6 ms·

Hmmm, not sure how much a customer taking a hot shower costs a gym.

hattmall 3y ago
Probably about 6 cents. Assuming a 30 minute shower with a 2.5 gpm flow rate and 110F average temperature. Maybe less if they have a more efficient water heater than resistive electric at ~11 cents per kwh.
- dghlsakjg 3y ago
  Don’t forget that showers are expensive to build and maintain. I would guess that the amount of labor that goes into keeping the showers clean and running is far higher than electricity costs.
  - throwaway2037 3y ago
    This. 100%. In an developed country, the lifetime labour cost to maintain a clean changing room and shower room far exceeds the build cost. To be clear: A different way to think about this issue: As long as cleaning staff are paid living wages, I think this is a good way to expand your economy. Some people want to use commercial gyms; let's make it the source of good jobs.
- dgfitz 3y ago
  To make light of the comment: what the hell does someone need to take a 30m shower for?
  - hattmall 3y ago
    Shiiiiiitttttt! 30 minutes is a quick shower to me. Idk but I typically budget about an hour for a shower, then 20 to 30 to get ready. I figure most at the gym are just rinsing though.
  - Larrikin 3y ago
    I personally don't understand the people who wouldn't want to take a 30 minute shower. So long as the water stays hot and you have the time, it's one of the more relaxing things you can do at home. Baths use way more water, and if you don't live somewhere like Japan, they aren't deep and cool off quickly without a bath warmer. Its also kind of gross to sit in a bath without already showering and getting clean before you get in. If you have a speaker in the bathroom you can listen to an audio book. Long showers have only gotten better with water proof phones becoming more common. As a kid I would put my Gameboy in a Ziploc bag just so I could stay in longer.
    - YZF 3y ago
      Only on HN someone wonders what's the cost of a shower, another person actually attempts to calculate that, and then we get into a discussion whether 30 minute showers are a good thing or not. IMO 30 minutes is a bit excessive but I do enjoy longer showers myself ;)
      - todd8 3y ago
        In grad school, many years ago, I would plug the drain and let the tub fill while I showered. I would pull the plug and let the tub drain once the water had cooled. This way my bathroom would warm up a bit. I suppose this might have saved a few cents.
        turbonaut 3y ago
        These days you can get passive ‘waste water heat recovery’ systems that sit beneath a bath or shower tray - warming your inbound cold water with your outflow, so you use less new hot water (or have to heat it less).
        euroderf 3y ago
        I'd be curious to know how these systems manage with dissolved soap, partially dissolved skin cells, hair, etc.
    - 3y ago
  - novok 3y ago
    Body hair really extends shower time. A lot of body hair does it even more. Add long hair and beards and it's even more.
    - CoastalCoder 3y ago
      How so?
      - deleted 3y ago
        [deleted]
      - sethammons 3y ago
        More hair means more product, more lathering, and significantly more rinsing. When my hair is short, I can wash it in a few seconds. With my hair below my shoulders, it can take more time to clean than an entire shower took with short hair.
        CoastalCoder 3y ago
        Yeah, but the GP post was talking about body hair, which kind of puzzled me. Maybe they were (implicitly) talking about shaving their body hair? I dunno - confusing.
  - cafard 3y ago
    Many years ago, at the end of a fifty mile race, I collected my bag and went to the locker room. When I got in, I guy was leaning against the wall, with the showerhead kind of over his shoulder (this was a junior high school). I undressed very slowly, for I was quite sore from the run. I took what I thought was a long shower, and then dressed very slowly and packed my stuff the same way. As I left the locker room, the guy was still leaning against the wall with water running over him. I didn't blame him.
    - HPMOR 3y ago
      You ran 50 miles in middle school??!!?
      - cafard 3y ago
        No, I ran 50 miles to middle school, or rather to a middle school. The 2024 JFK Memorial 50 Mile will finish at the Springfield Middle School in Williamsport, Maryland. I presume that it was the same school back then--I don't think Williamsport has the population for two middle schools. I was 27, about twice the age I was when I finished 8th grade.
  - michael_leachim 3y ago
    second this, it looks insane I can barely endure 3 minutes shower and my average is 40-50 seconds especially when it is -13 C outside
- deleted 3y ago
  [deleted]

Probably about 6 cents. Assuming a 30 minute shower with a 2.5 gpm flow rate and 110F average temperature. Maybe less if they have a more efficient water heater than resistive electric at ~11 cents per kwh.

dghlsakjg 3y ago
Don’t forget that showers are expensive to build and maintain. I would guess that the amount of labor that goes into keeping the showers clean and running is far higher than electricity costs.
- throwaway2037 3y ago
  This. 100%. In an developed country, the lifetime labour cost to maintain a clean changing room and shower room far exceeds the build cost. To be clear: A different way to think about this issue: As long as cleaning staff are paid living wages, I think this is a good way to expand your economy. Some people want to use commercial gyms; let's make it the source of good jobs.
dgfitz 3y ago
To make light of the comment: what the hell does someone need to take a 30m shower for?
- hattmall 3y ago
  Shiiiiiitttttt! 30 minutes is a quick shower to me. Idk but I typically budget about an hour for a shower, then 20 to 30 to get ready. I figure most at the gym are just rinsing though.
- Larrikin 3y ago
  I personally don't understand the people who wouldn't want to take a 30 minute shower. So long as the water stays hot and you have the time, it's one of the more relaxing things you can do at home. Baths use way more water, and if you don't live somewhere like Japan, they aren't deep and cool off quickly without a bath warmer. Its also kind of gross to sit in a bath without already showering and getting clean before you get in. If you have a speaker in the bathroom you can listen to an audio book. Long showers have only gotten better with water proof phones becoming more common. As a kid I would put my Gameboy in a Ziploc bag just so I could stay in longer.
  - YZF 3y ago
    Only on HN someone wonders what's the cost of a shower, another person actually attempts to calculate that, and then we get into a discussion whether 30 minute showers are a good thing or not. IMO 30 minutes is a bit excessive but I do enjoy longer showers myself ;)
    - todd8 3y ago
      In grad school, many years ago, I would plug the drain and let the tub fill while I showered. I would pull the plug and let the tub drain once the water had cooled. This way my bathroom would warm up a bit. I suppose this might have saved a few cents.
      - turbonaut 3y ago
        These days you can get passive ‘waste water heat recovery’ systems that sit beneath a bath or shower tray - warming your inbound cold water with your outflow, so you use less new hot water (or have to heat it less).
        euroderf 3y ago
        I'd be curious to know how these systems manage with dissolved soap, partially dissolved skin cells, hair, etc.
  - 3y ago
- novok 3y ago
  Body hair really extends shower time. A lot of body hair does it even more. Add long hair and beards and it's even more.
  - CoastalCoder 3y ago
    How so?
    - deleted 3y ago
      [deleted]
    - sethammons 3y ago
      More hair means more product, more lathering, and significantly more rinsing. When my hair is short, I can wash it in a few seconds. With my hair below my shoulders, it can take more time to clean than an entire shower took with short hair.
      - CoastalCoder 3y ago
        Yeah, but the GP post was talking about body hair, which kind of puzzled me. Maybe they were (implicitly) talking about shaving their body hair? I dunno - confusing.
- cafard 3y ago
  Many years ago, at the end of a fifty mile race, I collected my bag and went to the locker room. When I got in, I guy was leaning against the wall, with the showerhead kind of over his shoulder (this was a junior high school). I undressed very slowly, for I was quite sore from the run. I took what I thought was a long shower, and then dressed very slowly and packed my stuff the same way. As I left the locker room, the guy was still leaning against the wall with water running over him. I didn't blame him.
  - HPMOR 3y ago
    You ran 50 miles in middle school??!!?
    - cafard 3y ago
      No, I ran 50 miles to middle school, or rather to a middle school. The 2024 JFK Memorial 50 Mile will finish at the Springfield Middle School in Williamsport, Maryland. I presume that it was the same school back then--I don't think Williamsport has the population for two middle schools. I was 27, about twice the age I was when I finished 8th grade.
- michael_leachim 3y ago
  second this, it looks insane I can barely endure 3 minutes shower and my average is 40-50 seconds especially when it is -13 C outside
deleted 3y ago
[deleted]