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Dulley's Money-Saving Tip #1056

Don't drain bath water until it cools

(related column topic links - 811, 429, 647)

When you take a hot shower in the winter, close the bathtub drain and let the warm water fill the tub as you shower. It takes a lot of energy to heat water and it is just wasted if you let it run down the drain while it is still warm. By saving the water in the tub, it will slowly transfer its heat to the room air and reduce the heating load on your furnace. It will also add humidity to the air, which most homes need in the winter. After about three hours, the water will have cooled and you can open the drain.

The only drawback to doing this is that it can leave some soapy deposits in the tub. If you use a detergent-based bar soap, not Ivory, the soap residue problem is minimal.