Energy Saving Tips for Water Heating

Heating the water that you use every day adds up. In fact, it’s the second largest expense in most people’s homes. Water heating accounts for up to 18% of a power bill, draining your wallet in the process. These tips are designed to maximize the effectiveness of the water heater in your home.

Quick Tips

One of the best places to save money is the bathroom, where homeowners can install low-flow faucets and aerating shower heads to mitigate some of the water usage. A leaky faucet can waste hundreds of gallons of water per year of your home, so fix these quickly to cut down on that loss.

You can also reset the thermostat on your water heater, dialing the temperature down by a few degrees. In most cases, you won’t notice a difference but your bill will. You can also help your tank heat water faster, and stay heated, with insulation. Just make sure that you avoid covering the thermostat or the bottom.

You can also purchase insulation at your local hardware store and wrap it around your pipes.

Sediment can be a problem if it is left unchecked, so most water heater technicians advise homeowners to release a quart of water from your tank every three months. This stops the sediment from impeding heat transfers, and raises the efficiency of your unit.

Long Term Tips

If you’re in the market for a new water heater, try an energy efficient model. They carry a higher price tag than normal models, but the energy savings you get from using one will eventually make up the cost over the life of the unit.

You can also purchase natural gas on demand (sometimes called “tankless”) water heaters. These systems use only the water you need, running it through the heated unit to bring it instantly to your home. When you purchase a new water heater, look for one that matches your peak water usage. You can measure this number by reviewing what appliances are in use and figuring out how much water they use. If you know, for example, that a shower uses ten gallons and a shave uses four, and there are two people shaving in your home, you might use 18 gallons in that hour. Figure out which time of day your family is most active, then use those figures as a gauge to determine how they use water and how much is used.

Once you know your peak usage number, purchase a water heater that meets or exceeds that number. This way you don’t waste money heating water you don’t use, and your heater isn’t working double time to constantly supply your home with fresh and warm water.
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Payless Water Heaters specializes in water heater maintenance and sales. To order a new water heater online, visit Paylesswaterheaters.net.