I hear you on the timers being hit or miss, but I’ve actually had a bit more luck with them—at least with families. Parents love giving their kids a race against the clock, and it turns into a weird sort of bathroom Olympics. Not saying it fixes everything, but it did shave a few bucks off the water bill in my duplex with three kids. Maybe it’s just the competitive types, but sometimes a little gimmick does the trick... at least until the novelty wears off and the timers become soap dishes, too.
Timers definitely have their moments. I tried them in one of my rentals with a couple of college roommates, thinking it’d cut down on those marathon showers. Didn’t really move the needle—turns out, if folks aren’t paying the bill directly, they’re not as motivated. But families with kids? Totally different story. Parents are all about anything that keeps things moving in the morning. I’ve also seen some folks swap out showerheads for low-flow models, which helps even when the timer novelty fades. Little changes here and there add up over time... at least that’s been my experience.
I’ve also seen some folks swap out showerheads for low-flow models, which helps even when the timer novelty fades.
That’s been my go-to as well. Low-flow showerheads seem to make a bigger difference than timers, at least in my experience. I’m curious—has anyone tried those push-button shutoff valves? The kind where you can pause the water while soaping up. Wondering if that’s overkill or actually practical for families with kids.
Push-button shutoffs are actually pretty handy, but I’ve noticed they’re hit or miss with families. Some folks love being able to pause the water while they lather up, especially if they’re trying to teach kids not to let the water run for ages. But honestly, with younger kids, it can get a bit chaotic—either they forget to turn it back on or they end up playing with the button more than actually showering.
From what I’ve seen, low-flow heads are the most “set it and forget it” option. You don’t have to rely on anyone remembering extra steps, which is a big plus in busy households. That said, if you’ve got older kids or adults who are actually motivated to save water, those shutoff valves can make a real dent in usage.
Has anyone run into issues with temperature swings when using the shutoff? Sometimes older plumbing doesn’t handle those pauses well... curious if that’s just in my area or more widespread.
Had a customer once with a push-button shutoff who called me in a panic because her shower went from “spa day” to “polar plunge” every time she paused the water.
Yep, especially in older houses where the mixing valve’s seen better days. Sometimes it’s just the pipes getting cranky after a sudden stop and start. Anyone ever try those thermostatic valves? Wondering if they actually help or just another gizmo to break down the line...“Has anyone run into issues with temperature swings when using the shutoff?”
