The cheapest time to take a shower to save money on water and energy bills (2024)

THE average American household spends more than $4,000 on utilities each year, and water is one of the biggest expenses.

Utility costs vary by location, but the average person spends $70.93 each month on water, according to Move.org.

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With costs rising almost universally, Americans hoping to reduce their spending can look to their utility bills to find some ways to save.

Namely, changing some of your showering habits can save thousands of gallons of water, and save you upwards of $100 as a result.

According to the US Environmental Protection Agency, a typical shower uses around 9,000 gallons of water annually.

Only toilets and washing machines use more water in a typical home.

Saving water and money when you shower

Showerheads use around 2.5 gallons per minute, and the average family uses 40 gallons each day showering, according to the EPA.

Considering the average shower lasts around eight minutes, according to the Water Research Foundation, cutting back your time by a few minutes each shower can reap long-term benefits.

And the EPA recommends using WaterSense labeled showerheads, which cap water flow at 2 gallons per minute.

In addition to the water saved, you'll also reduce gas and electric costs by putting less strain on your water heater.

According to the agency, WaterSense showerheads can conserve 2,700 gallons of water and 330 kilowatt hours of electricity per year.

The water reduction alone can be worth $100 or more annually, in addition to the hundreds you can save on your utilities as a whole.

You also may be able to cut down on utility costs by showering at night.

Some energy providers can charge more during the times that most homes will be using appliances, known as peak times.

For example, the Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E) has a time-of-use rate plan, which means any energy used Monday to Friday between 4pm and 9pm costs extra.

Showering outside of those peak hours will run up a smaller cost than using energy during prime times.

A TikTok user shared how she saves $50 each month on water.

And one city is offering rebates worth up to $3,000 for residents who cut back on water use.

The cheapest time to take a shower to save money on water and energy bills (2024)

FAQs

What is the cheapest time of day to take a shower? ›

New research into energy tariff rates has revealed showering between 10pm and 8am is the cheapest time. Here is how the finances break down. Taking a 10-minute shower uses 1.42kWh of electricity, costing a household on a standard variable tariff around 40p each time.

What is the most efficient shower time? ›

Most dermatologists say that your shower should last between five and 10 minutes to cleanse and hydrate your skin, but no longer than 15 minutes to avoid drying it out. You can still benefit from the shower length you prefer, whether long and luxurious, quick and efficient or somewhere in the middle.

How much does a 10-minute shower cost? ›

The single, 10-minute long shower will cost you $0.46 or $168.93 if you repeat it daily for a full year. Don't forget that these are sample calculations for one person and 10 minutes for showering only 1 time a day.

How long should a shower take to save water? ›

Spend less time in the shower

To save water in the shower, aim to get your shower time down to 4 minutes or less. Use a shower timer or your favourite 4-minute song to time your showers.

Does showering at night save money? ›

It's also potentially cheaper to heat the water in the evenings, depending on your energy supplier. After all, you should take advantage of the cheapest time to do your laundry and save money.

What is the best hour to shower? ›

Benefits to morning showers include feeling more alert in the morning, getting clean after a workout, and washing off any nighttime sweat or skin cell buildup. However, showering at night may be a better option for people with skin conditions or allergies, and it can help prepare the body for sleep.

What is the most cost effective shower? ›

An electric shower is considered the most energy efficient thanks to its reduced requirement for power when heating the water and its reliance on just a cold water feed. Electric showers are also considered to be the easier choice when installing.

Do shorter showers save money? ›

Showering in five minutes or less conserves thousands of gallons of water every year, so you can shave dollars off of your bill every day by taking shorter showers. Even if you can't get your daily ritual down to five minutes, shortening it from 20 to 10 will still save you plenty on your utility bill.

How much does it cost to fill a bath? ›

According to Money Stepper, the average cost of filling a 150L bath is between 30p and 90p, depending on the efficiency of your boiler. With this in mind, purchasing a smaller bath or filling your tub with less water is an astute way to reduce your monthly outlay.

Does showering everyday increase water bill? ›

Water companies measure water usage in hundred cubic feet, or CCF. One CCF is equivalent to 748 gallons of water. If you shower 10 minutes every day for a year, you are using 9,125 gallons of water (12.2 CCF). If you take a bath filled halfway every day for a year, you're using 14,600 gallons of water (19.51 CCF).

How to reduce shower water usage? ›

Regardless of the showerhead model you have, you can save water by taking shorter showers. You also can save water by shutting off the water flow while soaping-up or shampooing. Some showerheads have a quick shut-off lever that allows you to turn the water on and off without adjusting the water temperature.

Does turning off water during shower save water? ›

Keeping your shower under 5 minutes can save up to 1000 gallons a month. Turning off water while shampooing and conditioning hair can save 50 gallons a week and using a water-saving showerhead can save your family 500 gallons a week.

What is the cheapest way to do a shower? ›

A prefab shower is more cost-friendly. These showers usually come as kits containing the shower pan and surrounds. Sometimes they have the plumbing and a door already attached, so experienced do-it-yourselfers (DIYers) may be able to install a prefab kit themselves.

What is the best time of day to take a shower? ›

A study about the physical and mental effects of bathing proved that showers increase the overall blood flow in your body. When you shower, your body also experiences more oxygen and nutrients. Showering in the morning could allow you to bring those benefits into the rest of your day.

Is showering at night more expensive? ›

If the water supply is colder at night, then your water heater has to raise the water temperature by more degrees for a night shower than for a day shower, so a night shower might be more expensive.

Is it better to shower in the morning or evening? ›

Weighing the experts' aforementioned benefits, it's safe to say that evening showers are much more beneficial for the body. However, if people like to do both, then you do you. There's no harm in having two showers a day, so long as you restrict the length to 10 minutes or less and keep the temperature mild.

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