Does shortening showers really save $?

**sahm629** · 07-03-2011, 02:13 AM

Just curious, b/c I have no idea how they calculate how much you owe - I mean its not per gallon is it?

Anyone know how much you can save by shortening your showers by 5 minutes?

I read on another board, and she said no matter how long of a shower they took it was always the same.........

I guess I just need to test it out!

**NikoSan999** · 07-03-2011, 07:31 AM

A lady that works at a water dept will probably answer this when she comes on...if she sees it.
Our water bill has a base price which you can't get away from and beyond that it IS per gallon.
I would think your bill should tell you cost per gallon and if you have at least a couple past bills, more would be great, you could compare how many gallons say in May compared to maybe April or whatever.
Bill HAS to say how many gallons.

**McD** · 07-03-2011, 09:08 AM

That would be me! Exact savings will vary based on various factors (shower head, the method your utility bills, etc). This website has some great ideas on saving water. American Water & Energy Savers Experts in Water and Utility Management

Your average consumption should be two thousand gallons per month per person. At our utility, if you could use a thousand gallons less than normal it would save you seven dollars ( water and sewer).

**nuisance26** · 07-03-2011, 09:53 AM

Originally Posted by McD

Your average consumption should be two thousand gallons per month per person.

~That's interesting. I hadn't seen that figure before. In our case, we use less than 10000 gallons for our household every 3 months in the cool months and about 12000 gallons every 3 months in the warm months(garden and pool). So our usage is less than half the average.
Our utility charges a set rate for sewer regardless of usage. Our water is a set rate for the first 10000 gallons used every 3 months and $3.50 for every additional 1000 gallons used. If we used the average amount of water we'd be paying $40 a month for water instead of $18. Yikes!
But to get to the OP question, yes, shorter showers will save money. If you pay a set rate for water up to a certain usage and you never go over that than you won't save money on your water bill. You'll probably see your savings in whatever energy source you use to heat your water.
For example, we have a gas hot water heater. When we replaced our old washer with an energy efficient one(which has a lower hot water temperature) we saved 3 therms of use over the first month of use because it needed less hot water. We pay $1.30 per therm so we save about $5 each month.
According to this site, showers are 73% hot water. The US regulations require 2.5 gallons a minute or less. So at most you're probably using 1.82 gallons of hot water per minute.
If you take 10 minutes showers daily for 30 days you will use 750 gallons of water, of which 547.5 gallons are hot water. Reducing your showers by 50% will result in a significant difference!
I take short showers because I have better things to do with my time then stand in warm rain. I break that rule when I'm sick but otherwise it's get clean fast and get out.~

**Debbie-cat** · 07-03-2011, 11:33 AM

For us we are on a well. It makes a huge difference with shorter showers. Even though we are not charged for water, the pump still has to run to pull the water out of the 200 ft deep well, heat the water, then our septic pump runs to get rid of the water. I am the shower and water police in our house

**McD** · 07-03-2011, 12:22 PM

The 2 k is an average that we've seen at the utility where I work. It varies based on appliances, fixtures, etc. Also tends to less accurate if you have small children. We are a family of four and we personally never use Over 4 k.

**Domestic Gal** · 07-03-2011, 04:22 PM

Yes you can save a significant amount by reducing your shower or start taking baths.
How do I know because DH is the water waster police.
DD was taking 10-15 minute showers and was warned if she did not stop taking long showers the shower heads would be taken off and baths only would be the way to get clean in this house.
Well the shower heads were taken off about 3 months ago (does not bother me as I am a bath person anyway)

The water usage has dropped by over 20%
Example in January we used 5,236 gallons of water for a cost of $10.09 This was an actual reading not an estimate.

In May we used 3,740 gallons for a cost of $5.10 this was an actual cost not an estimate.
In June we used 4,488 gallons for a cost of $6.11 This was a estimate.
We do not water the yard and have a double rain barrel set up to water the garden.

We are a family of 4.

**McD** · 07-03-2011, 04:35 PM

DG, do you have a humidifier on your furnace? If so, that could be a factor in consumption dropping between Jan to May. If not, that is awesome reduction!

**Domestic Gal** · 07-03-2011, 05:05 PM

Originally Posted by McD

DG, do you have a humidifier on your furnace? If so, that could be a factor in consumption dropping between Jan to May. If not, that is awesome reduction!

Yes we have a humidifier in fact we just got it last June so this past winter was the first time with the new one.

Why would a humidifier lower your water usage??
It uses water for it to work.

**craftypam** · 07-03-2011, 05:58 PM

The humidifier only is working when the furnace is on and the air is dry. I don't believe it works in the summer months because the air has alot of moisture in it. We use a dehumidifier in the summer in the basement.

My water bill does not have gallon useage on it. The meter is read from one reading to the next. For useage is says 2 on one month and 5 on another. I never really asked if you use it you psy for it. We also have had a fixed charge added for a large sinkhole that needed to be fixed.

**McD** · 07-03-2011, 07:43 PM

What I meant was if you were running the humidifier on your furnace in January and not having it run in May, that could have accounted for reduction in consumption, not just switching from showers to baths alone. Sorry if I was unclear.

**Libby** · 07-03-2011, 09:26 PM

Interesting thread

**mndtrp** · 07-05-2011, 07:38 PM

Originally Posted by McD

Your average consumption should be two thousand gallons per month per person. At our utility, if you could use a thousand gallons less than normal it would save you seven dollars ( water and sewer).

This might help the poster who's husband leaves the water on when washing dishes put things into perspective.