Find out how to discover out if you happen to’re higher off with a meter or set charges.

With some large worth will increase on water payments in 2025, any method to avoid wasting cash goes to be a very good factor. SO is a water meter the reply?

Properly, the reply relies upon primarily on how a lot water you truly use. Generally they’ll prevent an honest chunk of money yearly, however others will see their payments rocket when one is put in.

I’d at all times been uncertain about them, however now after a very good few years of being charged for the water I exploit, I can share with you whether or not it was value it for me, and tips on how to estimate what one may imply for you.

Plus I’ve some ideas that will help you cut back your utilization and produce payments down additional.

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Who can get a water meter?

For many properties in England and Wales you’ll be able to ask your water firm to suit a water meter. It’s usually fully as much as you. Nevertheless, some water firms, together with Thames Water, have made it obligatory.

It’s free to get a water meter put in in England and Wales. You’ve often bought one to 2 years after set up to match prices. If you happen to discover it’s costing you extra, you’ll be able to change again to your normal charges. That’s in fact except you’re in an space with obligatory metering.

Some water meters are sensible meters that allow you to monitor use. Others should be learn by the water firm and it’s important to wait in your invoice to seek out out costs.

In Northern Eire your water charges are already included and in Scotland a water meter set up isn’t free. 

Do you have to get a water meter?

So how are you aware if one is nice for you? Properly, non-metered water is charged based mostly on the scale of your home – a bit like council tax. Water meters however measure precisely how a lot you might be utilizing.

A easy rule of thumb to resolve which is for you is that if there are extra bedrooms than there are individuals dwelling in a home. If that’s the case then you definitely’re more likely to be paying greater than it’s worthwhile to in your water.

If you wish to get a extra correct image, then there’s additionally an online calculator. That’s what I checked out earlier than deciding whether or not to provide the meter a go.

The calculator will provide you with a tough whole which is estimated on precisely what number of showers you could have per week, what number of instances you utilize the dishwasher, washer, baths, what number of instances you flush the bathroom and so forth.

The issue is you probably have extra individuals in a home than there are bedrooms or individuals use water rather a lot – perhaps you’re a eager gardener recurrently utilizing the hose – then it’s very more likely to price you more cash.

Did it save us money?

Andy’s evaluation

As a result of solely two of us live in a four-bedroom home there was at all times a very good likelihood we’d be paying much less with a water meter.

Again in the summertime of 2018, earlier than we switched, our annual invoice was £590. The calculator estimated a brand new price of £376 a yr through a meter, an enormous saving of £214. So it was a no brainer for us to provide this a attempt. 

Frustratingly, we couldn’t learn the meter ourselves, and there was no invoice in any respect for the primary 13 months!! When it arrived the whole for that first yr was fairly near the estimate at £390. A bit greater than the estimate, however we have been nonetheless saving a good wedge of money annually.

Nevertheless, since then, our water utilization – and our payments – have different. Water utilization in 2019 was 102m3, however an enormous 123m3 in 2020 (most likely attributable to lockdowns). This meant our invoice jumped as much as £480. Nonetheless an honest saving, however not as giant.

In 2022, utilization was all the way down to 78m3, costing £324. Then it went up once more in 2023 to 91m3 and a complete of £425. The determine for 2024, the final assertion I obtained, was 92m3 at a value of £481.

That’s nonetheless a giant annual distinction of greater than £100 in comparison with our non-metered cost from again in 2018! And since costs for unmetered charges have elevated yearly, the precise saving will likely be far larger.

Once I assume again to my earlier home, the place I lived for near eight years, if we’d switched then and bought related financial savings we may have been near a grand higher off.

However – keep in mind my financial savings are based mostly on the water utilization of two individuals. I’ve performed round with the calculator to estimate the price if extra individuals lived right here. It’s nonetheless cheaper with three adults, however it may simply be £70 or £80 additional annually with 4 individuals than the fastened charges. So it’s necessary you examine in your personal circumstances.

Find out how to cut back prices when you could have a water meter

If you happen to’ve already bought a meter since you’ve moved right into a home with a meter, had one for greater than two years or obligatory installations are taking place, nicely there are nonetheless methods you’ll be able to minimize your payments and it’s very quite simple. You utilize much less water.

There are apparent issues you are able to do. For instance, turning off the faucet whenever you clear your tooth, or it’s ensuring that you simply don’t essentially flush the toilet each single time. There’s that phrase “if it’s yellow let it mellow, if it’s brown flush it down”. It’d sound a bit tough… however it’s true that you simply don’t essentially have to flush it each time – and that can avoid wasting water.

Free water saving gadgets

In reality there are all types of issues you will get which might help you utilize much less water. From particular luggage that go within the water cistern to scale back the flush by to bathe timers. There are even gradual launch crystals you’ll be able to put in plant pots which imply you don’t have to water them as typically. And they’re free from most water firms.

For many suppliers you’ll be able to go through Save Water Save Money and enter your postcode. You’ll see what’s accessible and what you’ll be able to order totally free. Alternatively, simply google your water firm and see if they provide something for purchasers.

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