I'm working on a unique shower head design where the water flows out gently over a decorative piece instead of spraying. However, I'm facing an issue with the flow rate from the home's pipe being too high (GPM). I need to find a way to reduce this flow rate while ensuring it stays laminar. I'd like to be able to tweak the flow rate anywhere between the standard home pressure and down to around 2.5 GPM for a better shower experience. Is there a simple solution I'm overlooking?
5 Answers
It sounds like your shower head design might need a little tweaking. Check the diameter of the water holes relative to your desired flow rate. Smaller outlet holes can boost pressure, but you need to keep everything balanced. Also, a pressure reducing valve could be a smart addition to your setup.
A water pressure regulator installed between your shower mixing valve and head could be your best bet. Set it to the pressure that works for you, and as long as your home’s water pressure is above that, you should have consistent output.
Using a smaller diameter pipe is a great option! This can help manage the pressure and reduce the flow efficiently.
Have you thought about using a valve? You can partially close it further back from the decorative outlet to reduce the GPM without affecting the laminar flow too much.
You might want to consider a separate mixer for your water feature, similar to how you can adjust the pressure on different shower heads. This could help maintain a consistent flow!