Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Flexible and made to last.

Meet the Other Phone.
Flexible and made to last.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Ethical living

Discover eco friendly brands and sustainable fashion on our Ethical Living forum.

Original poster

Is there a method of re-heating bath water?

30 replies

KatyMac · 08/04/2011 22:31

Apparently I'm supposed to have lots of hot baths

Can I save money by reheating the water

Or is that daft?

OP posts:
Original poster
KatyMac · 09/04/2011 12:02

bump for ideas

I wonder if I could insulate the bath?

OP posts:
niceday · 09/04/2011 12:13

Reheat the water by putting a hot body in it?

Sorry, no better advice

DaisySteiner · 09/04/2011 12:18

I think most baths are already quite well insulated already. You could consider putting a cover over the top though to keep the heat in - maybe one of those foil body wrap things that they give runners at the end of marathons?

Original poster
KatyMac · 09/04/2011 12:20

Well my bath is steel with no insulation & most I see in B&Q seem to be plastic with no insulation

I don't think I have ever seen an insulated one

OP posts:
ThisIsANiceCage · 09/04/2011 12:27

How much faff are you prepared to go to with this?

If it's a lot, then I'd suggest insulating round the bath and making an insulated cover (loft insulation sealed in bin bags).

A larger body of water will keep its heat better, so wait until you next want to bath, then let half(?) out and top up with very hot water - boiling kettle if necessary.

But to be honest, if you need kettles, you're introducing so much faff and risk of spillage, you're probably better off not bothering. I also wouldn't try any of this with little people in the house - the bath-with-cover is an accident waiting to happen for toddlers.

Original poster
KatyMac · 09/04/2011 12:30

DD is 13

I don''t know how much faff I am up for

I suppose it depends on how much a bath of hot water costs (water plus heating)

OP posts:
ThisIsANiceCage · 09/04/2011 12:30

X-post.

Ah, yes, foil-type insulations for cover much easier to handle - there's that foil-and-bubble-wrap type in DIY places (can't remember name).

I put rockwool under my bath, by the way, as it's a steel bath on concrete ground floor - v cold in winter!

ThisIsANiceCage · 09/04/2011 12:34

OK, if you can use the foil stuff, and you can get scorching water out of your tank, and as you have no littlies, this moves into Give It A Go territory.

You're absolutely right that heating baths is a huge percentage of one's fuel bill. I'd definitely be trying this. Smile

Original poster
KatyMac · 09/04/2011 12:37

It is tricky but 3 hot baths a day - while maybe soothing and giving pain relief look like they would cost a fortune

OP posts:
FattyAcid · 09/04/2011 12:37

"Apparently I'm supposed to have lots of hot baths "
my ethical auntie swears by cold baths as far more healthy
she is 74 and vv healthy

Original poster
KatyMac · 09/04/2011 12:39

Apparently I have Fibromyalgia & Hyper-mobility and this will help prevent pain & joint damage

OP posts:
HHLimbo · 09/04/2011 13:06

Could you get a membership for a gym with a hot jacuzzi? If you are using it 3X day it may be more economical.

Original poster
KatyMac · 09/04/2011 13:21

Maybe

But there is a time element involved in that

I don't think I can make any decisions quickly it may be "try it & see"

OP posts:
DaisySteiner · 09/04/2011 14:33

Sorry, I got distracted halfway through writing my post; when I said most baths are quite well insulated, I meant because they're made from plastic, which is a good insulator. If yours is steel it won't be so good - I definitely noticed the difference in how long our water stays hot for when we swapped our steel bath for a plastic one.

EvenLessNarkyPuffin · 09/04/2011 14:41

Could you trial it by getting a reduced gym membership through your GP? I know that they can do that for people with weight issues that effect their health, you could always ask if you could get help to try a gym with a whirlpool.

HHLimbo · 09/04/2011 15:44

Yes you may also be able to get reduced gym/pool membership as it is for medical reasons.

There are some baths which are advertised as being better insulated, may be worth a look round homebase etc, see if the price is worth it.

jamaisjedors · 09/04/2011 15:58

I don't think you can save money by re-heating the water because it's not the water which is the problem, it's the HEATING it - you will be hard-pushed to find a more efficient way of heating the water than you already have (ie boiler).

Sorry!

GeorgeEliot · 09/04/2011 18:15

How about sharing baths with other members of your family - make them bathe at different times of the day?

OhYouBadBadKitten · 09/04/2011 18:21

It sounds as practical as the advice my derm gave me for my psoriasis once - he said that I should sunbathe every day while it was bad as it was a lot easier than me going up to the hosp 3x a week for uv therapy. I tried to follow his advice but it was a very cold March and after turning blue a couple of times I decided he was a bit bonkers. consultants really need to think whether their advice is practical or not.

conculainey · 10/04/2011 18:23

You can pack the underside of your bath with fibre glass (roof space) insulation which is placed in bin bags and sealed with packing tape, this keeps the bath warmer for longer and is very cheap and easy to install by simply removing the bath panel.

Original poster
KatyMac · 10/04/2011 20:25

There are only 3 of us & we already share Blush

Insulation will help I guess as I won't keep topping it up

I will ask the GP about the Gym.....

OP posts:
EvenLessNarkyPuffin · 10/04/2011 21:03

I googled 'study fibromyalgia hot water'. Looks interesting.

Original poster
KatyMac · 11/04/2011 21:24

Well the morning one helps

The evening one relaxes me but makes me stiff & I can't get out by myself

Haven't had time for a third one yet

So this maybe a non-problem Grin

OP posts:
EvenLessNarkyPuffin · 14/04/2011 15:46

How's it going after a few days?

smokinaces · 14/04/2011 15:57

I have hypermobility and fibro and cant deal with hot baths - they make things worse instead of better and I end up very stiff and sore. 3 a day seems a very weird thing to recommend to be honest!

If its to help certain joints, highly recommend a tens machine several times a day.

and massages.