Just wondering if anyone knows any effective DIY solution to reduce the time it takes for the hot water to flow through the shower ?
To clarify, there's no issue with the water pressure but mainly the time it takes for the water to get heated up.
Any help on this would be appreciated. Thanks!
Plot twist: instantaneous HWS aren't that instantaneous.
Life is full of cold reality. lol
When you open the hot water tap, all of the water between the shower and the water heater has to clear from the pipes, this is always cold. This water, is up to 20 litres, depending on the distance between the shower and the water heater.
You’ll have to shorten the distance between hot water tank and the said shower.
(1) Move hot water tank closer to bathroom
(2) Relocate bathroom to be closer to hot water tank.
Or just turn the hot water on first thing before you get yourself ready.
To reduce heat lost, insulate the hot water pipes.
If you want to speed up the time for hot water to get to the shower, turn on the hot tap on your hand basin at the same time as the shower. Remember to turn it off before getting into the shower.
Faster, but same amount of water used.
Yep. That was what OP asked.
Just wondering if anyone knows any effective DIY solution to reduce the time it takes for the hot water to flow through the shower ?
There’s no free lunch.
If the OP’s intention was to ask how to reduce the amount of cold water coming through before the warm hits opening two taps wont help.
You can attempt to insulate the hot water pipe, but it won't help that much.
I suppose if you really couldn't stand that cold water for 30 seconds, you could wrap a heater around the pipe the entire way from the hot water to the shower. Keep it at a constant 50 deg.
Use Heating Tape
For piping systems that are easily accessible, you can apply electrical heating tape directly to the pipe to help it retain heat. This can be especially helpful for pipes in unheated or exterior locations, such as in cold attics or basements.
There are two different kinds of heating tape you can use — self-monitoring and manual. The first type of heating tape has a sensor and turns on and off by itself whenever it senses that the pipe needs more heat. The manual type of heating tape requires you to plug it in whenever heat is needed and unplug it once the pipe is warm.
Like any heating system, electrical heating tape can be dangerous. Make sure to follow the manufacturer’s instructions and safety procedures when applying it to your pipe systems
Source: https://www.davidleroyplumbing.com/blog/how-to-keep-pipes-fr…
Don't need a new build. I've been thinking about doing the same.
All OP needs to do is get a recirculation system for their HWS, which gets connected to the furthest point of their hot water plumbing. (i.e. for our Rinnai system, one of these).
I suspect however there won't be any real cost saving given the price of water.
relocate to Dubai, where the cold water is hot!
If your house is old and had been renovated it can be worth reviewing the routing of the hot water piping. Our house had 3 Reno's done and the hot water was slow as the system location had been moved. Plumbers were not interested but sliding in the dirt in the crawl space the piping was a maze between the old and new hot water locations. Got that tidied up. Also put some insulation on it as well to try and retain some heat in the piping.
Brush your teeth, wash your hands/face with hot water tap at the basin before shower.
Ask your partner to have a shower first, then you follow straight after utilising the hot water in the pipes already.
Not really, unless you go with http://enviro.net.au/index.php/enviro-water-saver.html
or something like it.
Or have a dedicated Instant HWS for the Shower so the water doesn't sit in the Pipes cold forever.