As winter lingers a bit longer, you might also linger a bit longer in a hot shower . . . unless you run out of hot water. Or maybe you enjoy a soak in a hot bathtub . . . until the water edges toward tepid and the bath becomes less than relaxing.
If you pine for longer baths and wish for never-ending hot water, you’re in luck. There are ways to lengthen your hot water escapades. Take a look at these ideas and stay warm until the bitter end of the winter months.
In the Bathroom
The bathroom is probably the place you lament running out of hot water the most. Things become uncomfortable quickly without it. There are many ways to make the bathroom a toasty place with never-ending hot water.
Heated Tub
These miraculous tubs keep your bath water comfortable much longer, so go ahead and finish your book. Heated air jets infuse the bathwater with hot, humid air that keeps the bath water at the right temperature longer.
Tests show that bathwater loses about five degrees after the first 20 minutes. That’s enough to start to make your bath feel less than comfortable. A bath with heated air jets loses only about 2.9 degrees after 20 minutes and maintains a proper bath temperature far longer than a soaker tub.
Some tubs also employ heating zones to keep things toasty in the bath. These feature strategic zones with heaters beneath the surface of the tub. They are placed in areas that will come into contact with the body’s most temperature-sensitive spots resulting in a more comfortable bather.
Heated Tubs
Heated Washing
You know about the bidet but have you heard of the washlet? It’s a toilet seat you can attach to any toilet that provides many of the features of a bidet. They are in nearly every water closet in Japan and are a cultural standard.
The best thing about the washlet is that it heats its own water so washing the sensitive bits can be comfortable and effective. You can even adjust the temperature of the water to your preference. And the cherry on top is that the seat is heated too.
Heated Washlet Toilet
More Heat
In the bathroom you may feel colder because you are often wet. Adding more heat to the bathroom can decrease the chill and keep you warmer. Install an electric fireplace in the bathroom. Put a heat lamp over the bathtub. Place a towel warming rack close to the shower and bathtub.
In the Kitchen
The lack of hot water in the kitchen is probably something you experience rarely. It isn’t often you have so many dishes to wash that you run out of hot water. You have appliances, like the dishwasher, to do that sort of thing for you.
Having hot water on hand comes in really handy on a cold winter day when you’d like a cup of tea or to mix up some instant soup on a quick lunch break. For that you need a hot water dispenser. We’re not talking about the unit with the five gallon water bottle perched on top of it upside down. We’re talking about an under-sink version that delivers hot water anytime you want it without sticking out like a sore thumb.
This Franke under-sink heat tank produces 60 cups of hot water per hour. You can adjust the temperature from anywhere between 176 and 208 degrees Fahrenheit with precision. It is easy to care for (with no mineral build up) and has an industry leading five-year warranty.
Hot Water Dispenser
In the Whole House
Another simple fix to get more hot water is to take it on at the root: the water heater. You can turn up the thermostat to produce hotter water, which will last longer because you’ll mix it with cold water to get the right temperature. Or you can go with the endless hot water solution.
A tankless water heater produces hot water on-demand instead of heating in batches like traditional water heaters do. The tankless water heater uses a completely different method for heating water: it heats the water in the pipes so it gets heated on the way to wherever it’s needed.
Stay warm even as the winter temperatures linger on with plenty of hot water. How to get more hot water is made simple with a few additions to your home. Get started today!
Want more ideas for quick and easy upgrades you can make to your home? Check out more on our blog.
