6 Ways to Avoid a Cold Shower
No one likes a cold shower. Not only is it unpleasant, but it can also be a real shock to the system (pun intended). Fortunately, you can do a few things to avoid that dreaded feeling of ice-cold water hitting you in the face first thing in the morning. Here are six of them.
1. Insulate Your Pipes
Insulating your pipes is one way to keep your water warmer for longer, particularly in areas where the temperature drops significantly at night or in winter. We suggest contacting your local plumbing company to insulate your home’s pipes before attempting to insulate them on your own. You'll be glad you did when you step into a nice, warm shower on a cold day.
2. Install a Whole-House Recirculating Pump
If you really want to avoid cold showers, invest in a whole-house recirculating pump. This device circulates hot water from your water heater through your home's plumbing so that it's always readily available when you need it. This means no more waiting for the hot water to travel all the way from the water heater to the shower—it'll already be there! Just keep in mind that this is a fairly involved installation process, so you may want to hire a professional
3. Use a Timer to Control Your Hot Water Heater
Did you know that you can use a timer to control when your hot water heater turns on and off? By scheduling it to run during peak times—like in the morning when everyone is getting ready for work or school—you can make sure that there's always hot water available when you need it without wasting energy unnecessarily.
Simply set the timer and forget about it; your hot water will be there when you need it without fail. And if you have an electric water heater, this can even help save you money on your energy bills!
4. Check for Leaks Regularly
Leaky pipes not only waste water but can also let cold air into your home, making it harder to keep things warm inside. Make sure to check all exposed pipes for leaks regularly and repair any that you find as soon as possible. Keeping your pipes sealed tight can help prevent wasted water, unwanted drafts, and damage to your home.
5. Let Faucets Drip During Extreme Conditions
Another way to prevent freezing pipes is to let any exposed faucets drip during periods of extremely cold weather. The constant movement of water will help keep ice from forming and make your pipes more susceptible to bursting if they do freeze.
Just be sure to leave them dripping for a short time, as this can waste a significant amount of water over time! You should let faucets drip at night when temperatures drop below freezing. If possible, only let them drip until temperatures return to normal levels; then, be sure to turn them off again so that they don't continue dripping unnecessarily.
6. Keep Cabinet Doors Open
If any of your plumbing runs through cabinets or enclosed spaces, be sure to keep those doors open during periods of extreme cold weather. This will help circulate warm air around those pipes and prevent them from freezing. Just be sure not to close the doors once the weather has warmed up, as this could cause problems with mold or mildew if moisture becomes trapped inside.