no,-you-shouldn’t-run-the-washing-machine-while-showeringhere’s-why
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No, You Shouldn’t Run the Washing Machine While Showering. Here’s Why

ByKathy Barnes

HOME BUYERS – To get the best exclusive listings visit www.vreg.ca and go to “EXCLUSIVE DEALS”

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Key Takeaways

  1. Running the washing machine while showering can reduce water pressure.
  2. Both the shower and washing machine draw from the same water line, creating a shortage of hot water.
  3. You can adjust your routine or upgrade your system for a better outcome.

Doing laundry while showering knocks two things off your to-do list at one time, but is it a smart idea? We’ve all experienced the shocking temperature shift that happens when someone flushes the toilet during a shower—but what happens if you try to shower and do a load of laundry at the same time?

We turned to experts for their insights and answers. It turns out, plumbers don’t always recommend multitasking. Here’s what they have to say.

Multitasking Can Cause Low Water Pressure and Temperature Drops

Depending on how your plumbing system was designed, the washing machine and shower might share a water line. “When you step into the shower, and your washing machine is looking for hot water to fill its drum, you’re fighting for the same hot water at the same time,” says Chris Hunter, director of customer relations at ServiceTitan.

This is particularly common in homes with 30- or 40-gallon water heaters that are drained quickly when multiple fixtures demand hot water at the same time, says Alex Atkinson, a plumber and HVAC technician at Super Brothers.

If your water heater isn’t big enough, or your plumbing doesn’t regulate pressure well, you’ll feel it with cold water, pressure drops, or a totally uneven shower experience.

If this happens often, consider upgrading to a larger hot water heater or a tankless hot water heater; this way, you won’t run out of hot water. You can also consider a pressure-balancing valve in your shower head so that when other hot or cold knobs are turned elsewhere in the house, the pressure of your shower does not change as it equalizes temperature and pressure across all outlets.

If you need to run a load of laundry, set your machine to cycle after your shower or run a load of laundry in cold water, which won’t affect your supply of hot water.

It Can Also Raise Your Energy Bill

“If the washing machine is on the warm or hot cycle, there is no doubt that it is going to be pulling from the same hot water supply that the shower is. That can noticeably reduce the pressure or temperature of the shower. Most importantly, from an energy savings perspective, your water heater is now attempting to recover two draws simultaneously, so it’s less efficient. It may also reduce the lifespan of the unit over the long run,” says Brandon Young, CEO at Payless Power.

What the Experts Recommend

Here’s what the pros advise, including one simple fix.

• Install a pressure-balancing or thermostatic mixing valve in the shower. That keeps the water temperature steady even when someone flushes or the washing machine runs, says Nick Hendrix, general manager at Kingdom Plumbing.

• Install a smart hot water recirculation system with a booster pump to eliminate the waiting, end the waste, and enhance comfort at home.

• Check your water heater size. If it’s undersized, you might just be running out of hot water too fast. A tankless unit can solve that for good.

• Simply run the laundry after the shower, not during.

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    Things to Never Do with Your AC When the Heat Index Hits Triple Digits

    BySophia Beams

    This summer is the hottest on record (for the third year in a row!), so we assume that your home’s air conditioning system has been hard at work for the past few months. While it might seem tempting to crank the temperature as low as it can go during a heatwave, mistakes like these can cause some severe damage to your system over time.  We spoke to Angie Hicks, co-founder of Angi (formerly Angie’s List), for expert advice on the mistakes homeowners might be making with their AC during a heatwave. Avoiding these errors (and following a few other expert tips Hicks recommends) will help keep your home cool while conserving energy. What to Never Do with Your AC During a Heatwave When you leave the house during the summer, do you turn your AC off before you go to conserve energy? If so, you might actually be wasting more energy than you’re saving—not to mention the fact that you’re likely putting extra strain on your air conditioning unit, too.  If you turn your AC off when you leave the house, you might temporarily lower your energy usage while you’re away. However, during that time, you also lose all the cold air your AC has been producing throughout the day, causing your house to return to a very high temperature. When you return and turn your AC unit back on, it has to work twice as hard to cool your home down. This puts unnecessary strain on your home’s air conditioning. The solution? Hicks says that you should increase the temperature your air conditioning is set to when you leave the house. Hicks recommends raising the temperature by 7 to 10 degrees each time you leave, up to a maximum of 85°F. “By keeping the AC at a higher temperature, you save energy and create efficiency, but your home can still be cooled down again without using too much energy,” says Hicks. Once you return home, you can lower the temperature of your AC again. This helps you save energy while you’re out, without putting any extra strain on your AC when you return. What If You’re Leaving Home for a Long Time? “If you’re leaving your home for longer than a few hours, it’s considered a long period,” says Hicks. Her answer stays the same whether you’re gone for the day or a couple of weeks of vacation—keep your AC on, but at a higher temperature. While it might seem like it’s a safe bet to conserve energy by turning off your AC when you’re away on vacation, this can actually encourage other home issues to arise in the heat (like humidity and potentially even mold growth). Keeping your home’s temperature set to a maximum of 85°F can help prevent these problems. How to Prevent Strain on Your AC When you’re at home, you might consider setting your air conditioning to a slightly lower temperature than you think, especially during a heatwave. “A good temperature setting is about 78 degrees when you’re home and awake,” says Hicks. “When you sleep, you might want to lower this to your comfortable sleeping temperature.” “It might be tempting to lower your AC in extreme heat, but this can use a lot of extra energy and shorten the lifespan of your AC,” adds Hicks. Keeping your AC set to a higher but still comfortable temperature can help you save money, conserve energy, and keep your AC running smoothly. Related Other Habits to Maximize Heatwave Energy Efficiency Your AC isn’t the only thing that can help keep your home cool during the summer. The more effort you put into utilizing other cooling solutions along with your AC, the less strain you’ll be putting on it—and the more energy you’ll be able to conserve when the temperature spikes outside. Hicks recommends keeping your blinds closed during the day to block out as much sunlight as possible throughout your home. This will help keep it cooler, especially during extreme heat. She also recommends turning on ceiling fans if you have any; this is a great way to allow cool air to circulate and make your home feel cooler.  According to Hicks, you should also open a window at night if the outside temperature is cooler than the inside temperature. This can help lower the temperature of your space enough that your air conditioning might not even need to turn on during the night. You can also try other solutions to help prepare your home for a heat wave, such as using cooling sheets, avoiding oven use, and utilizing personal fans to help you feel cooler. Signs You’ve Been Putting Too Much Strain on Your AC Your AC has likely been working hard all summer, which means you need to keep a close eye on it and perform regular maintenance to ensure it continues to work correctly. “This means replacing your filters about every three months and getting it tuned up in the fall and spring,” says Hicks. Performing these minor maintenance tasks can help you prevent major issues from arising in the future. Sometimes, bad luck can strike your AC system during the worst times, especially if you’ve had a habit of cranking the temperature down whenever it’s hot outside. “If you feel like your system isn’t cooling properly, there are uneven temperatures, you hear funny noises, or smell something different, it could be a sign it isn’t working properly and

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    4 Updates to Invest in (Plus 4 to Skip) When Moving to a Home Short-Term

    ByKristine Gill

    Short-term moves can be stressful, and making a temporary space feel like home is important. But before you start knocking out walls and upgrading bathrooms, it’s wise to consider your return on investment—especially if you’re going to be reselling. “The decision to make improvements to a home intended for short-term use should be based on time, money, and immediate gratification,” says Dot Frank, a realtor with Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate Alliance Group. “Since your stay is limited, limit improvements to those you can tackle in short order. Personally, if more than 10% of my stay is spent renovating, it would be a no-go.” Read on for expert tips on the kinds of investments and upgrades to a temporary space that make sense in the long term.  Credit: Jay Wilde Smart Investments for Short-Term Upgrades If you’re having trouble deciding what to invest in for your temporary home, consider your budget and timeline first. “Some upgrades can be very cost effective and can be done quickly, while others can leave you gasping for air and asking yourself ‘are we there yet?” says Devin Juarez, a real estate agent with Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate Elite. “Analyzing your budget and how long the project will take will help you prioritize your projects.” Next, decide whether the project you’re considering is a want or a need. “A beautiful bathroom might be a great improvement and make your day great when unwinding at the end of a long day, but if your house needs a new roof due to leaks or a new front porch because you’re afraid you might fall through the floor with every step you take, then it might make more sense to put off the new bathroom,” Juarez says.  Finally, consider the return on investment. 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Kitchen and Bathroom Remodels Kitchens and bathrooms that have been remodeled or updated almost always yield the highest return on investments. “Many buyers go straight to the kitchen when searching for a new home. And many home seekers are paying more attention to the details in the bathroom, as many want that spa-like feel when entering the bathroom,” Juarez says. “We gather around the kitchen when having reunions or unwinding at the end of the day or at the beginning of our days to get the morning boost. An updated kitchen and bathroom can make all the difference between selling your home or it receiving any attention at all.” As you make your updates, try to keep them neutral and pleasing for the widest range of buyers. “Avoid trends that are permanent. You don’t want a permanent trend like your kitchen cabinets. That’s permanent,” says Tammy Doss, an agent with Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate Central. 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    West Vancouver Finalizes Ambleside Centre Local Area Plan

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    Vancouver swamped by unsold condos as supply outpaces demand

    Bymichael

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    Reasons Your Dishwasher Is Clogged and How to Fix It Fast

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    Credit: Volodymyr Bushmelov / Getty Images A clogged dishwasher can result in slow-draining or standing water in the dishwasher tub, foul odors, and dishes that never seem to get fully clean. If these symptoms sound familiar, you likely have a clog, but before you can fix it, you need to locate the clog, which is often the most challenging part of the job. Learn where to look for dishwasher clogs, how to unclog a dishwasher yourself, and when you should call a professional to inspect your appliance and plumbing. How to Clear Common Dishwasher Clogs The appropriate method for unclogging a dishwasher depends on the type of clog you’re dealing with. This list outlines the most common sources of dishwasher clogs and provides instructions on how to clear each type. Before attempting to unclog your dishwasher, disconnect or turn off the power supply to the appliance. 1. Drain Filter Clogs Drain filter clogs are among the most common dishwasher clogs. Most dishwashers have multiple screens and filters with different-sized holes to capture food debris and grime, preventing it from being washed further downstream. However, the dishwasher drain filters should be regularly removed and cleaned to ensure that dirty water can still drain efficiently from the appliance, as they’re prone to clogging. To remove the filter, follow these steps: Remove the dishwasher rack. Remove any standing water. Lift out the upper screen. Lift out the filter. Clean both the filter and the upper screen. Check for any clogs or food debris inside the filter housing. Reinstall the filter, upper screen, and dishwasher rack. 2. Drain Hose Clogs Occasionally, debris can make it past the dishwasher filter, potentially leading to a clogged dishwasher drain hose. This is even more likely to result in a clog if the drain hose is kinked, which is a common occurrence. To check the hose, access it beneath your sink. However, you may need to disconnect the hose and pull the dishwasher out of position to fully assess the hose. If the hose is kinked, redirect it so it flows freely. If you find a clog, disconnect the hose and flush it with hot water until the clog clears. Related 3. Spray Arm Clogs Sometimes, the dishwasher clog can be inside the spray arms. If this is the case, your dishwasher still drains as usual, but you’ll likely notice dirt, debris, or a greasy film on your dishes after the wash cycle because the clogged spray arms aren’t washing and rinsing as intended, leaving the dishes dirty. To clean the spray arms, follow these steps: Remove the spray arms. Most models unclip or twist out of their position. If possible, disassemble the spray arms. Some spray arms can be opened for better access for cleaning the inside. Use a toothpick to clean the small holes. Soak it in a warm water and vinegar solution to loosen up stubborn grime, then rinse until clean. Reassemble and reinstall the spray arm. 4. Garbage Disposal Clogs If you have a garbage disposal, check to ensure it’s not full of food debris, as this can prevent the dishwasher from draining properly, leading you to believe that the dishwasher itself is clogged. How to Clear Deep Clogs If you believe the dishwasher drain is clogged beyond the filter, you can use a drain snake to gently clear the clog. Follow this with a vinegar and baking soda rinse to clear any stuck-on debris. Use 1/4-cup of baking soda, followed by 1/2 cup of vinegar, to produce a foamy reaction that helps loosen stubborn grime. Once it stops fizzing, rinse off the residue. After clearing the clog, run a dishwasher cycle without any dishes or detergent to clean the interior and flush out the drain. Add a cup of vinegar to the dishwasher to freshen the interior and help clear out the drains. When to Call a Professional If you’ve checked all the common dishwasher clog locations to no avail and your dishwasher is still draining slowly, it may be time to have a professional take a look. Plumbers will be able to rule out any clogged plumbing beyond the dishwasher, while appliance technicians can ensure the dishwasher is working as intended.

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    6 Reasons Your Lights Are Flickering, Plus Easy Fixes

    ByKamron Sanders

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