Water heating
is the third largest energy expense in your home. It typically accounts
for about 12% of your utility bill. There are four ways to cut your
water heating bills: use less hot water, turn down the thermostat on
your water heater, insulate your water heater, or
buy a new, more efficient model.
Water Heating Tips
• Install aerating, low-flow faucets and showerheads.
• Repair leaky faucets promptly; a leaky faucet wastes gallons of water in a short period of time.
• Lower the thermostat on your water heater; water heaters
sometimes come from the factory with high temperature settings, but a
setting
of 120°F provides comfortable hot water for most uses.
• Insulate your electric hot-water storage tank, but be careful
not to cover the thermostat. Follow the manufacturer’s
recommendations.
• Insulate your natural gas or oil hot-water storage tank, but be
careful not to cover the water heater’s top, bottom, thermostat,
or burner compartment. Follow the manufacturer’s recommendations;
when in doubt, get professional help.
• Insulate the first 6 feet of the hot and cold water pipes connected to the water heater.
• If you are in the market for a new dishwasher or clothes washer, consider buying an efficient,
water-saving ENERGY STAR model to reduce hot water use.
• Install heat traps on the hot and cold pipes at the water heater
to prevent heat loss. Some new water heaters have built-in heat traps.
• Drain a quart of water from your water tank every 3 months to
remove sediment that impedes heat transfer and lowers the efficiency of
your heater. The type of water tank you
have determines the steps to take, so follow the manufacturer’s advice.
• Although most water heaters last 10–15 years, it’s
best to start shopping now for a new one if yours is more than 7 years
old. Doing some research before your heater fails will enable you to
select one that most appropriately meets your needs.
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$ Long-Term Savings Tips
• Buy a new energy-efficient water heater. While it may cost more
initially than a standard water heater, the energy savings will
continue during the lifetime of the appliance. Look for
the ENERGY STAR and EnergyGuide labels.
• Look for the ENERGY STAR label on efficient water heaters in the following categories: high efficiency gas noncondensing,
gas condensing, electric heat pump, gas tankless, and solar.
• Consider installing a drain water waste heat recovery system. A recent DOE study showed energy savings of 25%
to about 30% for water heating using such a system.
• Consider natural gas on-demand or tankless water heaters.
Researchers have found savings can be up to 30% compared with a
standard natural gas storage tank water heater.
• Heat pump water heaters can be very cost-effective in some areas.
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