Sherri's Helpful Hints

WATER SAVING TIPS

• Take a shower rather than a bath.
• Collect rain water for use in the garden.
• Don’t run the tap while cleaning your teeth.
• Only boil as much water as you need when making drinks etc.
• Don’t leave taps (faucets) dripping - repair any worn washers.
• Only wash full loads in washing machines and dishwashers.
• If you have a dehumidifier or air conditioning unit which collects the water this can be used to water houseplants as can water from defrosting a fridge or freezer. This is distilled water.
• Water remaining after boiling eggs can be cooled and used to water plants as this is high in nutrients as is the dirty water taken from a fish tank.
• If you drink tap water and normally run the tap for a while to ensure the water is cold, collect this initial supply either in your kettle or to water plants etc., Alternatively, instead of waiting for it to run cold keep a jug of water in the fridge.
• Wash vegetables in a bowl rather than under a running tap.
• Don’t over-water your lawn as this encourages the roots to find the surface and can weaken growth. Sprinklers are wasteful as they use as much water in one hour as a family of four uses in one day.
• Fit a water saving device in your toilet cistern or replace with a modern one as these use less water for each flush.
  

INSTALLING A NEW SHOWER HEAD

If you are still showering with a regular shower head, you’re missing out on a relaxing shower with an oscillating or massage shower head. Most homes don’t come with this type of shower head so, if you’re interested in one, you’ll have to put it in yourself. It’s actually fairly easy to put in these shower heads if you have the right tools.

Besides the shower kit itself, you’ll need a pipe wrench and a roll of Teflon tape. There are several different brands of shower heads to choose from. They are all standardized so you need only compare how much you want to pay and what kinds of features you want.

There are plain shower heads with different kinds of sprays available at just the twist of a ring. They look somewhat like regular shower heads but tend to have a broader outlet area for the oscillating spray to come out. Other massage shower heads actually come with an attachment to the shower system that then extends out to a 3-4 food hose with a handheld shower head at the end of the hose. The advantage of these systems is that you can direct the stream anywhere you want. You’ll end up paying between $15 and $100, depending on the brand and quality of the shower head.

Remember to turn the water main off first before you begin working on the shower head and the knobs. To remove the old shower head, use your pipe wrench and unscrew the head off the pipe leading from the wall. It should come off pretty easily. Clean off the threads of any debris or old Teflon.

Wrap the threads of the pipe with Teflon tape so that the whole threaded area is snuggly wrapped in the white tape. This will make the new shower head go on easier and will serve to protect the area from water leaks.

Start screwing the new shower head on with your fingers until you’re sure the threads are connecting the correct way and until the shower head is on somewhat tightly. Finally, use your pipe wrench to tighten the connection completely.

Test the shower head to make sure you don’t have leaks by turning on the faucet and pulling up on the shower knob. After that, all that is left is to take the kinks out with a hot oscillating shower directed toward your aching muscles. This kind of showerhead really rinses out the hair nicely with a higher pressure than you’ve noticed ever before.