How to Save Money and Energy on Your Hot Water Heater Consumption

Hot water is an amazing luxury — one that should not be taken for granted. Families and individuals in the household should take steps to only use the hot water they need in order to prevent being wasteful and harmful to the environment, not to mention to prevent kicking themselves every time the utility bill arrives.

To keep your family thrifty and energy conscious, here are some ways that can reduce your overall use of hot water and your impact on the world:

Lower Your Temperature

The simplest and broadest way to save is to find your water heater’s thermostat and dial it down to 120°F or as close to it as you care to go. Most people mix hot water with cool when bathing, washing hands or doing other tasks anyways. By turning down the water heater’s temperature, you are reducing the energy spent heating the water and keeping it warm. The U.S. Department of Energy notes that for every 10° you lower the temperature you could see 3 to 5 percent savings on your monthly energy bill.

Some people are concerned about cooler temperatures creating problems like Legionella bacteria growth, but for household water systems and people with healthy immune systems, the majority of risk can be averted in most situations. Read our post on choosing a safe water heater temperature to learn more. [link unavailable at this time]

Change Your Habits

Another uncomplicated method of saving money is to change your water use habits. Paying attention to factors like faucets running when they do not need to be, dishwashers or clothes washers operating without a full load and taking short showers instead of baths can have a major impact on your water use and your water heating expenditures.

For instance, every time you take a bath instead of a shower, you are sparing 10 gallons or more of hot water.

Purchase Products That Help Reduce Energy Use

Low-flow fixtures like shower heads and faucets can reduce hot water consumption by 25 to 60 percent. Over a year, your family could save 14,000 gallons.

You can also insulate your tank or your water pipes. Insulating older tanks with R-values less than 24 can reduce heat loss by 25 to 45 percent and cut 4 to 9 percent from your bill.

Insulating an electric water heater tank is simple; just do not cover the thermostat panel in wrap. Gas water heaters are trickier since you cannot cover the top, bottom, thermostat or burner compartment. Read your manufacturer’s instructions carefully to avoid problems.

Pipe insulation is much easier. Insulation sleeves are cheap — usually about $2.50 per six feet — and they slip on quickly and easily. Your water will arrive at the faucet two to three degrees warmer as a result.

Have Your System Serviced

Have a plumber come inspect your system every one to two years to catch problems and reduce inefficiencies. They can look for leaky pipes or defective components that drag your water heater’s performance down by up to 20 percent or more.

Draining the tank periodically is especially important. It reduces sediment buildup that not only makes heaters inefficient, but can also reduce the water quality. Have your system drained around once a year to avoid further problems like corrosion.

Invest in an Efficient or Feature-Rich Water Heater

The latest water heater models boast features like more even heat distribution, heat traps, precision temperature regulation and specialized elements or burners. Features like vacation mode give you more control over your heater, letting you shut it off or reduce the temperature when you are going to be away for a while. Speak to a local plumber or water heater contractor to find out about the latest models and the ways you could save with a new water heater replacement.

ServiceWhale can help you find a water heater technician whose opinion and workmanship you will trust. We make it easy to compare reputations and prices of experts in the Philadelphia area with free custom quotes. Click here to begin receiving your estimates!