Cold Showers??

**many houseapes** · 07-09-2011, 09:54 PM

This may sound insane to some. But to save money on the gas part of our utility bill, I have resorted to taking cold showers in the morning. I know that if I lived anywhere else except humid South texas, I might not be so brave. The way that most houses are set up here, the water pipes are actually in the attic, so with the heat that we have every summer, taking a cold shower isn't like someone throwing ice cubes down your back. I actually feel like I've had a shower when I use the cold water...with using the hot water, in combination w/ the humidity...it doesn't feel as if I've had one at all. With just me trying this experiment, it has saved us about $7 this past month. I'm comfortable with it...every little bit counts right now & I feel better. When it gets cold, though, I don't think I'll be brave enough...it takes several minutes for the hot water to heat up due to where the water pipes are.lol

**Debbie-cat** · 07-09-2011, 10:08 PM

Didnt know that the pipes were in the attic down there. What a smart idea taking those cold showers. $7 is a big amount for one month! I would try and get the rest of the family into that as well.

**many houseapes** · 07-09-2011, 10:47 PM

Originally Posted by Debbie-cat

Didnt know that the pipes were in the attic down there. What a smart idea taking those cold showers. $7 is a big amount for one month! I would try and get the rest of the family into that as well.

lol...believe me, I've tried...but they're all toooo chicken.

**ladykemma2** · 07-10-2011, 07:04 AM

i haven't done the cold shower in houston, but i have turned the AC to 80, filled the bathtub with cool water and jump in and slosh around when i get too warm.

same water all day, like a kiddie pool.

**Spirit Deer** · 07-10-2011, 12:15 PM

PVC is cheap and easy to work with. Why not add a large grid of water pipes in your attic and connect them to the water heater? That would pre-warm your hot water, thereby making it take less energy to heat once it gets into the water heater.

Some people here use large coils of black plastic pipe up on their roofs in the summer to pre-heat their water. It doesn't have to be that hot outside for a roof to get pretty hot and of course the black water lines heat up nicely, too. Here, they have to be drained for winter, of course.

**Daisygirl** · 07-10-2011, 12:39 PM

Cool idea! (Get it? COOL?) haha!

I do what Lady Kemma does - keep a tub full of cool water and hang out in it throughout the day.

**frugalfranny** · 07-10-2011, 04:55 PM

Way to go.......brave girl.

If it is 'tepid' maybe...but cold....NOT.

I would go for what DC said.........get the rest of the family
on board.........at least during the summer months.

**Josephhgoins** · 07-10-2011, 06:32 PM

You win the Frugality race.

I give up, you win. Not even going to go anywhere near a cold shower.

**frugalfranny** · 07-12-2011, 01:19 AM

Originally Posted by Josephhgoins

I give up, you win. Not even going to go anywhere near a cold shower.

Me neither! Hate them and I had enough of them, with no choice, when I lived in Venezuela and Costa Rica!

**Mom2-3** · 07-12-2011, 01:29 AM

Originally Posted by Josephhgoins

You win the Frugality race.

I give up, you win. Not even going to go anywhere near a cold shower.

I agree!!

You win. lol I have never thought of cold showers to save money. Maybe I will try a less warm shower during the summer months.

**greekislandgirl** · 07-12-2011, 05:47 AM

I don't think it's strange at all. In the summer I always take cold showers. DH and I are staying at my in-laws and they have a solar hot water heater, so the hot water is "free" but I don't use it. If I'm hot, why on earth would I want to cover myself in hot water? I usually start taking cold showers around mid-June and stop around mid-October. It would depend on your local temperatures of course.

**freebs** · 07-12-2011, 08:57 AM

I am also in texas, i take cold showers all summer!! we have the hot water heater shut off anyway. We set out gallon jars of water to be heated by the sun for anything we need to do inside.