How to Stop a Family Member from Wasting Hot Water

The shower can be a major cause of high utility bills, especially when one family member in particular regularly takes long and lingering hot showers. Timers might work with younger kids, but they do not work with teens or other people that simply do not care about waste. They are not concerned because they do not have to pay the bills. After politely asking and eventually begging without results, it is necessary to take more drastic measures.

Teens and Long Hot Showers

My teenage son was literally emptying the water heater every day, and my utility bill was huge. I live in a town with one of the highest sewage treatment rates in the state of Indiana, and I could not afford to allow the thoughtless wasting to continue. Many times I could hear my son start his shower long before ever getting in, and although I asked him to stop and explained why in a polite and logical way, he continued wasting gallons day after day. Short of violence, I had to find effective ways to stop my family member from wasting hot water and putting a major dent in my household budget.

Do Not Use a Tankless Water Heater

A tankless heater can save a family a considerable amount of money, but not in every situation. In a town with a high sewage treatment rates, an energy saving device can actually cost more to operate. It would never work in my home. My son took twenty minute showers because it took twenty full minutes to drain the hot water from the tank. If the hot water was never ending in my home, my son would never come out.

A tankless heater is only efficient when every family member uses it responsibly. Those that do not care about wasting water and hard earned money will stay in twice as long. When used with care, the device will save a considerable amount of energy. When used carelessly, any amount of money saved would have to be spent on the water bill.

Simultaneously Shower in a Second Bathroom

I work from home and practically live in front of my computer. I can shower whenever I want. When trying to stop my family member from wasting hot water, I began showering at the same time. As soon as my son started the shower in his bathroom, I started the shower in my bathroom. Wasting an entire tank of hot water was no longer possible. My son knew that he had to move quickly since I was also showering. He could no longer brush his teeth or dillydally in the bathroom as money literally ran down the drain. After doing this for a month I saw a significant decrease in usage. Unfortunately, this simultaneous showering method will not work for everyone.

Use a Smaller Heater and Stop Wasting Hot Water

If I could not shower at a moments notice in an attempt to stop my family member from wasting hot water, I would have to take more drastic measures. If I owned the home, I would invest in a smaller water heater. No one would be able to take twenty minute showers and end up wasting water in the process. I would buy a much smaller tank.

I do not own the home I am living in, and I cannot change the water heater. I will have to continue racing to my shower when I hear my son start the water in his bathroom. I cannot pull him out of the bathroom like a small child or take away an allowance he does not receive to begin with. However, I can cut his hot water usage in half by forcing him to share.

Source: Personal Family Experience