water meter or not?

Mr.Generous

Hi, We don't currently have a water meter and I can't help but feel we could save a few ££ if we did. We live in a 4 bed detached and I do wash the cars about every 2 weeks, other than that just the normal washing / cooking / toilet use of water. Our bill is £80 per month, what sort of figure do any of you good people pay with metered use?

I have absolutely no intention of cutting down use to the extent of not flushing the loo (I know someone who does this to save water) or anything extreme, just that as we don't use much I wonder if a meter would be cheaper. Any thoughts appreciated. :beer:

Farway

No experience with a meter, but our local company alows a trial of 1 year to see if it is cheaper or not, guess if not you can revert

D_M_E

When I had a meter installed, the bill went down from £35 a month to £7 a month - a bit more now as charges have gone up since then so it's now about £10 a month.

I believe you can have a meter installed and if, after the first year you end up paying more then you can revert back to no meter but the meter stays in place, you just pay as if there was no meter.

At £80 a month current charges it must be worth a shot.

[Deleted User]

Mr.Generous wrote: »

Hi, We don't currently have a water meter and I can't help but feel we could save a few ££ if we did. We live in a 4 bed detached and I do wash the cars about every 2 weeks, other than that just the normal washing / cooking / toilet use of water. Our bill is £80 per month, what sort of figure do any of you good people pay with metered use?

I have absolutely no intention of cutting down use to the extent of not flushing the loo (I know someone who does this to save water) or anything extreme, just that as we don't use much I wonder if a meter would be cheaper. Any thoughts appreciated. :beer:

So you are going against the advice from Martin Lewis who has said many times in public, "if its yellow, let it mellow " .You can` t be a true moneysaver ! I`m ignoring that advice also and I have a water meter.

Mr.Generous

sacsquacco wrote: »

So you are going against the advice from Martin Lewis who has said many times in public, "if its yellow, let it mellow " .You can` t be a true moneysaver ! I`m ignoring that advice also and I have a water meter.

I can't stand that, when I (or anyone else) visits the person in question man or wife has to rush and flush the toilet because they are embarrassed at leaving !!!! in the pan all day. On the plus side they are less likely to have limescale - v's the house smelling of !!!!. Let me think....

hollie.weimeraner

We had a water meter fitted about 10 to 15 years ago. Water rates were £450 per year at the time for a 3 bedroom house with 2 adults and 2 children. 2 cars washed every week and no skimping on washing.

The main thing we did was to shower rather than bath. Water bill with the kids at home was around £33 to £35 a month and is currently £25 a month now the kids have flown.

Still got 2 cars which get washed every week and my wife refuses to do the MSE if its yellow let it mellow.

What I did do was fit variable flush toilet syphons.

http://www.screwfix.com/p/opella-dual-flush-siphon/20824

SailorSam

We had a similar thread to yours a few weeks ago and my water bill (without a meter), was a lot more than those that have meters.

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/5481219

I'm going to change.

dogshome

It all depends how many people are in the 'Family' Home and just what the cost is on 'Rates' billing which can make no sense as to the houseing type or area.

Go for the One year opt out option and see, but bear in mind that compulsory water meters are written into the industries development by the Govt.

Mr.Generous

Yes sorry only me and wife left t home, 2 kids now have mortgages and bills to pay. I really should go round and turn every light on and a tv on in every room as payback...

Lazarus_Blackstar

A meter certainly benefits me & my husband. On normal rates we used to pay £32 per month (Yorkshire).
Applied for water meter in December 2014 but was a little aprehensive at first, and we had 12 months to revert back if we found it wasn't for us.
They started us off at £28. When our first statement arrived we found we were in credit by quite a lot, so they slashed our monthly payment to £9. Even better money saving!
It does make you think about how much water is actually wasted though by being on a meter, it makes you think twice about running the taps or shower for longer than you need to!

DigForVictory

I've an unmetered house, but with husband & three teens all of whom have assorted grubby hobbies (& I Scout so can't point any fingers!), I'd have huge doubts about going metered when the shower & washing machine are so hard used!
Do please check this one year test time - I've heard 3 months which may be a water board thing or just me getting it wrong, but check first?!

Given the young can "boomerang" back, should they return to a metered environment you may have some more teaching to do!
All the best