Water heating is the third largest energy expense in your home. It typically accounts for
about 16% 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 water heater. A family of four, each showering for 5 minutes a day, uses 700
gallons of water a week; this is enough for a 3-year supply of drinking water for one person. You
can cut that amount in half simply by using low-flow aerating shower heads and faucets.
- Install aerating, low-flow faucets and shower heads.
- 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.
- Take more showers than baths. Bathing uses the most hot water in the average
household. You use 15-25 gallons of hot water for a bath, but less than 10 gallons
during a 5-minute shower.
- 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 model to reduce hot water use. See Appliances for more information.
- 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 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.
$ Long-Term Savings Tip: 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. If your current water heater is electric,
consider switching to a natural gas water heater if gas is available. Look for the Energy
Guide label. The American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy lists the energy performance
of the most energy-efficient water heaters on its Web site.
$ Long-Term Savings Tip: Consider installing a drain water
waste heat recovery system. A recent DOE study showed energy savings of 25 percent to about
30 percent for water heating using such a system.
$ Long-Term Savings Tip: Consider demand or tankless water
heaters. Researchers have found savings can be as much as 34% compared with a standard
electric storage tank water heater.
$ Long-Term Savings Tip: Heat pump water heaters are very
economical in some areas.
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