Who should shower first?

[Starstencils]

Person A takes 5 minutes in the shower.

Person B takes 20 minutes. They need to use mobility aids, a shower seat etc and cannot move quickly.

The water comes from a tank so there isn’t an endless supply. Person A says they should shower first as they’re quicker and will leave most of the tank water for person B.

Person B says they need to shower first as if they’re sat there for 20 minutes the water may go cold by the end of their shower if A has gone first and they’ll be sat under cold water and not able to move away from it quickly.

Person A. Person B has a small chance at the end of their shower being cold if they go 2nd if person A goes 2nd they have a very high chance that their whole shower will be cold.

Person A clearly!

I am with the Easterbunny, A goes first.

Is this a permanent thing or in a hotel? If it’s a one off then person A. If this is at your home then obviously it should change around, why should person B have cold showers forever just because they are less abled?

So person B thinks it’s perfectly acceptable to leave NO hot water for person A? Obviously A should go first. I can understand it’s very irritating for person B not to be able to move at all quickly, but person A’s needs also come into this.

A

You say the water may go cold. Does it go cold? How often does it go cold? Is there an option to install a water heater at the shower itself so it doesnt matter if the tank water is cold?

Given that in our household I am Person B, Person A, obviously.

Yes I might be cold for the last minute or two but if (as in ours) Person A helps me into a warm towelling robe before they get into the shower, my seat etc can be put in immediately they get out and I can get in, lessening the chance the water will be cold.

One should be a morning shower person and the other an evening shower person. A heating engineer should come and visit and a system upgrade should be considered.

Would you consider installing an electric shower so that the problem goes away?

@Denim4ever

One should be a morning shower person and the other an evening shower person. A heating engineer should come and visit and a system upgrade should be considered

Oh, you’re much too sensible 😀

Obviously A. If needed B could wait a bit longer before showering (making sure the hot water is on) so the water tops up again if they really can't shower without using the whole tank.

No one should be using a whole tank of water for one shower. I appreciate there are disabilities but there has to be a cheaper way surely.

Person A should go first. Sounds like Person A would get an almost fully cold shower if B goes first, vs B maybe getting the last minute or two as a cold shower.

Person A going first means that their shower will help to warm up the room and tiles so B will have a warmer room to shower in.

Long term look at improving the water heating situation so that there’s plenty of hot water for both.

You should go second OP.

Either, instal a larger water tank for more capacity, or stagger the showering so that when the first person showers the tank is set to heat as it is refilling. Or instal an electric shower and then there is an endless supply of hot water.

We have a digital mixer shower and it tells you how many litres of water you have used. I pause the shower to shampoo my hair as it do it twice and then condition it. So it is paused each time. The children have an electric shower in their bathroom so they don't use the tank of water that Dh and I need.

In terms of your situation, person A showers first but the tank can then refill and be heated.

I have been person B recently- broken leg, dressings,shower seat etc. Showers took ages! I always went last in the shower- otherwise I’d delay everyone else! If there was a chance of there being no hot water left that’s even more reason. Surely even if the water does turn cold for Person B they can just turn off the water from the shower seat?

Electric shower.

And persons A and B should be kind to each other as it's a tricky situation and no-one's fault.

Of course A! B honestly thinks they should be the only one who gets any hot water? Have they had a bathing assessment from ot to see what would help?

C. You need to not aim to shower at the same times of day. That way no one feels under pressure or limited by the other.

Is the water running the whole time?

Who should go first 🤔 the one that gets there first.

Take it in turns?

Person A. I can’t believe person B would take most of the water. You need a bigger tank or an electric shower.

OP. Who are you?

Person A, so as to avoid their whole shower being cold. Person B also has more opportunity (20 mins) to optimise their shower duration vs Person A who already seems fairly swift at 5 mins.

clearly, other better options include:

1. staggering shower times
2. upgrading water heating system (electric shower or larger water tank)

This is so obvious I'm wondering why the OP is asking the question.
Each could shower when they know there's a full tank of hot water.

Even better, they could install an instantaneous electric shower that runs off the cold water supply. But maybe they're in rented accommodation and can't do that.