How can I save up to 67% on hot water at home?

Reading time: approx. 6 minutes

The energy-saving tips in the media have become increasingly bizarre in recent weeks. At first, thick sweaters were enough, then came the call to take cold showers, and even to shower only once a week... to save hot water! There's nothing inherently wrong with that, but what's practical?

As shower experts, we at Waltz7 took a closer look at the topic and asked ourselves: How can we save hot water effectively at home?

Below you'll find 7 tips on how to save hot water at home while still feeling comfortable. After all , our homes should be a place to relax and recharge, so we can face everyday life with joy.

The greatest potential for savings and the most exciting finding right up front:

The game changer: Showers instead of baths

As pleasant as a full bath can be, it uses an enormous amount of hot water. A standard bathtub holds up to 180 liters of water. Many people then take a shower after their bath to remove oily residue and perhaps wash their hair. A short 5-minute shower adds another 50 liters or so, depending on the shower head. That makes 230 liters of hot water for a normal bath, including a quick rinse afterward.

Consumer protection agencies in North Rhine-Westphalia have calculated average costs of €2.61 for each bath! If this is to be repeated regularly and the bathtub is to serve as a daily wellness oasis, it's not a cheap undertaking. Those who bathe regularly can expect to spend up to €1,000 per year. And that's not even considering a household with several people...

Fortunately, there is a simple and logical solution: showering instead of bathing.

We calculated the potential hot water savings of a long, relaxing shower compared to a standard bath. The result is astonishing: Compared to a regular bathtub, a long shower saves, for example, 57%, and compared to a large bathtub , the savings are even greater at 67% .

In addition, when taking a bath, there's the habit of refilling the hot water after 10-15 minutes because you don't want to lie in cold water...this doesn't happen when showering.

Here is an overview of the potential savings for ourselves at home:

The warm, splashing water has an intense relaxing effect, the steam is soothing for the mucous membranes, and the feeling of the drops pleasantly massages our body.

“Showering is like meditation,” says Harvard psychologist Dr. Shelley Carson, referring to the positive effects of a warm shower: calming, security, and better sleep. This leads to more energy and enjoyment of life in everyday life – and obviously also saves a lot of hot water.

Conclusion: Showering is at least as relaxing as taking a bath. Plus, there's no room for your phone or other distractions in the shower – pure relaxation. You can also save a lot of hot water, up to 67% in our example calculation, depending on the setup. With a modern rain shower head including water-saving technology, the savings can easily reach 75% or more – without compromising the full relaxation effect.

Here are 7 tips for saving hot water at home :

Tip 1: Shower instead of bathing

We've analyzed this in detail. Here's an idea from our team: Try a two-week shower challenge, replacing baths with showers, and take your time to consciously relax while showering. You'll be amazed at how much hot water you save and how much better you feel in your daily life. You can find more information about relaxation in the shower on our website : https://waltz7.com/pages/wellness

Tip 2: Handwashing, cold or warm? Wash your hands with cold water .

Washing your hands with enough soap eliminates 99.9% of all germs and bacteria, regardless of the water temperature. This can help you reduce your hot water consumption, at least a little. Hotter water doesn't make our hands cleaner or remove a greater number of germs than cold water. Colder water is gentler on the skin. What's more important is how long and thoroughly we wash our hands.

Tip 3: Floor mopping, cold or warm? Mop the floor with cold water .

What applies to your hands also applies to your floors at home. Cold water is sufficient for mopping. The cleaning power comes from the cleaning agent and the mop, not the water temperature. Quite the opposite: warm water often leaves streaks on the floor because it can alter the chemical composition of the cleaning agent.

Tip 4: Drops instead of silence? Descaling!

Dripping faucets and showers are not only annoying, but also waste hundreds of liters of hot water per year. If you don't want to use chemical limescale removers, simply mix vinegar essence and water in a 1:2 ratio, and you're done.

Tip 5: Showering with air? The water-saving shower head uses 50% less water.

Install aerators and flow restrictors on your faucets. What sounds complicated is actually available for a few euros at any hardware store and can be installed yourself with a little DIY skill. These little helpers mix air into the water, thus reducing consumption. Installation is simple and usually pays for itself relatively quickly. Aerators are available from around two euros, and water-saving shower heads from around 20 euros.

To find out if a water-saving shower head is right for you: Place the shower head in a 10-liter bucket and turn the water on full blast. If the bucket overflows within a minute or less, a water-saving shower head is worthwhile.

Tip 6: Running water: Turn off the tap and save water

It's obvious, but often still not done: Only run hot water when needed. Whether brushing your teeth, washing your hands or hair – turning off the tap saves thousands of liters per household per year and also reduces hot water costs.

Tip 7: For those who are not sensitive to the cold: Stop the water even when showering.

It's so simple, yet it works: Turn off the water while you're lathering up in the shower. What works for brushing your teeth should work in the shower too, right? Brrrr....

As always, you don't have to implement everything perfectly to see a positive effect. Perhaps you'll find one or two helpful tips here!

If you have any further tips or ideas, feel free to write to us using the contact form or at welcome@waltz7.com

For even more relaxation and renewed energy while showering, you can find exciting shower wellness products HERE .

Freshly showered greetings,

Yours, Thomas