Metering hot water usage

Piwoslaw · 07-19-10, 12:00 PM

Does anyone know how much hot water is used in an average house, compared to total water usage?

Like in most houses, we have a water meter, so I know how much we use, but have no idea what percent of it is hot water. When we install a hot water tank next year I plan to put a meter on it, but maybe someone has already done this?

Daox · 07-20-10, 06:07 AM

Thats a good question. I don't believe I've ever seen a statistic showing that.

Ryland · 07-20-10, 09:21 AM

Someone with an on demand water heater could tell you based off their gas use.
I personally think it's about half and half, mostly due to toilets.

Piwoslaw · 07-20-10, 12:35 PM

And that reminds me of another thing I'd like to do when renovating our plumbing: have the toilets on a separate supply pipe. This would not only allow me to put a meter on just the toilets, but would also ease switching to grey or rain water for flushing.

I read somewhere that a 300 liter (79 US gallon) hot water tank is recommended for a 3-4 person family. I doubt that's how much water is actually used during the whole day (our family of 3 uses an average of 250-300 liters total per day, both hot and cold). One of the reasons I started this thread is to have an idea of how to size the hot water part of our plumbing when we start renovating.

07-19-10, 12:00 PM	#1
Piwoslaw Super Moderator Join Date: May 2009 Location: Warsaw, Poland Posts: 964 Thanks: 189 Thanked 111 Times in 87 Posts	Metering hot water usage Does anyone know how much hot water is used in an average house, compared to total water usage? Like in most houses, we have a water meter, so I know how much we use, but have no idea what percent of it is hot water. When we install a hot water tank next year I plan to put a meter on it, but maybe someone has already done this?

07-20-10, 06:07 AM	#2
Daox Administrator Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Germantown, WI Posts: 5,525 Thanks: 1,162 Thanked 374 Times in 305 Posts	Thats a good question. I don't believe I've ever seen a statistic showing that. __________________ Current project - To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. & To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.

07-20-10, 09:21 AM	#3
Ryland Master EcoRenovator Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Western Wisconsin. Posts: 913 Thanks: 127 Thanked 82 Times in 71 Posts	Someone with an on demand water heater could tell you based off their gas use. I personally think it's about half and half, mostly due to toilets.

07-20-10, 12:35 PM	#4
Piwoslaw Super Moderator Join Date: May 2009 Location: Warsaw, Poland Posts: 964 Thanks: 189 Thanked 111 Times in 87 Posts	And that reminds me of another thing I'd like to do when renovating our plumbing: have the toilets on a separate supply pipe. This would not only allow me to put a meter on just the toilets, but would also ease switching to grey or rain water for flushing. I read somewhere that a 300 liter (79 US gallon) hot water tank is recommended for a 3-4 person family. I doubt that's how much water is actually used during the whole day (our family of 3 uses an average of 250-300 liters total per day, both hot and cold). One of the reasons I started this thread is to have an idea of how to size the hot water part of our plumbing when we start renovating.