Hot water

[GoldenDogs]

I live in an old council house that only has a bath, no shower, and can’t afford to pay anyone to put one in. I have 4 teens/ preteens, and if someone has a bath in the morning there isn’t enough hot water for anyone else to have one again for up to an hour. It’s making the mornings difficult as they are teens so need a bath in the mornings. Are all houses like this and run out of water?

Those shower devices don’t work, not on our taps anyway.

How big is your water tank?
We can get a full bath and at least 2 showers on our tank - but its a fairly decent size.

Pay someone to replace the bath tap with a combined shower hose tap and an over bath shower screen.

Do any of the teens have a gym membership or anything? Leisure centres often have subsidised membership prices, and showering there could maybe be an option in evenings to free up the bath a bit in mornings? Do you have a shower facility at your workplace? We have one in our staff changing room - but it's mainly only people that cycle to work that ever use it.

I visit a lot of council houses and have never come across a set up like this where there is no shower. I do think this is pretty crappy of the council not to sort out the hot water at least. A family should be able to all have hot water for a wash. Do you have anyone that can advocate for you to the council? Any healthcare professionals or services that you see / would visit you at home?

Changing the taps on your bath for ones that work with a shower attachment will be much cheaper than getting a shower put in.
Some taps come with a shower "splitter" built in.

Really? Pretty much everyone I know in a council house didnt get a shower they paid for one or they are in new builds only (not older houses) I think they are now put in new builds as standard but I moved here 10 years ago. No kids dont go gym they are young teens oldest 11-14

Like these

The council is shoddy then. Maybe it just depends how old places are / the area / the funding. You haven't answered any of the other questions - will any of those other suggestions help at all?

No unfortunately none of those would apply, they told me it was a luxury not an essential and if I want it I would have to pay for it, no other access to showers.

We would like a shower fitted by HA but they won't either. I tried to say it would save us money on water and thought the fact we have looked after their property for over 20 years might help but it didn't.

We have a mixer tap with shower attachment which I find OK. Unless I use a posh power shower and when I get home it feels like a dribble for a few days!

We have used a garden trug when we had no boiler. One kettle of hot water and then cold to top it up. Stand the trug in the bath and then stand in the trug. Use a flannel and a plastic jug to pour water over mucky bits. Soap and flannel to scrub underarms and bits, and then use the flannel and the jug to rinse.
Not great, but good enough.
We also had a line on the bath as kids and not allowed to fill more than that. Would this help ? Morning baths are for getting clean, not wallowing and relaxing in. So only need a small amount of water. Girls on their periods might get a special pass and more water
Yes, I am old, and my parents lived through the war.
Save hard for an electric shower.

It’s usual practice to not have a shower in council property here. I don’t have one either but luckily do have a combi boiler. Also have the taps like you do that rubber hose thing doesn’t fit.

I still use a jug and flannel in the morning or a 6 inch bath. in your situation I’d definitely recommend having the kids bathe in the evenings