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Save Money on Heating Water by Christopher Foos
This article is based on the old-style tank electric water
heaters. These energy monsters make-up a minimum of 10%
of your electricity bill (probably a bunch more if you have a
large family)! Though the water heater is a necessity in our
homes, cutting back on the cost of using one can be
achieved. Below, we will discuss ways of accomplishing
this.
Please note: Next time your water heater fails, consider
replacing with a "tankless" water heater. Yes, you will
spend a little more with initial cost, but you will easily
make that back in a year with the energy savings. Also, a
"tankless" water heater usually lasts twice as long (20+ years).
We will discuss this more below.
heaters. These energy monsters make-up a minimum of 10%
of your electricity bill (probably a bunch more if you have a
large family)! Though the water heater is a necessity in our
homes, cutting back on the cost of using one can be
achieved. Below, we will discuss ways of accomplishing
this.
Please note: Next time your water heater fails, consider
replacing with a "tankless" water heater. Yes, you will
spend a little more with initial cost, but you will easily
make that back in a year with the energy savings. Also, a
"tankless" water heater usually lasts twice as long (20+ years).
We will discuss this more below.
Turn down the thermostat! When the water heater is set on scalding hot, you have to mix in cold water in your
shower to lower the temperature, and why make your heater boil the water if you don't need it that hot? Remember, 130°F
water is hot enough to scald you! With that said, try to turn down the temperature setting to between 120-125°F. This is
warm enough to keep bacteria from forming, but cool enough not to scald you. This alone lessens the electricity used to heat
"x" amount of gallons.
shower to lower the temperature, and why make your heater boil the water if you don't need it that hot? Remember, 130°F
water is hot enough to scald you! With that said, try to turn down the temperature setting to between 120-125°F. This is
warm enough to keep bacteria from forming, but cool enough not to scald you. This alone lessens the electricity used to heat
"x" amount of gallons.
Fix the ...drip...drip...dripping faucet! Did you know that a leaky faucet on the hot water side could
cost you up to 18 kWh/mo? That is not even counting the additional cost on your water bill! So get that pipe wrench
out, your best plumbing clothes, and crawl under the sink, shower, and/or any other faucet to stop the money from
dripping away.
cost you up to 18 kWh/mo? That is not even counting the additional cost on your water bill! So get that pipe wrench
out, your best plumbing clothes, and crawl under the sink, shower, and/or any other faucet to stop the money from
dripping away.
| Approved Energy Efficient Appliance Rebate Programs Click Here For Details |
Wrap-up your water heater!.. with a special tank blanket. Home improvement stores sell a special water heater
blanket that you can wrap around your water heater to help insulate it, and keep the heat in. This reduces energy usage by
10-15% , that's about 21 kWh/mo. (Florida Extension Service) This especially important if the water is exposed to the
elements, like a garage. Lastly, wrap any exposed pipes with special pipe insulators, also found at any home improvement
stores.
blanket that you can wrap around your water heater to help insulate it, and keep the heat in. This reduces energy usage by
10-15% , that's about 21 kWh/mo. (Florida Extension Service) This especially important if the water is exposed to the
elements, like a garage. Lastly, wrap any exposed pipes with special pipe insulators, also found at any home improvement
stores.
All the rest! We dealt with the best ways to reduce electricity usage on your water heater, and now we will show you some more great
ways to save on water heater energy usage. Please note - Some of these tips will help reduce your water bill too! (Article on Saving Money on
your Water Bill coming soon)
1. Take shorter showers - By limiting everyone to a 10 minute shower (or less), the less fresh water is needed to be heated.
2. Wash your hands with cold water - I know, brrrrr, but using anti-bacterial soap and cold water gets the job done with less energy used.
3. Wash clothes in cold water - See our article on this at Washing Machine Saving Tips.
4. Rinse dishes in cold water - If you have a dishwasher, just rinse your dishes in the sink with cold water, and let the dishwasher sanitize
them.
5. Use cold water for cooking - Instead of filling a pot with hot water before boiling, use cold water and microwave for a few seconds
before boiling on stove.
6. Turn it off - If you are away from home for more than 1 day, turn the water heater off! No reason to reheat the water over and over again
when there is nobody using it.
7. Install a timer - A timer turns off your heater automatically when you go to work or school, then back on right before you come home, off
after you go to bed, and on again right before you get up. A timer costs around $40 and saves about 25 kWh/mo.
ways to save on water heater energy usage. Please note - Some of these tips will help reduce your water bill too! (Article on Saving Money on
your Water Bill coming soon)
1. Take shorter showers - By limiting everyone to a 10 minute shower (or less), the less fresh water is needed to be heated.
2. Wash your hands with cold water - I know, brrrrr, but using anti-bacterial soap and cold water gets the job done with less energy used.
3. Wash clothes in cold water - See our article on this at Washing Machine Saving Tips.
4. Rinse dishes in cold water - If you have a dishwasher, just rinse your dishes in the sink with cold water, and let the dishwasher sanitize
them.
5. Use cold water for cooking - Instead of filling a pot with hot water before boiling, use cold water and microwave for a few seconds
before boiling on stove.
6. Turn it off - If you are away from home for more than 1 day, turn the water heater off! No reason to reheat the water over and over again
when there is nobody using it.
7. Install a timer - A timer turns off your heater automatically when you go to work or school, then back on right before you come home, off
after you go to bed, and on again right before you get up. A timer costs around $40 and saves about 25 kWh/mo.
Why replace a "tank" with a "tankless" water heater when funds are available?
TheFoosers have not done this yet, but from Michael Bluejay's site on this topic, we will be sure to replace our water
heater with a "tankless" one when our old one bites the dust. Below is an excerpt from his page (just click here to see the
entire article):
Old-style tank water heaters are wasteful because of standby losses -- heat leaches from the tank to the surrounding air,
and then the heater has to heat up the water again. The modern replacement is an tankless unit, which heats the water
instantly when you turn on the faucet. This eliminates standby losses.....
heater with a "tankless" one when our old one bites the dust. Below is an excerpt from his page (just click here to see the
entire article):
Old-style tank water heaters are wasteful because of standby losses -- heat leaches from the tank to the surrounding air,
and then the heater has to heat up the water again. The modern replacement is an tankless unit, which heats the water
instantly when you turn on the faucet. This eliminates standby losses.....