Four Ways to Cut Energy Bills from Your Water Heater
If you’re like the average homeowner in the US, you use about 65 gallons of hot water every day to wash your clothes, your dishes, and yourself. It’s no wonder, then, that water heating accounts for more than 20 percent of the average energy bill in American homes.
If you want to reduce that number, there are four ways to do it:
1. By using less hot water – Cutting down how often – and for how long – you use hot water appliances can reduce your energy bill significantly. Consider how much hot water each of these common tasks uses:
- 25 gallons for a medium-sized load of laundry
- 10 gallons for a shower
- 6 gallons for a dishwasher
- 2 gallons per minute for a kitchen / bathroom faucet
The gallons add up very quickly, and you pay to heat every one of them.
2. By Insulating pipes and your water heater tank – Insulate the first six feet or so of the hot water pipes connected to the water heater, where substantial heat is lost in transfer. Also consider insulating your water heater’s tank to reduce the need to reheat stored water.
3. By adjusting the water heater’s thermostat – Many manufacturers set their water heating thermostat to a default of 130° or more; 120° is plenty for most applications.
4. By installing a new high-efficiency water heater – Today’s high-efficiency conventional and tankless water heaters are great energy savers that can cut your monthly energy bills by 10 percent or more.
Considering a new water heater? Contact Bolkema today to learn more about your options and get a FREE estimate on an upgrade for your water heater.