Water Meters

[raybush]

I currently do not have a water meter and wondered if my 3 bedroomed house would benefit from having a water meter fitted.
There is only the wife and i at home ,so we dont use that much water .
A few showers a day .Washing machine about 3 times a week.The dishwasher about 3 times a week .The sprinkler goes on about once a week during the summer if it's required.
Is there any method of guaging this ,only i dont want to get one fitted if it's going to cost me more.
Thanks

[factor-fiction]

Yes, you will almost certainly save money if you take reasonable care.
There is an online estimator/calculator on the water companies' websites

[gingejbee]

As f-f says, go to your suppliers website for all the info. Your supplier will be most helpful - because they REALLY do want you on a meter.

[hellywelly4]

I would definitely recommend having a water meter - I'm sure you will see your water bills drop dramatically.

[Buenchico]

This question comes up frequently here. The vast majority of responses are that you'll save a significant amount. e.g. see here:
http://www.theanswerbank.co.uk/Home-and-Garden/Question644640.html

[theshedman]

I had one fitted in April and so far our bill has gone down by around half. If it doesn't save you money you can have it turned off as long as you do it within 12 months. There are 3 of us at home in 3 bed room house. We are with South West Water so any saving money with them is good as our bill was over £1000 before having the meter fitted.

[OILhead]

Isn't there a very general guide saying that if you have more bedrooms than people in your home then you may well be better off with a water meter?

[boxtops]

I've had one for several years, we are saving a fortune on water bills, I promise you. Our usage is similar to yours.

[emeritus]

My Bills halved after having a meter installed.

[Hypognosis]

Probably an unrepeatable offer but the water board for my previous house offered to fit water meters for free if you told them that you were a heavy user of garden sprinklers.

It sounds wierd - giving a freebie to the most profligate water users but maybe the idea was to tempt them into getting one fitted, only to have to curb their usage when they see the actual figures.

I agree that 2 persons, no kids means light usage but you mentioned garden sprinklers and I'd need to think about it before I'd give the meter the thumbs up.

Maybe run the sprinkler at your usual setting into a 5 gallon bucket and time how long it takes to fill. Work out how many buckets per hour, then

44 x 5 gal buckets = 1 cubic metre

If the price per cubic metre is not shown in your bills, because you're not on a meter yet, it won't be to hard to find out online or by phone.

[factor-fiction]

Water meters are usually free anyway, Hypognosis

[gingejbee]

Yes, they are....but not from "water boards" - they disappeared in 1974.

[OILhead]

Apparently if you are in Scotland you will get charged for getting a water meter installed though.