Kevin Gates, MD of Neoperl UK, explains how flow regulators can help to save water and energy.
Around half the taps we buy today have some kind of stream control device at the end of the spout, but it’s only when they are fitted that one can assess if the flow rate is right for the situation. Today there is simply no excuse for a tap that splashes water out of a basin when a flow control pressure compensating aerator (PCA) takes seconds to retrofit and can reduce the water flow immediately. This is especially relevant in cloakrooms and bathrooms where the taps are simply used to wash teeth and hands as oppose to quickly filling a bowl like in the kitchen.
It’s a similar story with a valve shower. An average European shower head dispenses around 18 litres of water a minute and yet a more than satisfactory shower can be achieved with 12 litres of water a minute. In a family of four, showering each day for seven minutes, that’s over 60,000 litres of water saved in one home each year. Add to that the energy saved in heating the water and it can add up to quite a saving for the homeowner.
The problem is that people are still largely unaware that these flow regulator devices exist and yet they play an enormous part in reducing the amount of water we use in the home. These clever devices can be retrofitted by an installer in minutes, it just takes a short audit of each appliance when installed to make the right choice and reduce the flow. What’s more, a leading manufacturer of these smart precision ‘Flow Regulators’, Neoperl, are based here in the UK, so they certainly understand the UK market.
Constant flow
Flow regulators ensure that a constant water flow rate is maintained through an appliance, regardless of water pressure fluctuations. They are a small hidden component that reduces water consumption and controls water flow. They are often coupled with Aerators, a component positioned in the spout of a tap that shapes the water to produce a non-splashing stream and adds air to make the water pleasantly soft.
A flow regulator is a technically engineered device that has an integral dynamic control ring (DCR) at its core. As water flows through it and as the pressure fluctuates, the DCR deforms into the core of the flow regulator, either reducing or increasing the size of the orifice, to enable a stable and constant flow rate, independent of pressure. The device offers a sealing function and replaces the washer when retro fitted into the shower hose or handle. It’s really simple to assemble and they are available in various colour-coded flow rates to suit each application.
Understanding the opportunity of fitting these products for your customers is just one simple way to join the campaign in saving water and do your bit to help the environment. It is estimated that 34% of the water used in the home is from showering and bathing, so keeping a few flow regulators in stock to retrofit in your customers’ bathrooms is a great way to make a big difference.
www.neoperl.com/global/en/home/products/flow-regulators
