Water Heating Hacks: Save Hundreds with These Easy Tricks
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Water heating is one of the most expensive household expenses, accounting for 18% of the total bill. Cutting expenses can make a big difference in a family's budget. Changing some habits and activities to enhance energy use can reduce the costs of heating water without sacrificing comfort.
To reduce the cost of heating water without difficulty, you must turn down the water heater's thermostat if you prefer to pursue this adjustment method. In most cases, heaters run at 140 °F by default. By lowering it to 120 °F, the expenses of heating water can be cut by around 10-15%. This has also been found to be the case by the U.S. Department of Energy and is how they envisage savings of $30 a year. It will enable the heating system's extended lifespan and reduce the buildup of minerals and corrosion.
Another option is a piece of insulation for the water heater and the pipeline, which will improve your wallet. Wrapping the water heater vessel with a pre-cut jacket or blanket can incite an impressive 25-45% heat saving, translating to 7-16% water heating cost cuts. If one is to put in his aspect, he can also insulate his hot water pipes, which will affect the situation by 2 to 4°F. As a result, you would get the hot water much faster and would not have to run taps for such a long time. Because of this, you could save about $50 a year by insulating the pipes and not only the heater. Low-flow showerheads and faucet systems could be an additional way to reduce water usage.
To be sure, the simplest and most efficient ways include using mechanical low-flow showerheads and faucet aerators on conventionally heated tanks. Such regulators allow less water to flow out without reducing the pressure. This extrapolates from the fact that less hot water is utilized during showering or dish cleansings. According to the Environmental Protection Agency, a family may save about 2,900 gallons per year using low-flow showerheads. This, however, translates into an approximate yearly savings of about $70 in water heating costs. That is a once-in-a-lifetime investment for each fixture, estimated at $10-20, that will recover in some months.
Another way to reduce water heating bills is to replace the appliances with efficient ones. A conventional water heater heats water in the storage tank even when unnecessary. This is a waste of energy as it constantly heats and re-heats. A tankless water heater heats only when a faucet is turned on. This could save energy as it would not have to concern itself with standby heat loss.
Though the initial cost for tankless heaters is more expensive at $500 to $2,000, depending on the model, the long-run savings would pay for the investment. The Department of Energy estimates that households can save as much as $100 yearly on water heating bills using a tankless water heater and are not planning to replace their water heater.
If you have an older, less efficient water heater and want to replace it, you can save even more money by choosing an ENERGY STAR-qualified model. That compares to a conventional electric water heater, which would only have an efficiency rating of about 0.9 since only 90% of the energy consumed by the heater goes to heating the water while 10% is wasted. ENERGY STAR water heaters are as high as 2.2 for heat pump models, which corresponds to a savings of $300 to $600 over the life of the appliance equivalent for the homeowner relative to a standard electric water heater.
On the other hand, installing solar water heaters could save more. Though systems of this nature are more expensive to install- some within the price range of $3,000 to $6,000- they cut water heating bills by 50-80%, factoring in the climate and sunlight exposure the home receives. The federal government gives the owners some incentives by using tax credits for those employing solar water heaters as household appliances. This solar water heater, installed in places with more sunny days of the year, would pay itself off in ten years and save them over $200 a year in energy bills. Keeping your solar water heater serviced will keep it running efficiently.
Another factor is the water-use habits of your households. It all adds up, and little things will significantly affect water heating costs. Hot water used for laundry can account for as much as 90 percent of the energy washing machines use. According to studies, an average family can save $60 annually by switching to cold cycles. Since most detergents have been devised to work great in cold water, you will not have to sacrifice cleaning power. This frequency of hot water consumption is reduced by running the dishwasher or washing machine when complete. Regular maintenance regarding your water heater also keeps these running efficiently.
Eventually, sediment will build up on the bottom of your tank, forcing the water heater to work much harder to keep the water temperature hot. This also can be avoided if the tank is drained and flushed every six months; it would make it act more proficiently. You can also check on the anode rod, which is designed to help prevent rust buildup inside the tank. Replacing an old anode rod can add years to your water heater's life and save you money from costly repairs or early replacement. Insulation of the house, especially in colder climates, would further reduce the heating cost of the water. The insulation of the house, with all the gaps sealed up around windows and doors, reduces heat loss and further energy use in the home. Therefore, it lowers the burden on your water heater. These panoramic views of energy efficiency will pay dividends for the average household, saving hundreds of dollars each year concerning heating and water heating costs.
It's important to remember over and over that the key considerations in water heater maintenance for frugal living don't require super-expensive renovations or radical life changes. Lower the temperature of your water heater, then insulate your tank and pipes. Add low-flow fixtures, and keep those efficient appliances humming for big bites out of that bottom-line energy bill. More significant, more sizable, long-term investments one can make are into tankless water heaters, solar water heaters, or ENERGY STAR appliances that will save even more money a year. As you go further with home sustainability, incorporating these best practices into your routine maintenance will continue lowering energy costs.
