When it comes to showerheads, some Americans don't go with the (low) flow

Americans are adopting some green behaviors, but according to this recent Wall Street Journal report, they aren't going with the flow when it comes to water-conserving showerheads.

That news jibes with a survey by the Consumer Reports National Research Center on green behavior, which found that 83 percent of Americans run their dishwasher only with full loads but only 27 percent of Americans have installed a low-flow showerhead.

The WSJ story notes that many Americans are removing flow restrictors from showerheads to circumvent the 2.5-gallon-per-minute (gpm) federal limit on showerheads. There's also a reference to the celebrated Seinfeld episode in which Kramer and Newman buy black-market unrestricted showerheads. Other Americans are getting around the federal regulations by installing multiple-fixture shower towers that use more water even with each showerhead meeting federal standards.

Almost four in five states anticipate water shortages by 2013, which could lead to steeper rates and penalties for excessive use by consumers in those states. Enduring drought conditions are leading municipalities to weigh tighter rules. Florida's Miami-Dade County is capping showerheads flow rate at 1.5 gpm, and residents of San Antonio will face a 2-gpm restriction when they shower.

You can save water without having to endure a feeble flow. Here's how:

• Buy a quality low-flow fixture. Our August 2009 report on showerheads found models that meet the 2.5-gpm flow rate and provide a satisfying shower; one American Standard model also stood out for its stimulating flow (ratings are available to subscribers). Check out available incentives for low-flow toilets and faucet accessories.

• Use a model with a shutoff button. A U.S. Environmental Protection Agency-commissioned study showed that retrofitting a home with a 1.75-gpm showerhead or a 2.5-gpm handheld unit with a shutoff button led to a 28 percent reduction in water use.

• Take showers instead of baths. And limit your shower to 5 minutes or less. Several water companies are even offering customers free shower timers.—Gian Trotta | e-mail | Twitter | Forums | Facebook

Essential Information: Remember, if you install a multihead shower tower, it could tax your water heater. See our water-heater calculator and reports on storage-tank, tankless, and solar water heaters for more details. And if you're concerned about news reports on a harmful bacteria that can build up in some showerheads, read this blog post.

Forget the candy. Your post-Halloween treat is an extra hour of sleep

Daylight-saving time ends this Sunday, November 1. Turn back your clocks—and sleep in.

Throughout most of the United States, daylight-saving time (DST) will end at 2 a.m. (your local time) on Sunday, November. 1. If you stayed up to too late on Halloween, you might welcome the extra hour of sleep you'll get after turning back the clock on Saturday night/Sunday morning. (Find out when DST will start and end in 2010 and beyond.)

In this previous entry on daylight-saving time, you'll find a list of smart moves that can enhance safety around your house and save you some money. "Is Daylight-Saving Time Costing Us Money?" provides more details on this seasonal time shift. e-mail | Twitter | Forums | Facebook

Essential information: Be sure to read our latest report on carbon-monoxide and smoke alarms (available to subscribers). And if you're having trouble getting a good night's sleep, read "How Did You Sleep Last Night?" This feature offers expert advice, details on sound machines designed to enhance sleep, an interactive quiz, and much more.

In this previous entry on daylight-saving time, you'll find a list of smart moves that can enhance safety around your house and save you some money. "Is Daylight-Saving Time Costing Us Money?" provides more details on this seasonal time shift. e-mail | Twitter | Forums | Facebook

Essential information: Be sure to read our latest report on carbon-monoxide and smoke alarms (available to subscribers). And if you're having trouble getting a good night's sleep, read "How Did You Sleep Last Night?" This feature offers expert advice, details on sound machines designed to enhance sleep, an interactive quiz, and much more.

Get the best deal on a new mattress

"They say the media doesn't report good news, but I come before you today with three nice-sounding numbers: 7, 12 and 15. Those are three estimates of how much growth the mattress category will record next year. Yes, you heard us correctly. We said 'growth.' That's not a word that has been heard in Mattressville in recent years."

That's how David Perry, executive editor of Furniture Today and the writer of the Bedding Today blog, started a recent post about the latest mattress-industry forecast by the International Sleep Products Association. The projections Perry mentions represent a 7 percent growth in the dollar value of mattress shipments in 2010 and a 12 to 15 percent dollar gain for the industry.

Unless you're a mattress maker or retailer, your interest is not in industry trends but in getting the best deal from a reputable dealer on the right mattress. Our October 2009 survey-based report, "Would You Buy That Mattress Again?" can help you find the best mattress brands and the top mattress retailers (ratings available to subscribers).

Essential information: Before you buy, also check out our free buyer's guide to mattresses.

Tip of the Day: Take advantage of rebates for low-flow toilets, faucet accessories, and irrigation gear

As part of its WaterSense program, which aims to get consumers and businesses to use less water, the  U.S. Environmental Program has assembled a list of municipalities offering rebates on toilets, faucet accessories, and irrigation equipment. The list below, current as of September 21, 2009, includes links to the municipal sites where you can get details on the deals, such as the rebate for half the cost of an eligible high-efficiency toilet up to $200 being offered by the city of Sharon, Massachusetts, or the Irvine Ranch (California) Water District's $9 rebate for qualifying sprinkler-system pop-up spray heads.

If you're remodeling your bathroom or need new fixtures, read our reports on low-flow toilets and water-saving showerheads and check out the ratings of toilets and showerheads (available to subscribers). Also learn about tankless water heaters and the latest efficient dishwashers and washing machines. e-mail | Twitter | Forums | Facebook

City of Avondale	Arizona	Toilets
City of Avondale	Arizona	Faucet Accessories
City of Peoria Utilities Department	Arizona	Toilets
City of Phoenix	Arizona	Toilets
City of Scottsdale Water Resources Department	Arizona	Toilets
City of Tempe	Arizona	Faucet Accessories
City of Tempe	Arizona	Toilets
City of Tucson - Tucson Water	Arizona	Toilets
Town of Payson Water Department	Arizona	Toilets
Borrego Water District	California	Toilets
City of Fresno- Water Conservation Program	California	Toilets
City of Oxnard Water Resources Division	California	Toilets
City of Santa Barbara	California	Toilets
City of Santa Rosa - Utilities	California	Toilets
City of Santa Rosa - Utilities	California	Faucet Accessories
Irvine Ranch Water District	California	Faucet Accessories
Irvine Ranch Water District	California	Toilets
Metropolitan Water District of Southern California	California	Toilets
Otay Water District	California	Toilets
San Diego County Water Authority	California	Toilets
Sonoma County Water Agency	California	Toilets
Town of Windsor	California	Faucet Accessories
Town of Windsor	California	Toilets
City of Greeley Water Department	Colorado	Toilets
City of Thornton	Colorado	Toilets
Denver Water	Colorado	Faucet Accessories
City of Melbourne	Florida	Toilets
City of Titusville	Florida	Toilets
Eastern Volusia Regional Water Authority	Florida	Toilets
Manatee County Utility Operations	Florida	Toilets
Miami-Dade Water and Sewer Department	Florida	Toilets
Toho Water Authority	Florida	Faucet Accessories
City of Atlanta, Department of Watershed Management	Georgia	Toilets
City of Austell	Georgia	Toilets
City of Austell	Georgia	Faucet Accessories
City of Gainesville, Environmental Services	Georgia	Toilets
City of Roswell	Georgia	Toilets
Clayton County Water Authority	Georgia	Toilets
Cobb County Water System	Georgia	Toilets
Coweta County Water & Sewage Authority	Georgia	Toilets
Fayette County Water System	Georgia	Toilets
Fulton County Department of Public Works	Georgia	Toilets
Gwinnett County Department of Water Resources	Georgia	Toilets
Gwinnett County Department of Water Resources	Georgia	Toilets
Henry County Water & Sewerage Authority	Georgia	Toilets
Metropolitan North Georgia Water Planning District	Georgia	Toilets
Acton Water District	Mass.	Toilets
Concord Public Works	Mass.	Faucet Accessories
Concord Public Works	Mass.	Toilets
Dedham-Westwood Water District	Mass.	Toilets
Massachusetts Water Resources Authority	Mass.	Faucet Accessories
Massachusetts Water Resources Authority	Mass.	Toilets
Neponset River Watershed Association	Mass.	Faucet Accessories
Town of Danvers	Mass.	Toilets
Town of Sharon Water Department	Mass.	Faucet Accessories
Town of Sharon Water Department	Mass.	Toilets
Town of Walpole Water Department	Mass.	Toilets
City Utilities of Springfield	Missouri	Toilets
Southern Nevada Water Authority	Nevada	Toilets
American Water	New Jersey	Faucet Accessories
American Water	New Jersey	Toilets
Albuquerque Bernalillo County Water Utility Authority	New Mexico	Toilets
Albuquerque Bernalillo County Water Utility Authority	New Mexico	Faucet Accessories
City of Gallup - Gallup Joint Utilities	New Mexico	Toilets
City of Santa Fe	New Mexico	Toilets
Homewise, Inc.	New Mexico	Faucet Accessories
Homewise, Inc.	New Mexico	Toilets
City of Durham Water Management	North Carolina	Toilets
Town of Cary	North Carolina	Toilets
Eugene Water & Electric Board	Oregon	Toilets
Tualatin Valley Water District	Oregon	Toilets
City of Sioux Falls	South Dakota	Toilets
Arlington Water Utilities	Texas	Toilets
Austin Water Utility	Texas	Toilets
Austin Water Utility	Texas	Toilets
City of Allen	Texas	Toilets
City of Irving	Texas	Toilets
San Antonio Water System	Texas	Toilets
City of Charlottesville	Virginia	Toilets
City of Virginia Beach Department of Public Utilities	Virginia	Toilets
James City Service Authority	Virginia	Toilets
James City Service Authority	Virginia	Irrigation Professional Service
Cascade Water Alliance	Washington	Toilets
Cascade Water Alliance	Washington	Faucet Accessories
City of Everett Public Works	Washington	Toilets
City of Monroe - Utilities Department	Washington	Toilets
City of Redmond	Washington	Toilets
Spokane County Utilities Division	Washington	Toilets
Water District 19	Washington	Toilets
Kaukauna Utilities	Wisconsin	Toilets
Madison Water Utility	Wisconsin	Toilets

Recent study points to showerheads as bacterial breeding ground

Taking a shower can provide a bracing wake-up call or settle the nerves after a hectic day. But a new study from the University of Colorado, which suggests that the typical showerhead can be an ideal breeding ground for bacteria commonly found in municipal water supplies, might give you pause the next time you step into the shower. The study, "Opportunistic Pathogens Enriched in Showerhead Biofilms," appeared in a recent online edition of the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

Begun as a class project, the study expanded to include 45 sites in nine metropolitan areas, including New York, Chicago, and Denver. Through the very DNA of the pathogens lodged in the nooks and crannies of about 50 showerheads, researchers identified numerous bacteria, notably Mycobacterium avium, a relative of the organism that causes tuberculosis (PDF).

Bacteria found in showerheads tend to clump together in slimy biofilms, the so-called soap scum that builds up on the showerhead's plastic components, explained Norman R. Pace, Ph.D., lead study author and a professor of microbiology at the university. When a shower is on, pathogens accompany the water droplets that become suspended in the air. Besides coating the shower-curtain liner or walls of the shower enclosure, these droplets are easily inhaled deeply into the lungs.

M. avium, often present in soil, is among a class of nontuberculous mycobacteria, or NTM, described as "ubiquitous" by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. But although M. avium accounts for most known infections by NTM, M. avium has not been well documented as a source of infection since suspected cases of NTM infection don't have to be reported to the CDC.

What's certain is that, while M. avium complex, or MAC, is unlikely to affect most people, if contracted it could potentially cause pulmonary disease, with symptoms similar to those of tuberculosis, including a chronic shallow cough, fever, fatigue, and weight loss. Most at risk, however, are those with compromised immune systems, including people with cystic fibrosis or AIDS or who are elderly, pregnant, or otherwise immune compromised.

The study focused on showerheads, but your home has other potential hot spots, such as a humidifier not cleaned thoroughly, hot tubs, and food-prep areas. Even indoor air carries bacteria, but municipal tap water has 10 times the amount commonly found in indoor air before it even reaches the showerhead. And there's no proof that raising the temperature of your water heater would make a significant difference; the culprit is continuous moisture.

Whether or not you're especially at risk, here's what you can do to try to prevent any bacterial problems in the shower:

Brazil looks for "number one" way to save water

Call it the golden rule of water conservation. The SOS Mata Atlântica Foundation, a Brazilian environmental group that works to protect the Atlantic Forest, has launched the "Xixi no Banho" campaign encouraging Brazilians to save water by going number one while showering. (The image is from the ad for the campaign.)

In an amusing, if somewhat perplexing video promoting the campaign—it manages to incorporate the shower scene from Psycho, a tinkling King Kong, and Gandhi (shown), among other elements—the São Paulo-based organization contends that every skipped toilet flush could save more than 3 gallons of water, nearly 1,200 gallons annually per person. According to the site, as of today, 73 percent of visitors to the site go number one while showering.

Were Americans to embrace this change, the per-person water savings could be greater than they are in Brazil, since new toilets sold in this country must use no more than 1.6 gallons per flush (gpf). Older toilets consume 3.5 or more gallons per flush.

If you have a thirsty toilet, upgrading to a high-efficiency toilet is an easy way to save water. (It's your call about xixi-ing while showering.) The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's Water Sense program sets an even stricter 1.28-gpf limit for qualifying models. In our latest report on toilets, several low-flush models performed well in our solid- and liquid-waste tests.

Installing a low-flow showerhead is another way to save water and money. Some of today's most-efficient showerheads use 2 gallons per minute or less. Read our latest report on single-setting and multisetting showerheads to find models that balances efficiency with strong flow and steady temperature.—Daniel DiClerico | e-mail | Twitter | Forums | Facebook



Essential information: The October 2009 issue of Consumer Reports includes a feature on alternative energy, which covers pellet stoves and solar water heaters and provides you with strategies to save hundreds on your utility bills and the latest testing results for compact fluorescent lightbulbs. Check out the lively debate on this blog post about whether showers or baths use more water and visit our new Energy Saving & Green Living guide for more ways to save water and energy around the house.

Forum Friday: Readers sound off on how to find the best mattress

As part of our latest report on mattresses, more than 17,000 Consumer Reports and ConsumerReports.org subscribers rated the best mattress brands and retailers (available to subscribers). Check out these discussions on our Home & Garden forum to share your opinions on mattresses:

• Successful mattress shopping: Read about one commenter's positive experience with the Original Mattress Factory, one of the top-rated brands and retailers in our survey.

• Caveats when comparison shopping: "It is common knowledge that virtually identical mattresses have different names at different stores," noted one commenter (our own research confirms this situation). He revealed how shopping around saved $500 off the price of a $1,899 mattress and how one manufacturer made slight changes to a model to avoid having to honor price-matching guarantees. Another required additional fees for delivery.

That message was followed by dozens of others in which people discuss common mattress myths and share their own positive and negative experiences with other mattress brands and retailers.

• Water beds? Although we did not include them in our survey, one commenter did share his experiences with a $500 model.

Essential information: Our free buyer's guide to mattresses and our past comparisons of high-end mattresses from Duxiana, Select Comfort, and Tempur-Pedic and two different models from Sealy can help you find the right mattress.

17,000+ Consumer Reports subscribers rate best mattress brands and retailers

The October 2009 issue of Consumer Reports features a mattress-buying survey in which 17,444 Consumer Reports and Consumer Reports.org who purchased a new mattress within the past five years have shared their feedback. Retailer ratings were based on purchases in the past two years.

The results show you don't have to pay big bucks for a good night's sleep. Sixty-six percent of respondents who paid under $1,000 for their mattresses were happy with their purchase, as were 75 percent of those who paid over $3,000. Seventy-eight percent of those who spent more than $4,000 were highly satisfied.

That's heartening news, since mattress shopping is an often confusing task. Consumer Reports receives more inquiries about mattresses than about any other product except cars and washing machines, and our Mattress forum is among our busiest forums.

Our past tests have shown mattresses to be expensive (some models we tested have cost up to $4,150), difficult to distinguish (many manufacturers sell the same models under different names), and hard to effectively test before buying (we recommend a 15-minute sleep test).

It's not until you cut them open that meaningful differences emerge. One test showed how a $700 Sealy Posturepedic Sapphire LX Firm and a $1,400 Sealy Posturepedic Ruby LX Cushion Firm mattress can differ in padding, quilting, and springs (see our anatomy of a mattress interactive for more details).

In our October 2009 report, readers rated pricey Tempu-Pedic mattresses as among the best mattress brands, followed by much less expensive models from The Original Mattress Factory. Costco was also highly rated, even though it earned the low scores for service and selection. The appeal of Costco, as well as Sams's Club lay in their low prices. (Full ratings of both brands and retailers are available to subscribers).

Our mattress-buying video above includes our findings that furniture stores tend to beat bedding specialists on price. And speaking of price, our October 2009 report showed only 36 percent of respondents tried haggling—but 72 percent of those who went to the mat this way got a lower price on their mattresses.—Gian Trotta | e-mail | Twitter | Forums | Facebook

Essential Information: Even if you're not buying a mattress, you can improve your repose with these healthy sleep tips. And don't miss our earlier reports on mattress toppers, bed linens and ways to make your current mattress last longer.

The latest showerheads can save water and still provide an invigorating experience

Kramer: Hey. Super's in my bathroom changing my showerhead. Have they changed your showerhead?

Jerry: No, he's doing mine next. They're low-flow, you know.

Kramer: Low-flow? Well I don't like the sound of that.

That scene between Jerry Seinfeld and his loony neighbor Kramer takes place early in the "The Showerhead" episode of Seinfeld, which first aired on February 15, 1996, as episode 16 of the seventh season of the NBC hit sitcom. Later in the show, Kramer declares, "If I don't have a good shower, I am not myself. I feel weak and ineffectual. I'm not Kramer." Toward the end of the episode, Kramer and postman-neighbor Newman find a black-market dealer in non-low-flow showerheads who sells them the "Commando 450," which, he explains, is used only in the circus . . . for elephants. (The photo, taken from this YouTube clip, shows Kramer and Newman buying the unit.)

Last night I caught a rerun of "The Showerhead" on the Fox affiliate here in the New York City area. While the show today feels dated, one notion holds: Consumers often find that some water-saving bathroom fixtures like showerheads and toilets (latest report and ratings available to subscribers) don't perform as well as their thirsty predecessors. So it stands to reason that Jerry, Kramer, and Newman might have been dissatisfied with the low-flow fixtures installed in their apartment building.

But many new showerheads we tested for an August 2009 report meet the federal maximum flow rate of 2.5 gallons per minute (gpm) and provide a satisfying shower experience.

That August report also covered shower towers, multishowerhead units that promise a spalike experience at home. These models can legally use more than 2.5 gallons per minute, though each individual showerhead must meet the federal government's flow-rate levels.

One of the five showerheads on a $500 shower tower we tested exceeded the maximum federal flow rate. So earlier this month we informed the EPA of our findings, asking the agency to take compliance and enforcement action.

Look for our story on this shower tower in the October 2009 issue of Consumer Reports (online and on newsstands next week). And if you're in the market for a new showerhead, read our latest report, which covers single- and multisetting units.—Steven H. Saltzman | e-mail | Twitter | Forums | Facebook

Q&A: When should I replace a carbon-monoxide alarm?

I've heard that carbon-monoxide alarms fail after seven years. Is that true?

Most carbon-monoxide (CO) alarms are backed by a five- to seven-year warranty, but they typically emit a chirping or signal when they're nearing the end of their useful life. This signal differs from the one that indicates a low battery. If there's a problem with the unit, a model with a digital display will show an error message, and one without a digital display might flash LEDs in a particular pattern.

Remember, the test button on a CO alarm checks only whether the alarm is working, not the sensor. To check the sensor, use a test kit that you can purchase at a local home center.

Essential information: Read our buyer's guide to CO and smoke alarms for more information on these important safety devices, and view a quick interactive to determine which alarms are best for your home. We've also got a report on an intriguing study on the effectiveness of a voice recordings versus more traditional loud tone alarms in awakening children.