Water saving devices

[237SJ]

I have just gone on a water meter and was thinking of getting an in-cistern device. Either a hippo or other device would do. The bathroom was installed in 2004 and according so according to Thames Water, I don`t need anything at all. My sister has new bathrooms in her house and she uses water saving devices in her cisterns. Would it matter if I put one in? The hippo saves up to 2.5 ltrs and the non-specified water saving device saves 1 ltr per flush.

[Hawkwalk]

Many new cysterns are already water saving so may be flushing on the minimum amount of water. No need to buy anything fancy to see if it will work with yours, just put a brick in it, go for a number two and see if it flushes down!!

[The Builder]

Hello 237 ........... I must agree with Hawk .......... you probably have a dual flush already. If you reduce it even more it may not ....er .......... evacuate ;o)

[AlBags]

lol but right : )

Try your flush .. .especially after a good dump : )

[gingejbee]

I have this theory that the less water one uses (toilets, showers etc) the more likely you are to have blocked drains. Many older systems were designed to use lots of water - before we all became "eco-conscious".

[237SJ]

Thanks for your replies. Albags, Hawk, say it like it is why don`t you? Made me laugh though. 2shortplanks - I don`t have a coke bottle because I don`t drink the stuff. Will a Cava bottle do? Builder I don`t have a duel flush. Thanks as well gingejbee for your input. I just want to know if putting a water saving device in the cistern is worth it with a modern cistern?

[boxtops]

If you have a slim-line cistern then you may not have room? With the old cisterns, you could just put a brick in.

[237SJ]

I`m not sure boxtops to be honest. It looks normal sized to me. I tried to find the original receipt from the bathroom company that did the installing to see if there is any reference to the cistern but I don`t have it.

[boxtops]

We've got a water meter and I can't say that flushing the loo with a full flush has made any difference to the price of our water. The meter has saved us a fortune.

[237SJ]

Boxtops - I`m hoping I will save quite a bit of money too. My water company isn`t too expensive to be honest but I should have changed to a meter years ago. My mother lives around the corner and I have put her onto a meter too. The good thing is that if we change our minds within 12 months we can go back to the old system.

[welshlibranr]

I got a free water saving device from our Water Company nearly a year ago SJ, and just popped it into the cistern, I have saved about a quarter on my water bill every quarter since then!.........Well worth doing!..............

[237SJ]

That is the line I`m thinking along welsh. My water company will supply one if I want it. I think I will just get one and try it.

[welshlibranr]

SJ, yes do it, they just cut down on the toilet flush, they save you loads!......mine works really well!..........H

[AlBags]

The other thing that has not been mentioned ..
If you take the cistern lid off and look at the flush device .. Some have/had a small plastic 'plug' fitted on the side of the syphon unit. This lets air into the syphon when water level drops part way.
If you remove that plug, you convert it to short flush on a single press.
Worth a look.

[237SJ]

I don`t think I`m particularly wasteful with water but after the meter was put in today, it really made me think about what I`m using. Fortunately I did a big wash before the water company man turned up. If I had known he was going to turn up I would have washed the car, watered the garden and cleaned the house. I always have a drinking glass by the taps in the kitchen and normally I just fill the glass up, take a few mouthfulls and throw the rest away. Now I take a few mouthfulls and put the glass aside with the water in it. I`m really going to have to change my habits now that I`m paying directly for the water but in the scheme of things, that is good.

[237SJ]

Albags, what is the syphon unit?

[sandyRoe]

Don't flush for a number 1. That should save a fair drop of water.

[237SJ]

When I was little my parents never used the terms no 1 and no 2. No 1 is a wee right? I`m not sure that I want to get into a situation where there is stale pee in the loo. Especially in the morning when it is more concentrated! My sister said she doesn`t flush the loo every time she visits so I might reserve judgement on that system.

[welshlibranr]

My water bill is halved SJ!..............I only wash when I have a full load, never waste any water, don't run the tap when cleaning my teeth, as for the loo, if it's yellow let it mellow, if it's brown, flush it down!..........worth the effort, why pay for more than you need to!...........

[AlBags]

The plastic unit like a U Bend under the sistern lid .. The largest part in there.