We all love a long, hot shower, especially after a gruelling day in the cold. So how can we maximise our time under hot water without going overboard with water usage? A water aerator can help you enjoy the best of both worlds.

Also known as a flow minimiser, an aerator is a small attachment that fits on the end of your tap and restricts water flow without reducing the water pressure. Since the introduction of the Water Efficiency and Labelling Standards (WELS) scheme in July 2006, taps have had to become more water wise, and many use aerators to do this. "Most modern tapware sold in Australia is low-flow now, at around six to nine litres a minute," says Drew Keenan of Cleverlad Conservation, which specialises in water- and energy-saving products. "So aerators are not so relevant to people who are buying new."

Drew says that in slightly older homes and businesses, water aerators would dramatically reducer water usage. "If you’re looking at older taps, maybe five to 10 years old, water flow of around 15 litres a minute would be the average," he says. "But if you put an aerator on the tap, you could get that down to six litres a minute."

According to Drew, you won’t be able to tell the difference. "They work by circulating air through the water, which essentially gives you the same feeling of pressure," he says. "So if you’re washing your hands under it, you won’t notice the change, but it would take twice as long to fill up a sink." Aerators are most useful for bathroom hand-basins, and in situations where people tend to need a constant stream. You might want a higher flow for the laundry, where you are frequently filling up buckets, and you certainly wouldn’t put one on the bath, as it would take forever to fill.

They’re particularly useful because of their low cost and ease of installation, which means they’re great for rental properties too. You don’t need a plumber; just unscrew the existing aerator and screw on the new one. If none is installed, check for threads inside the end of the tap. If the threads are on the outside you’ll need a ‘female’ aerator, and if they’re on the inside, you’ll need a ‘male’ one.

Available from hardware stores and plumbing outlets, tap aerators are a sensible choice for people wanting to reduce their water use without making drastic changes. Not only will they help conserve one of our most precious resources, they will also save you money twice – on your water and energy bills.