Saving Water

[banana]

Re: Saving Water

Wow Dido I am amazed you only use 5000 gallons for 3 months! That is awesome!

[Dido]

Re: Saving Water

Wow Dido I am amazed you only use 5000 gallons for 3 months! That is awesome!

Well, on a per-person basis, I'm using more than your family is, now that you've gotten yours down!

[tgavin71]

Re: Saving Water

My next house will have that instant heat, so the water is immediately warm and you don't have to let it run so long before it warms up.

Sorry to be the bearer of bad news but even with instant water heaters you still have to let the water run through. Also the further away from the heater the longer it takes. Ours is next to our kitchen. Our bathroom is on the other side of the house and it seems to take forever for the shower water to get hot. I turn it on before undressing and then get in. Even saying this I would only ever buy an instant water heater. This is our second. The benefits far out way the disadvantages

I have also just bought a front loading washing machine. Haven't washed with it yet. Is waiting ready for our renovations to be done.

[Crystallas]

Re: Saving Water

I dont know about the geographic limitations for everyone, but I know that I can tap into many pots for well water here. I had my own pump and running well water at a previous home and it helped with the water bill tremendously. The well water was used for all landscaping, toilets and was clean enough to drink from with proper filtration. I didnt pipe it to the tap, but I did consider the costs of equiptment to make it a healthy choice at one point, and this too will depend on the source. Im considering doing this again, and good news to me is that the pump and even a filtration system now is much more effective, efficient, and cost effective than my old water saving system. Its definately something to consider for the DIYer.

[Crystallas]

Re: Saving Water

I have also just bought a front loading washing machine. Haven't washed with it yet. Is waiting ready for our renovations to be done.

I never took that into consideration. Do they really have a good list of benefits that outweigh toploaders?

[greedy4chips]

Re: Saving Water

We purchased a Maytag Neptune about 8 years ago and what a nightmare. We have had enough repairs done to buy 2 more at $1059 apiece. Now mind you I am a very good arguer on the phone and we have paid very little $199 for all services done so far.

That being said, the newer brands have a much better track record and use very little water and soap. You must use the High Efficiency version of your favorite brand of detergent, since it creates less bubbles and requires less water to rinse clothes properly.

They also spin more water out of the clothes and require less energy to dry the clothes.

[greedy4chips]

Re: Saving Water

Tankless water heaters can be installed in every bathroom at around $900 apiece. Whole house ones run much more.

The hot water is then instant, or as quick as the water from the heater to the faucet runs out.

There is also a $300 tax-CREDIT incentive to purchase a qualifying one. Basically a $300 rebate on your taxes for those who did not know a credit is a dollar for dollar reduction in your tax bill.

No big tank to rust, no big tank of hot water just reheating itself all night, no paid for hot water in pipes just cooling off (depending on new location this may vary).

Honestly I cannot see any reason not to get one ASAP when you consider the water savings and money savings!

[Ima saver]

Re: Saving Water

I keep my hot water heater turned off 23 plus hours a day.

[rob62521]

Re: Saving Water

I have wondered if it would be worth it to get a front-loading washing machine. They supposedly use much less water. And, with 3 kids, we do alot of laundry. I would say that is our biggest water usage.

I have wondered the same thing. The ads say they are more economical, but do you have to do a lot of laundry and what is their definition of a lot of laundry?

[rob62521]

Re: Saving Water

Tankless water heaters can be installed in every bathroom at around $900 apiece. Whole house ones run much more.

The hot water is then instant, or as quick as the water from the heater to the faucet runs out.

There is also a $300 tax-CREDIT incentive to purchase a qualifying one. Basically a $300 rebate on your taxes for those who did not know a credit is a dollar for dollar reduction in your tax bill.

No big tank to rust, no big tank of hot water just reheating itself all night, no paid for hot water in pipes just cooling off (depending on new location this may vary).

Honestly I cannot see any reason not to get one ASAP when you consider the water savings and money savings!

I was just thinking of the individual water heaters for the bathroom -- I think I saw one installed on an episode of "This Old House."

[tgavin71]

Re: Saving Water

Our tankless water heater is for our whole house. It cost $875 installed. Runs on natural gas. Our old instantaneous water heater was in the laundry but this new one is outside. For safetly reasons it is illegal here to have them inside.
My current top loader is 5.5kg. The front loader is 7kg so I will do less loads over the week. I usually do around 10-12. Being winter I am doing more because of the jumpers, jeans and other bulky clothes. Our front loader was rated best buy by the leading consumer advocacy group, Choice, in Australia so I know that it is a good machine.
I go to the library and borrow the Choice magazine and use it as a research tool when buying different items. Makes it a lot easier.