How Can I Make My Home’s Hot Water Last Longer?

Does using your dishwasher mean that you must wait for the water cylinder to warm again before you can wash your hands at the sink? Is your store of hot water depleted with a single shower?

It’s a frustrating situation, certainly. However, there are plenty of things you can do to make your home’s hot water last longer. In this post, we’ll explore some of the simplest options available to you.

1. Check Your Cylinder’s Thermostat

Your unvented cylinder temperature is controlled by a thermostat. It should be set between 60 and 65 degrees C to kill bacteria but not be so hot that it could scald someone. If it’s too low, adjust the temperature.

2. Insulate Your Piping

If your pipes are accessible, consider insulating them. By adding a single layer of insulation to your hot water pipes, you help maintain a stable temperature and keep your water warmer. That ensures you need to use more cold for mixing at the tap and reduces your use of hot water.

3. Switch to Low-Flow Showerheads

If you’re regularly running out of hot water while showering, it could be your showerhead that’s to blame. Old-style showerheads use vast quantities of water, but newer options change that. Switch to a low-flow showerhead and you could cut your water use by 60 per cent every month. That means you could have plenty of hot water left after showering for your other needs, like washing dishes.

4. Watch Your Water Use

How much hot water do you use each day? Most people are surprised by just how high their usage is. Track your usage for a week, including the following:

Dishwasher use
Showers/baths
Laundry loads using hot water
Any open hot taps left running

At the end of the week, simply add all that up and see where you can reduce your water usage. Sometimes switching to cold water for washing clothes can help save a lot of hot water while also extending the lifespan of your garments. Turning off open hot taps when the water isn’t being actively used and being smart about when you run your dishwasher (running only full loads, for instance), can all make a difference in how much hot water you have available.

5. Check Your Unvented Cylinder

If you’ve tried multiple steps and you’re still not getting the volume of hot water you need, it could be a problem with the cylinder itself. It’s possible that one of the immersion heaters has failed and the cylinder isn’t heating properly. A certified plumber can inspect your unvented cylinder, determine the cause of the issue, and repair it quickly.

At EasyFlow, we have decades of experience in inspecting, diagnosing, and repairing unvented cylinders. We can inspect yours and have it back in working condition in short order – our plumbers carry the most commonly-needed parts in their vans, so there’s often no wait for part delivery. Get in touch with us today to schedule your inspection.