Ways to Save Money on Hot Water

Contrary to common belief, it’s actually possible to stay warm this winter without breaking the bank. There are easy cures for those skyrocketing energy bills. Whether your water heater is electric or gas, water heating costs play a big role in your monthly energy consumption. As appliances go, your water heater is one of the top energy using appliances in most any house. Cutting consumption starts with forming simple habits. Save more money this season on your water heater bill (energy costs) by following these energy-saving tips.

1. Turn your water heater down. Most heaters are set to a default of 140 degrees, but the optimal setting is 120 degrees fahrenheit. This setting allows you to have plenty of hot water while consuming less energy and eliminating the risk of hot water scalding you or a family member.
2. Short showers are key. Reduce your time spent in the shower and avoid baths altogether. A bath with just a few inches of water in it can cost you a lot more money than a shower. You can even turn the water off while shampooing or shaving and then turn it back on to rinse to use less water.
3. Don’t let the water run while you brush your teeth shave or turn away to grab dishes for the dishwasher.
4. Wash only full loads of dishes and choose shorter cycles. You can also choose to use cold water for laundry loads, which will lower your bill significantly.
5. You can also replace an old inefficient water heater with a modern energy efficient model. You might even consider a tankless water heater instead of a traditional one that always has to keep its water tank hot. Compare the merits of conventional water heaters to tankless heaters with this helpful water heater infographic.

Here are more fall and winter energy-saving tips that you can apply around the house:

1. Keep control of your ventilation. Seal all window and door frames, power sockets and recessed light fittings. These openings could lead to more warm air leaking out. You can use caulk or foam to fill these openings.
2. Add extra insulation. You can layer up mineral wool in your attic or use thick curtains to insulate glass windows. You can also stick transparent polyethylene film to your windows.
3. Leave thermostats alone. Set it to one temperature and don’t change it on a whim. Or if you have a smart thermostat, program it for maximum efficiency so the house doesn’t stay as warm during the day when nobody is home. Program the temperature to turn a bit warmer about an hour before you get home from work so the house is comfortable when you get home.

3 WAYS TO SAVE MONEY ON HOT WATER

Although the use of hot water is a major portion of your energy bill, generally very little thought is given to ways to conserve hot water. Three methods to help save money are to reduce heat loss, reduce the amount of water you use, and get water heater repairs in Atlanta homes done promptly when they are needed.

1) REDUCE HEAT LOSS

The most common type of water heater uses a storage tank, where the hot water is heated and kept at a constant temperature. As the water sits in the tank, it cools down. When the temperature reaches a certain point, the thermostat will trigger the heating unit, and the water will heat again to the pre-set level. This is a constant effort. The faster the tank loses heat, the more often the heating unit will turn on, and the more energy and money will be used.

One way to help reduce heat loss is by wrapping an insulated cover around the water heater. This has more to do with a lack of insulation in the tank itself than it does the outside temperature. Even here in Hot'lanta, an insulation blanket will make a difference on your energy bill. There are blankets specifically designed to safely wrap around water heaters. The blankets are different for gas and electric water heaters, so make sure you get the right one for your heater.

Another form of heat loss is through the pipes. As the water sits in the pipes, it cools down. You can slow this process by insulating the hot water pipes. Use foam insulation sleeves. Again, regardless of how hot it is outside, the insulation will make a big difference in how long water stays hot in the pipes.

REDUCE WATER USAGE

In addition to reducing heat loss, you can save energy by reducing the amount of hot water that is used. According to the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy (ACEEE) washing clothes uses the most hot water, with showering and bathing using the second highest amount. However, other tasks such as using an automatic dishwasher, preparing food, or hand washing dishes also uses a lot of water.

When it’s time to replace your appliances, look for clothes washers, dishwashers, and water heaters that are energy efficient. When you are shopping for a new appliance, look for the ENERGY STAR and EnergyGuide labels.

If it isn’t time to replace you’re your devices, there are still other ways you can conserve hot water.

Take showers instead of baths: Showering requires less water than a traditional bath. Baths are nice, but they tend to be wasteful.

Spend less time in the shower: Though it can be a pain, one of the best ways to cut your water bill is to spend less time in the shower. Hot showers are relaxing, but those minutes standing there with your eyes closed add up.

Lower your water heater’s temperature: Lowering your water heater’s temperature by just a few degrees can translate into big savings in the long term.

Turn off your water: Be sure not to let hot water run while scrubbing dishes, etc. Ideally your water should be off any time you aren’t actively using it. Every second counts!

Insulate: Insulating the water heater and the first few feet of pipes connected to the heater means less heat lost and less money wasted.

There are lots of simple ways to lower your water heating cost. One of the best ways to save money is often to replace your water heater with a newer more energy-efficient unit. Tankless, or on-demand, water heaters or hybrid units are good options also for reducing water heating costs. While these choices may seem more expensive at first, they will actually save you money in the long run.

Also be on the lookout for energy-saving dishwashers and washing machines to help save on water heating costs.

REPAIR MINOR PROBLEMS

If the water heater is rusted out, you can’t repair it. However, if there are minor problems, such as a leaky valve or sediment in the bottom of the tank, call a Roto Rooter professional to repair the water heater in your Atlanta home before the problems become too big to fix.

HOW TO MAXIMIZE WATER HEATER EFFICIENCY

People say time is money, but considering how many years it takes for oil, natural gas, coal, and other conventional sources to develop in the earth, energy is much more valuable than time. As we are becoming more conscientious about energy usage in the face of quickly depleting conventional energy sources, it’s important to look at both the big picture and the little details. You might not be ready to make your home fully solar-powered or buy an electric car, but there are things you can do to become more energy efficient and cut back on energy costs. One good place to start is with the water heater. Whether your home uses a gas or electric water heater, you are paying for those resources each month, so be sure to take advantage of the many ways you can save energy and money.

TANKLESS WATER HEATERS

Most water heaters have a tank, but tankless or demand water heaters are quite a bit more efficient. Rather than keeping an entire tank of water hot all day, regardless of whether you need it or not, a tankless system only heats water as needed. This means that for the majority of the day, the water heater is using little to no energy at all. Unfortunately, tankless units have downsides as well. The biggest downside is that the heater can’t provide enough hot water for multiple uses at once. According to the Department of Energy, households that use 41 gallons or less of hot water daily will realize the greatest efficiency.

TIMER

If you don’t want to replace your tank water heater, you might consider installing a timer to conserve energy. A timer is a small device that you can set to only provide power to your water heater during certain parts of the day. If you don’t want to waste energy keeping several gallons of hot water warm during the middle of the night, the timer can be adjusted to prevent that. This device is inexpensive and easy to install.

HYBRID WATER HEATERS

Hybrid water heaters are a combination of tank and tankless systems, and offer the best of both worlds. These hybrid systems have a tank, but it is much smaller than regular system tanks and usually only holds a few gallons. In a low-flow situation, the water heater acts like a regular tank system, but when high-flow is needed for multiple applications it heats water as needed, like a demand system.

REAP THE REWARDS

Whether you choose to call a plumber at Roto-Rooter to replace your old, energy guzzling water heater, or you simply install an energy-saving timer, you will be reaping the rewards for years to come. Not only will your energy bills shrink, but you can pat yourself on the back for living a more sustainable lifestyle.