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Shower Timer
Tap a length, turn the volume up, press Start and step in. Be rinsed off by the time the alarm sounds.
5 minutes
Spacestart / pauseRresetFfull screen+ −add or remove a minute0–9type a time
A quick rinse: about 7.5 gallons (28 L) at the US maximum flow of 2.5 gpm.
The water-saver target: about 10 gallons (38 L) at 2.5 gpm.
A good everyday length: about 12.5 gallons (47 L) at 2.5 gpm.
Room to wash and condition long hair: about 20 gallons (76 L) at 2.5 gpm.
The top of the usual 5–10 minute advice: about 25 gallons (95 L) at 2.5 gpm.
How much water does a shower use, by length
| Shower length | Standard head, 2.5 gpm | WaterSense head, 2.0 gpm |
|---|---|---|
| 3 minutes | 7.5 gal (28 L) | 6 gal (23 L) |
| 4 minutes | 10 gal (38 L) | 8 gal (30 L) |
| 5 minutes | 12.5 gal (47 L) | 10 gal (38 L) |
| 8 minutes | 20 gal (76 L) | 16 gal (61 L) |
| 10 minutes | 25 gal (95 L) | 20 gal (76 L) |
Minutes multiplied by flow rate. 2.5 gallons per minute (9.5 L/min) is the US federal maximum for showerheads; EPA WaterSense-labeled heads use no more than 2.0 gpm (7.6 L/min). Older or modified heads can use more, and liters are rounded.
How to use it
- Tap a length. Five minutes is selected; use the steppers for anything in between.
- Choose a loud alarm sound, press Test, and raise the volume until you can hear it over running water with the door or curtain closed.
- Put the phone or tablet on the counter or a shelf outside the splash zone, screen facing the shower.
- Press Start as you turn the water on. When the alarm sounds, finish rinsing and turn the water off.
How long should a shower be
Dermatologists generally suggest keeping showers to about 5 to 10 minutes, in warm water and not hot. Long, hot showers strip the oils that keep skin from drying out, which is why skin can feel tight and itchy afterward. Five minutes is enough to wash; eight to ten leaves time for shampoo and conditioner.
The 4 minute shower is the target used by water-saving campaigns in drought-prone places such as Australia and South Africa. If you want to go shorter still, a navy shower does it without rushing: wet yourself, turn the water off, soap up, then turn it back on to rinse. The water runs for well under the 3 minutes on the shortest chip.
What a shorter shower saves
A shower uses about its length in minutes times the flow rate of the head. At the US federal cap of 2.5 gallons per minute, each minute you cut saves 2.5 gallons (9.5 L). Dropping from 10 minutes to 5 saves 12.5 gallons (47 L) per shower. A WaterSense-labeled head at 2.0 gpm brings every figure in the table down by a fifth.
Most of that water is heated, so a shorter shower also trims the water-heating part of the energy bill. Timing is the cheap half of the saving and needs no plumbing. One or two songs on a “shower playlist” is the same trick; a countdown you can see adds a clock for those who lose track of the music.
Common mistakes
- Leaving the volume at the level you use for messages. Running water is loud, so test the alarm with the shower on.
- Taking the phone into the shower or balancing it on the edge of the tub. Steam and splashes are hard on electronics; the counter is close enough.
- Starting the timer and then waiting two minutes for hot water. Start it when you step in, or catch the cold water in a bucket for plants.
- Setting 3 minutes on day one and giving up. Time a normal shower with the stopwatch first, then cut it by a minute or two.
Questions people ask
How much water does a 5 minute shower use?
About 12.5 gallons (47 L) with a standard 2.5 gpm showerhead and about 10 gallons (38 L) with a 2.0 gpm WaterSense head. A 10-minute shower uses twice that.
Is a 4 minute shower long enough?
For a daily wash, yes. Four minutes is the target water-saving campaigns use in places such as Australia and South Africa. Washing long hair is easier with 8 minutes, or with the water off while you lather.
How do I use this as a shower timer for kids and teens?
Agree the length before the water goes on, put the device on the counter with the alarm loud, and let them press Start. A countdown they can see and a rule set in advance work better than knocking on the door.
What is a navy shower?
A way of showering that keeps the water off while you soap: wet down, water off, lather, water on to rinse. The water runs for a minute or two in total.
Can I hear the alarm over the water?
Usually, if you pick one of the louder sounds and set the volume to maximum. Check it once with Test while the shower is running. If your phone speaker is too quiet, put the device nearer the door or use a small speaker outside the splash zone.