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Keys to saving hot water at home
Did you know that, after central heating, hot water uses more energy than anything else in the home? Discover how to save on hot water that goes beyond putting your crockery straight into the dishwasher without rinsing and replacing bathtubs with showers.
There is nothing nicer than a hot shower when you get home. But when you forget everything and let yourself go ... in just ten minutes you can use up to 200 litres of hot water in one go.
Can we save hot water and spend less while maintaining that unbeatable feeling? We have good news for you, saving water and enjoying it is possible if you just know how.
You do not need to give away any comfort to save on hot water
What you spend on hot water takes up a significant part of consumption in a traditional home. According to the WHO, it accounts for no less than 34% of the water used in Spanish households.
But we do not want to spoil it for you or for you to give up anything that you have worked so hard to achieve. Sometimes it only takes a small change to discover how water can be saved at home. Let's start with the shower.
How to save water in the shower
To save water at home, the shower is one of the best places to start.
Here saving water is all about three things:
- Duration and temperature.
- The type of installation and the type of shower head.
- The water-heating system.
Save hot water while you are singing in the shower
Talking of how long a shower lasts, this is where most people agree when it comes to saving water at home. Specialists and official bodies recommend 5 minutes as enough time for perfect hygiene and to avoid wasting water.
Would you like it to be more fun? Put on a song that lasts those 5 minutes and enjoy saving water by singing in the shower.
"Every minute under the shower you use between 8 and 15 litres of water."
Saving water and energy at home
The ideal water temperature does not need to be more than 30ºC and you should make it lower without feeling discomfort, although some people feel the cold more than others.
Below 24ºC is considered to be cold water. Above 30ºC your skin may suffer inflammations and the annoying side effect will be itching for the rest of the day. In cases of using extremely hot water it is not uncommon for your blood pressure to fall.
With shorter showers, a good song and a suitable temperature, you can still enjoy those wonderful moments while saving water at home.
And not only that, you will also help the planet by saving energy while greatly lowering your costs. Do you know how much it costs to have a shower every day?
"Efficiency involves showers lasting no more than 5 minutes at no more than 30ºC."
Equipment designed to save water at home
The water flow in a standard shower head varies between 9.5 and 20 litres per minute. If you like the one you have and do not want to change it, there is a problem. You can reduce consumption significantly by using a water-saving aerator.
Aerators, also called atomisers, are simple devices that can help you save up to 50% of hot water without feeling like the flow is reduced.
The secret? A double effect. First, they reduce the amount of water by accelerating the flow and second, they introduce compressed air into the jet. The result is bubbling water that feels just like a real soaking but consuming half the amount of water and the energy needed to heat it.
They are really easy to fir and it takes just a moment to install them on the taps in the washroom and in the kitchen. And if that is not enough, they are quite inexpensive.
If you would like to go one step further and save even more water at home, there is an increasing selection of shower systems that recycle the water and can save up to 90% of water.
A small investment can give a large return
If the time has come to replace the shower head, here are two suggestions we think are interesting for saving hot water at home:
- Low consumption heads . They save water and energy because they have a built-in flow regulator. Although they use 30% to 50% less water, you won't notice any difference in the water pressure.
- Smart shower heads with LEDs. Feel happy while you save with a simple and fun idea that shows you how much water you have used with changing colours. They are activated by water pressure and change colour to show you how much water you have consumed. Green up to ten litres, blue up to 20, purple up to 30 and red when you go over 40. They are perfect.
Size matters when it comes to saving hot water
Another effective way to save hot water is by having an electric water heater suitable for the real needs of your home. Heating water in a larger than necessary water tank is wasteful.
So, if you are going to install a new one or upgrade the one you have, use this short guide as a reference:
- For one person, a 30-litre heater may be sufficient (although a 50-litre one will give you more flexibility).
- For two, a 50- or 80-litre heater is recommended.
- For three or four residents, at least a 100-litre heater is best.
- For more than four, the situation requires a heater of 200 litres or more. These are extremely large appliances that are almost two metres high.
It may be a good idea to think about replacing your heater with a natural gas one and enjoying instant hot water.
In any case, always choose the most efficient water heater possible. Although they are a bigger short-term investment, in the long run you will have made a very wise choice.
But it does not end here, we have many more ideas when it comes to saving hot water.
7 Additional tips for saving hot water at home
- Turn off the tap while you are putting on the soap: This saves 10 litres of water per minute.
- Turn off the tap while you shave or brush your teeth.
- In the kitchen do the same, turn off the tap while washing the dishes and you will see how much water you save.
- If you use a dishwasher we have a number of tips to save water at home. Only switch it on when it is full or use the eco programmes for half load if you need to use it before.
- Nowadays, it is no longer necessary to pre-wash the dishes by hand before putting them in the dishwasher. This is how you can save so much hot water as well as making much more sustainable use of energy.
- Thermostatic controls enable you to configure the programme so the water comes out at the desired temperature and with the ideal flow. They cost more than a normal tap, but in the long run, they compensate by being more efficient and saving hot water and energy.
- Re-use water: it sounds complicated and strange, but it is much simpler than you think. There are a number of ways, from the simplest (put a bucket under the tap to catch the cold water that runs out until the hot water arrives) to the most sophisticated (that are not actually complicated to install). That water you have rescued from the drainpipe can be used to mop the floor, water the plants, or refill the toilet cistern. Here there is no end to saving water at home.
Remember that when it comes to saving hot water you are helping to reduce energy costs and reduce the consumption of a commodity as precious as water.
However, do not be overwhelmed by so many suggestions, you can follow them gradually and ask us about our proposals whenever you want.
In our blog we are always publishing tips to help you lead a more sustainable life and one that is more respectful with our environment.
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You don't need to adapt to Endesa's tariffs because they adapt to you. If you go to our catalogue you can compare the different tariffs for yourself. Or if you prefer, you can answer a few questions and we will take care of comparing all the different electricity and gas tariffs and then make a customised recommendation.
Comparison of Electricity and Gas Tariffs
You don't need to adapt to Endesa's tariffs because they adapt to you. If you go to our catalogue you can compare the different tariffs for yourself. Or if you prefer, you can answer a few questions and we will take care of comparing all the different electricity and gas tariffs and then make a customised recommendation.
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