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Free Shower Head Replacement

Did you know some shower heads flow at a rate of up to 11 litres per minute? That is a lot of water down the drain.

We are committed to helping our customers to save water, energy and money on their bills. That's why we've partnered with New Plumbing Solutions (NPS) to pilot a shower head replacement program as part of the Water Audit and Appliance Efficiency initiative.

This program has the potential to:

  • provide annual water savings of up to 20 kilolitres per household, saving up to $150 per year across water and energy bills
  • reduce greenhouse gas emissions associated with heating water.

Registered customers schedule an appointment with a qualified plumber who will visit their home to replace up to 4 inefficient shower heads with new, high efficiency models. Since showers account for up to 30% of household water usage, installing a water-efficient shower head can significantly reduce both your water and energy expenses by lowering the energy required to heat water.

Participating customers can:

  • share feedback about the program and suggest improvements
  • shape the initiative to better suit the needs of our customers
  • upgrade inefficient shower heads
  • reduce water use and save on water bills

Registrations for the pilot study are closed. The next phase of the study is expected to commence in March 2025.

Frequently asked questions

Who will complete the work?

Yarra Valley Water has engaged New Plumbing Solutions (NPS) to deliver this initiative. 

Established in 2009, NPS provides high quality, safety-first plumbing maintenance. NPS are committed to providing the most experienced and competent field personnel on the job and ensuring the highest quality customer experience.

A fully licenced NPS plumber will visit your home. The NPS plumber will carry YVW contractor cards and will be able to produce these on request. 

How much does the program cost?

There is no cost involved for the visit, shower head product and installation.

What will the plumber do on the visit?

The plumber will assess your shower heads and replace up to 4 inefficient shower heads.

We encourage you to walk around your home with the plumber. Past participants have found the experience helpful in understanding the efficiency of their plumbing and learning from the plumber’s experience. 

How long will the appointment be?

Different services will require different lengths of time to complete. Smaller or newer properties with modern fittings may take as little as 15 minutes, while an older home with multiple shower heads to replace will take a bit longer. As an indicator, we recommend you allow 45 minutes for your appointment. 

How can I reschedule or cancel my appointment?

Should you need to cancel or reschedule your appointment, please call NPS on 1300 994 559 and select Option 2 at least four hours before the scheduled appointment time. For appointments scheduled before 11 am, please advise NPS the previous business day.

My home is fairly new, should I have my shower heads replaced?

Fixtures, fittings, and appliances get better every year, and we find that newer homes are more efficient. Shower head replacement will be of the most benefit to those with an older home.

If you are interested in other ways to save water, you can find more information at yvw.com.au/help-advice/saving-water.

I have an older home, is this program right for me?

Customers with older homes have found the program particularly beneficial as older homes typically have fixtures and fittings that are less efficient. A new shower head can make a marked difference to your water use. 

I live in a small home; will I find this useful?

If you live in a unit, flat or apartment, there is less plumbing to inspect. If you have older fixtures and fittings, the shower head exchange won’t take long and is the best way to reduce your water use and save money on your energy bills.

How much can I really save?

This program has the potential to provide annual water savings of up to 20 kilolitres per household, saving up to $150 per year across water and energy bills.

Plus, each replacement shower head has a recommended retail price of $120 or more, and installation is free.

Why should I replace my shower head?

Some shower heads flow at a rate of up to 11 litres per minute whereas a WELs 5-star rated shower head uses just 6 litres per minute. In an average household, showers account for up to 30% of household water usage so installing a water efficient shower head that uses less water per minute, can make the biggest impact on water and energy bills through lower energy for heating water for the shower. 

Are the efficient shower heads high quality?

We are proud to offer quality replacement showerheads. We have carefully selected our products from retail brands including Caroma, Methven and Phoenix. All products are WELs rated, have a high-quality chrome finish, and retail at $120 or more. 


This fact sheet provides more information about our selection of products.

What will my new shower head be like?

Replacement shower heads are only available in a chrome finish and must be a like-for-like replacement with respect to the fitting. 

We have selected retail brand, 5-star WELs rated shower head products for this program. 

This fact sheet provides more information about the shower head products on offer. Each shower head will be in a chrome finish and comes with a minimum 5-year warranty. 

NPS will carry a selection of shower heads to choose from on the day of your appointment. Depending on the type of shower fitting that you currently have and stock availability, you may have a choice between two products for your shower head replacement. 

Will the new shower head feel different?

Water efficient shower heads help reduce the flow rate so it may take a few showers to adjust to your new shower head. While it may feel a bit different, you can expect consistent temperature and good water pressure so there should be a minimal impact to your shower experience. 

Can I change my shower fitting too?

The plumber will replace your current shower head with a brand new, like-for-like water efficient chrome shower head. 

The plumber will fit your new chrome shower head to match the fitting style in your shower. For example, if your shower has an overhead shower rose fitting, your replacement shower head will be an overhead shower rose fitting.

Unfortunately, we are unable to fit a different fitting style to the existing shower. 

Can I have a black shower head?

The shower head products offered as part of this program are only available in a chrome finish. Unfortunately, we are unable to offer other finishes or colours.

If you want to reduce your water usage and have a specific finish for your shower tapware, we encourage you to explore the wide range of water-saving products available on the market that you may like to buy and install at your own expense. 

Does my new shower head have a warranty?

Each shower head product has been selected for quality and is covered by a manufacturer’s warranty. For information regarding the warranty period for your new shower head, please refer to the link for the manufacturers website listed on this fact sheet.

What happens to my old shower head?

Your old shower head will be removed and disposed of. 

I have a water leak; will you fix it?

If you have an existing leak, we recommend you contact your local plumber to investigate.

What happens after the visit?

Following your appointment, you may be invited to participate in a short survey so that we can better understand your experience to make the program the best it can be. 

More information 

If you have questions about participating in the study, please contact our dedicated team by calling 1300 304 688 or emailing [email protected].

For language assistance, please call our translation service on 03 9046 7173

View the programs Terms and Conditions.