and if she is like most females that I know of that age, you can tell
here anything, such as the water company installed a timer on the hot
water system to limit shows to five minutes and she will probably
believe it. Hopefully after a while she will be out before the five
minutes so as not to get the cold blast.

Robert L. Bass wrote:
Here's another solution that's also cheap and easy. Each morning wait until
she starts her shower. When you hear the water running wait about two
minutes for the hot water to reach the shower and the sibling to get in.
Then shut off the hot water at the valve above the water heater. You'll
know it worked because you will hear the scream when the ice cold water
hits. Wait until she leaves, turn the hot water back on and go take your
shower. :^)


I know how you feel, because a young relative of mine used to take
really long showers when he was a teenager. No matter how large the
water heater, he used all the hot water and left the rest of the
family with arctic-cold showers. Incidentally, my relative is in the
Army now, and that's cured him of long showers.

The simplest solution is not automated at all: get up early enough to
take a shower before your sister does. For this to work, you have to
be sure you leave her enough time to take her usual leisurely shower
and not be rushed. If you really can complete your shower in 5
minutes, she should have no complaints about following you or having
enough hot water. No, it isn't fair, but it's the cheapest, simplest,
and most collegial solution to the problem.

C. Brunner