as four and 2.6 litres per flush, a significant drop from the older six- and four-litre systems. Over time, this small change can save thousands of litres of water each year in a typical household. It might surprise you to learn that manufacturing a single roll of toilet paper consumes nearly 170 litres of water. That's where shower toilets or bidet attachments come in. While these might seem indulgent, they're actually more sustainable, reducing toilet paper use by up to 75 per cent, improving hygiene and minimising waste. [ Diary of a retrofit: It cost €60,000 but it is worth every cent Opens in new window ] Toilet tech Water-saving can go well beyond fixtures and fittings. Leak detectors can automatically shut off the water supply if a leak is detected, saving both water and money in the event of a burst pipe or persistent drip. While commonly seen in commercial settings, touchless taps are becoming more popular in residential bathrooms. Because they only run when hands are detected, they can reduce unnecessary water use which is especially helpful in homes with children who tend to leave taps running. Other innovations, such as taps with built-in LED temperature displays, help reduce the habit of running water unnecessarily while waiting for it to warm up. Bathers beware Baths use significantly more water than showers, so if you plan to indulge, it's worth making a few smart choices. Start with the bath itself. Enamelled steel retains heat far better than acrylic, meaning the water stays warmer for longer and you're less likely to top up with more hot water. Oversized or deep baths may look impressive, but they require far more water to fill. If you're designing a new bathroom, consider whether a more compact bath could meet your needs without the excess water use. Simply being mindful about how often and how full you run your bath can make a big difference. If you enjoy regular baths, balancing them out with shorter showers during the week can help reduce your overall consumption without cutting out the ritual altogether. Thoughtful design Taps are another easy win. Bathroom designed by Optimise Design Water-saving isn't just about choosing the right fittings – it starts with how you plan the space. A well-designed bathroom can help you use less water. Start by positioning key fixtures such as the shower, bath and basin closer to the hot-water source. This shortens the length of pipework, reducing both heat loss and the amount of water wasted while you wait for it to warm up. Don't forget about preventing leaks, too. Wet areas such as showers and wet rooms should be properly sealed or tanked during installation to stop slow leaks that can quietly waste litres of water and cause costly damage. [ How does retrofitting your house pay off? Opens in new window ] Finally, consider whether grey-water recycling systems could be integrated if you're planning a full renovation or self-build. These collect and filter water from basins or showers for reuse in toilet flushing – a more advanced step, but one that's becoming increasingly relevant in sustainable home design. Whether you're planning a full bathroom renovation or just looking to make some simple swaps, water-saving doesn't have to mean sacrificing comfort.
Telegraph
19-05-2025
- Lifestyle
- Telegraph
Hansgrohe Raindance Select S 120 3jet PowderRain review: ‘I tried 11 showers – this is the best.'
Score: 10/10 We like: Its massaging whirl spray and relaxing PowderRain spray Easy to control push button Compact and attractive design We don't like: The handle is short in comparison to the head Only three spray options available – some shower heads have up to five It's not the cheapest chrome shower head you can buy What is the Hansgrohe Raindance Select S Hand Shower 120 3jet PowderRain? Improving your daily shower routine is easy with the Hansgrohe Raindance Select S Hand Shower. Provided it's compatible with your plumbing system, you can simply unscrew your existing shower head and replace it with this convenient and powerful model. The shower head has three settings, including a relaxing PowderRain spray, a refreshing Rain spray and an invigorating Whirl spray. After testing 11 models (including filter and water saving designs) to find the best shower heads for your home, this was my favourite; it stood out for its economical yet strong water pressure and its versatility. It's one of the more premium designs on the market, with an RRP of £138 (although it's often cheaper on Amazon). And while I tested the standard chrome model, you can pay more for other finishes like black chrome and brushed bronze. JUMP TO: How we test shower heads I tried a wide range of shower heads, including the viral Hello Klean filter shower head that is great for hard water areas, and the Mira Beat Shower Head that I highlighted as the best value shower head. Throughout my testing, I used the same approach. Firstly, I assessed each shower's spray patterns, water pressure and distribution and comfort of use, including whether it was easy to hold. I then tested the flow rate for litres per minute by measuring how much water was collected in 10 seconds and multiplying it by six. Read on to find out why I rated this shower head top and pair it with one of the best bath towels for a spa-like bathroom. Why you can trust Telegraph Recommended Our thorough, real-world tests will always help you find the best product. No manufacturer ever sees Telegraph Recommended reviews before publication and we don't accept payment in exchange for favourable reviews, nor do we allow brands to pay for placement in our articles. All opinions are based on independent expert opinion and our hands-on testing. Visit our Who We Are page to learn more. Flow rate A shower head that benefits both your wallet and the environment will provide good pressure without using too much water. This Hansgrohe design claims to help you save 20 per cent compared to a standard shower head through its AirPower technology that mixes air with water to create a soft, voluminous spray. This means you still get that spa-like feel while using less water. Hansgrohe states its maximum water flow rate is up to 11 litres per minute. To test this myself, I placed a bucket at the base of my shower, turned it on for 10 seconds and measured the volume of water collected. I multiplied this by six to get the flow rate per minute. I measured an average of around 7.2 litres per minute on the heavier Rain and Whirl sprays and just a little less at 6.6 litres per minute on the PowderRain spray. This was about average when compared with the other eco shower heads I tried. Water pressure Supply issues or your home's hot water system are often the culprits for low water pressure. But a shower head with a water flow restrictor and its spray settings can also play a part. There are three settings on this one, including 'PowderRain' which provides 'soft, sensual water drops', 'Rain' which feels much like a standard rainfall shower and 'Whirl' which has a massaging effect. Keen to know how the water pressure would be affected by the different sprays, I turned the shower on to check whether it extended three feet before dropping, which indicates adequate pressure. I found all three settings satisfyingly strong, leaving me happy with the powerful results. Spray pattern and distribution The range and types of spray patterns found on a shower head vary from model to model, but having tried many, I find that quality beats quantity. So while other models I've tried have up to five options, that didn't mean they would be better than the Hansgrohe's three. They are controlled via a 'Select' button, conveniently positioned at the base of the face. I preferred using this over the manual levers found on many other designs as those often felt a little awkward to use. It's the large, 12.5cm face that makes all the difference to this shower's feel, however. The invigorating Whirl spray, with its luxurious massaging jet of water, twisted and turned out of the shower head like nothing I've seen before. It felt great on my back. The PowderRain's generous droplets and powerful spray mimicked overhead rainfall shower heads and the Rain spray is similarly drenching, but the jets are more concentrated and feel thicker and heavier overall. Design and aesthetics Score: 9/10 This shower head is visibly larger than your average design – the Mira Beat is 11cm while the Arezzo handset is 10.5cm. The chrome is shiny and the back of the shower head acts like a mirror, which came in useful for making sure all my make up has washed off. The handle felt shorter than what I would expect for its large head, but was surprisingly comfortable to hold. There's still ample room for your hand to fit conveniently. While the chrome finish will suit most bathrooms, if it's not right for yours, there are five alternative colours for you to choose from. Ease of cleaning Score: 9/10 Cleaning and buffing your shower dry after use with a microfibre cloth can make all the difference to its appearance and help to keep unsightly limescale build up at bay – a notorious problem if you live in a hard water area. The Hansgrohe's smooth and shiny head meant this was easy to do while the QuickClean silicone nozzles are also designed to clean up with a wipe. There aren't too many grooves or indentations for limescale build up on either. It's hard to say how this shower head will fare over time and whether it will still look as box fresh in six months' time, but one month in I'm pleased with the results. Technical specifications I've rated the Hansgrohe Raindance Select S Hand Shower 120 3jet PowderRain as the Best Buy among shower heads currently available, but if you're after a cheaper option you might like to try the Mira Beat, my pick for Best Value shower head. Here's how they match up. Should you buy the Hansgrohe Raindance Select S Hand Shower 120 3jet PowderRain? Provided it's compatible with your shower system, this Hansgrohe Raindance Shower Head makes for a great bathroom refresh. Its three spray options are water-saving yet powerful and the Whirl spray is particularly invigorating. Yes, if: You want a rainfall-style shower that's not overhead You're trying to create a spa-like experience at home You want to switch between spray patterns easily No, if: Hansgrohe Raindance Select S FAQs How do you clean the Hansgrohe Raindance shower head? With QuickClean silicone nozzles that protrude slightly from the shower head, the Raindance Select S can be wiped clean with a damp cloth to ensure limescale doesn't build up. Clean the body of the shower head with a standard shower detergent and then buff dry with a soft microfibre cloth to keep it looking shiny. The seal and filter are accessible from the base of the hand shower. What's special about the Hansgrohe Raindance shower head? The water sprays on this shower head all provide a spa-like experience. Both the Rain and PowderRain sprays offer a good drenching from the large 12.5cm head, while the Whirl spray generates a powerful, massaging stream of water. How do you remove the water restrictor from the Hansgrohe Raindance shower head? The model reviewed here doesn't have a flow restrictor. This feature is available on the EcoSmart and EcoSmart+ models. How do you disassemble the Hansgrohe Raindance shower head?
Yahoo
11-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
A business owner tested if customers would pay more for American-made. The results were 'sobering.'
Afina founder Ramon van Meer wanted to see if people would buy a Made-in-USA version of his specialty shower head. He found it would cost three times as much to produce — and raised the sale price by 85%. After several days of testing, a total of zero customers bought the USA model. As a small business owner, Ramon van Meer said he's used to hearing people say they'd be willing to pay more for products made in America. When President Donald Trump ratcheted up tariffs on Chinese imports by an additional 145%, van Meer decided to see if shoppers would put their money where their mouth is. "I wanted to know the answer and then use it for my own company," the Afina founder told Business Insider. So the serial entrepreneur set about finding US suppliers to make his best-selling product: a specialized filtered shower head. Van Meer said his filters are made in the US, some additional materials are sourced in Vietnam, and the final product is made in China with a single supplier. To move everything over to the US, he said he had to find four to six separate suppliers who would handle various aspects of the production process. All told, he found it would cost three times as much to produce — more than the cost of simply paying the tariff. Armed with real numbers, he set out to do a test with two identical products, with the only difference being their origin and, critically, their price: visitors to Afina's website were presented with the option of a Chinese-made item for $129 or a US-made version for $239. "I'm big on just testing it out with real data and real purchases," van Meer said. "Not asking customers, not a survey, not even add-to-carts." "When somebody has to pay for it, that's the actual real data," he added. After several days and more than 25,000 visitors, he said he sold 584 of the lower-priced shower heads and not one single purchase of a US-made version. In a blog post that went viral, van Meer called the results "sobering." "We wanted to believe customers would back American labor with their dollars. But when faced with a real decision — not a survey or a comment section — they didn't," he wrote. Nowadays van Meer said he's spending most of his time trying to shift production out of China to a country with a lower tariff rate. "Staying in China is not sustainable because even if they make a deal, we don't know what's going to happen," he said. "The United States is also not an option, because there's just no facilities that can make it." Van Meer said Afina currently has enough inventory in its US warehouses to last until August, at which point he would have to start charging for the tariff. Asked whether he would roll that cost into the price or apply a surcharge, as other businesses have said they would do, van Meer said he hadn't yet decided. "We'll probably do testing," he said. Read the original article on Business Insider Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Yahoo
11-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
A business owner tested if customers would pay more for American-made. The results were 'sobering.'
Afina founder Ramon van Meer wanted to see if people would buy a Made-in-USA version of his specialty shower head. He found it would cost three times as much to produce — and raised the sale price by 85%. After several days of testing, a total of zero customers bought the USA model. As a small business owner, Ramon van Meer said he's used to hearing people say they'd be willing to pay more for products made in America. When President Donald Trump ratcheted up tariffs on Chinese imports by an additional 145%, van Meer decided to see if shoppers would put their money where their mouth is. "I wanted to know the answer and then use it for my own company," the Afina founder told Business Insider. So the serial entrepreneur set about finding US suppliers to make his best-selling product: a specialized filtered shower head. Van Meer said his filters are made in the US, some additional materials are sourced in Vietnam, and the final product is made in China with a single supplier. To move everything over to the US, he said he had to find four to six separate suppliers who would handle various aspects of the production process. All told, he found it would cost three times as much to produce — more than the cost of simply paying the tariff. Armed with real numbers, he set out to do a test with two identical products, with the only difference being their origin and, critically, their price: visitors to Afina's website were presented with the option of a Chinese-made item for $129 or a US-made version for $239. "I'm big on just testing it out with real data and real purchases," van Meer said. "Not asking customers, not a survey, not even add-to-carts." "When somebody has to pay for it, that's the actual real data," he added. After several days and more than 25,000 visitors, he said he sold 584 of the lower-priced shower heads and not one single purchase of a US-made version. In a blog post that went viral, van Meer called the results "sobering." "We wanted to believe customers would back American labor with their dollars. But when faced with a real decision — not a survey or a comment section — they didn't," he wrote. Nowadays van Meer said he's spending most of his time trying to shift production out of China to a country with a lower tariff rate. "Staying in China is not sustainable because even if they make a deal, we don't know what's going to happen," he said. "The United States is also not an option, because there's just no facilities that can make it." Van Meer said Afina currently has enough inventory in its US warehouses to last until August, at which point he would have to start charging for the tariff. Asked whether he would roll that cost into the price or apply a surcharge, as other businesses have said they would do, van Meer said he hadn't yet decided. "We'll probably do testing," he said. Read the original article on Business Insider
Yahoo
11-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
A business owner tested if customers would pay more for American-made. The results were 'sobering.'
Afina founder Ramon van Meer wanted to see if people would buy a Made-in-USA version of his specialty shower head. He found it would cost three times as much to produce — and raised the sale price by 85%. After several days of testing, a total of zero customers bought the USA model. As a small business owner, Ramon van Meer said he's used to hearing people say they'd be willing to pay more for products made in America. When President Donald Trump ratcheted up tariffs on Chinese imports by an additional 145%, van Meer decided to see if shoppers would put their money where their mouth is. "I wanted to know the answer and then use it for my own company," the Afina founder told Business Insider. So the serial entrepreneur set about finding US suppliers to make his best-selling product: a specialized filtered shower head. Van Meer said his filters are made in the US, some additional materials are sourced in Vietnam, and the final product is made in China with a single supplier. To move everything over to the US, he said he had to find four to six separate suppliers who would handle various aspects of the production process. All told, he found it would cost three times as much to produce — more than the cost of simply paying the tariff. Armed with real numbers, he set out to do a test with two identical products, with the only difference being their origin and, critically, their price: visitors to Afina's website were presented with the option of a Chinese-made item for $129 or a US-made version for $239. "I'm big on just testing it out with real data and real purchases," van Meer said. "Not asking customers, not a survey, not even add-to-carts." "When somebody has to pay for it, that's the actual real data," he added. After several days and more than 25,000 visitors, he said he sold 584 of the lower-priced shower heads and not one single purchase of a US-made version. In a blog post that went viral, van Meer called the results "sobering." "We wanted to believe customers would back American labor with their dollars. But when faced with a real decision — not a survey or a comment section — they didn't," he wrote. Nowadays van Meer said he's spending most of his time trying to shift production out of China to a country with a lower tariff rate. "Staying in China is not sustainable because even if they make a deal, we don't know what's going to happen," he said. "The United States is also not an option, because there's just no facilities that can make it." Van Meer said Afina currently has enough inventory in its US warehouses to last until August, at which point he would have to start charging for the tariff. Asked whether he would roll that cost into the price or apply a surcharge, as other businesses have said they would do, van Meer said he hadn't yet decided. "We'll probably do testing," he said. Read the original article on Business Insider
