Lots more Sneaky Ways to save the pennies

Deepfatfriar

Uniscots97 wrote: »

Silly question, is there more than you and OH at home? I know SS in our house, his idea of a 'quick' shower is around 25 mins! We usually have to tell him to hurry up. Timers don't work with him.

If its not a leak, or others in the house, is it possible you're getting charged for someone else's water use as well?

I don't think you have a leak.


I use as a rule of thumb the measure of 1 unit per person per week as a guide so you are not bad at all with four people.


Reducing shower time will help of course.


I think the problem is, compared to my charges yours are about 28% higher than mine .


Anglian Water are very expensive.


Have you got dual flush toilets they help a bit.

moments_of_sanity

Deepfatfriar wrote: »

I don't think you have a leak.


I use as a rule of thumb the measure of 1 unit per person per week as a guide so you are not bad at all with four people.


Reducing shower time will help of course.


I think the problem is, compared to my charges yours are about 28% higher than mine .


Anglian Water are very expensive.


Have you got dual flush toilets they help a bit.

We do have dual flush toilets.

Does anyone know if it's possible to change water supplier or are you stuck with the 'area' provider? Having looked on line, it seems I am stuck with Anglian water! :-(

redbooties

Primrose wrote: »

redbooties - I thought you were allowed to switch back from a metered water supply to an unmetered supply if you requested the move within the first twelve months but perhaps they have changed the rules. Worth checking with your water board though just in case this still applies or there has been an error in your water meter reading.

My house is quite new (4 years old) and the meter was installed when the house was built

Wombatchops

moments_of_sanity wrote: »

I am actually ashamed to say I have no idea where my external meter is

I will ring Anglian Water when they open at 8am and have a chat with them as according to their site, the average use per person, per day is 145 litres? And we use 274 for the whole family so it seems we aren't excessive users.

The bill does include the sewage charge.

I'm with Anglian Water, and I'm in a qualifying area for a water audit, where they go round the house giving freebies, looking for leaks, etc, to help reduce your water usage and bill. Maybe you should check if you qualify? This might help reduce your bill, particularly if there doesn't turn out to be a leak.

Willowpop

moments_of_sanity wrote: »

The girls are aware of how little room for manoeuvre we have with bills etc due to only 1 person in the house being able to work so they do try to be good, trouble is we live on quite an 'affluent' estate and they already think I have lost the plot over a lot of old style money saving that I do but yes, we definitely need to chat about this.

Aaahhhhhh, youngest DD has said she is generally in the shower for 30 mins minimum wi it running all the time.......this defo needs to change! I never thought to check how long they take in there! Eldest says she is in there for about 15 mins with it running constantly!

Water companies very often offer water saving products for free...maybe have a Google of your company and 'free' or call them and ask what they offer. I am.with Thames and we got a new shower head, shower timer (like an egg timer but times 4 mins) and a few other bits and bobs. 30 mins in the shower is madness! 4 mins is all that's necessary!

Wombatchops

moments_of_sanity wrote: »

Aaahhhhhh, youngest DD has said she is generally in the shower for 30 mins minimum wi it running all the time.......this defo needs to change! I never thought to check how long they take in there! Eldest says she is in there for about 15 mins with it running constantly!

You could also get them to practice the navy shower, maybe? You switch the shower off while you lather up on order to save water, and only turn the shower back on again when you are ready to rinse.

I hope you get the bills down soon.

meanmarie

Have tried the 'navy' shower but it doesnt work with my electric shower.....turn it off and you have to wait for the water to heat up again, so am having the 4 minute shower now and that works fine.

Marie

fiftyeighter_2

Just looked at my combined bill of sewage and water, I'm with Anglian water, no meter and mine is £55.70 per month but that is over 10 months.
It's astronomical isn't it?

Pyxis

consultant31 wrote: »

You can request a water meter which (in our area anyway) is fitted free of charge. If you find your bill is higher within the first year, they will remove the meter at your request, without charge. After that I'm not sure if you can change back.

Yes, this is the system with my area. But if you move to a house that already has one, you can't change. It's only if you REQUEST a meter yourself, and then find you don't like it in the first year. After 12months, it stays regardless.
As far as I am aware, this is still the system.

Wombatchops

meanmarie wrote: »

Have tried the 'navy' shower but it doesnt work with my electric shower.....turn it off and you have to wait for the water to heat up again, so am having the 4 minute shower now and that works fine.

Marie

Hi Marie,

I used to do the navy shower til I moved to my new house earlier this year, where we have an electric shower. Now I do as you do and stick to three or four minutes. You can't do the navy shower with an electric shower