Control water usage at shower and hose bib heads

SweatHog

Has anybody employed a proportional control valve to regulate high water usage for showers and outside hose bibs? How reliable are they and is there a cheaper way to achieve the same result with, say, a zone valve and some sort of timer?

Jamie Hall

Most shower heads currently on the market have a flow rate limiting device built into them. It sounds more, though, as though you are looking to limit the total amount used at one time? There are a number of self-closing faucets and valves for that purpose.

SweatHog

@Jamie Hall. Yes, I'm trying to address the latter issue: preventing long showers and open hose bibs after car washing and other activities.

Jamie Hall

Probably your best bet -- depending somewhat on how determined your water [mis]users are -- is going to be a regular shower head or hose bibb, and a zone valve on the feed controlled by a push button and timer located remotely. Digikey -- among other sources -- has a variety of time delay relays which can be used.

kcopp

I find the best way to do this for showers is to have them pay for what they use.
Each unit gets a 40 gallon electric water heater.
When it gone they will get out. Also since its on their dime they will now conserve.
I recommend this to most landlords.
Its what happens when people get free heat and hot water.... they waste.

hot_rod

Both PIC and manual balance valves can be used to regulate flow to a fixed gpm. Make sure the valve is NSF certified low lead  
Caleffi for one offers all their balance valves low lead as they get use in potable balance applications often.

MikeAmann

You need to outsmart them. Otherwise you will end up being the bad guy (and pay for it).
Put a restrictor in the HW pipe that no one knows about.
Change the shower head at the same time.
They will complain about the new shower head.
Switch the shower head back and (hopefully) they will think they have won the battle.

It can be as simple (and inexpensive) as a disc with the proper size hole in it.



Here is a nice chart: https://barndoorag.com/teejet-stainless-steel-flow-regulator-orifice-plate-cp4916-51/?gclid=EAIaIQobChMI-tfMp-6g9QIV5m5vBB2kjgaHEAQYAiABEgLDVPD_BwE

SweatHog

Thanks for the suggestions. Lots to investigate here...

EBEBRATT-Ed

Flow switch on the hot water pipe when the flow starts the flow switch takes out the relay and kills the water heater

As far as the outside faucets /hose bibs a timer wired to a valve like they do at an air pump you have to pay and at a car wash when the time runs out

pecmsg

You can always lower the water pressure 

Derheatmeister

You could install a device such as the Moen Flo