Tips To Reduce The Operating Cost Of Your Water Heater

It may surprise you to learn that your home’s water heater accounts for almost 20% of your energy bill. And that means you can save a significant amount of energy and money by helping your water heater perform its much-needed job more efficiently. And the best part of these tips is that you will not need to change your lifestyle or hot water use in any way. 

1. INSULATE THE TANK – Insulating the holding tank will help maintain the water’s temperature and reduce the energy needed to reheat the water. But be sure to follow the manufacturer’s recommendations when selecting insulation and method for covering the tank, which can often be found on their website. In general, you will never want to cover the thermostat, burner, top, or bottom of the tank.
2. USE COLD WATER – This might sound like a change to your habits or lifestyle, but it is really just a simple change to save money. Use cold water for rinsing dishes, brushing your teeth, or laundry rinse cycle. It will work just as well as warm water but will not use any energy heating the water.
3. REPAIR LEAKING FAUCETS – Even a slow leak that appears to be just a drip now and then adds up. Over the course of a day, you could be wasting gallons of hot water and causing your water heater to run more often than necessary. Many faucet leaks only require a new washer that can be purchased for less than a dollar and installed in just minutes.
4. DRAIN THE HOLDING TANK – All manufacturers recommend that the water heater tank be drained at least once each year. This process removes sediment that can insulate the heating element and cause the unit to work harder than necessary to heat your water. If you have any questions about the proper process to drain your water heater, call (706) 303-0987 to speak to a licensed The Drain Surgeon plumber about the proper procedure.
5. INSTALL A TIMER – A traditional water heater is always using energy to heat and maintain the temperature of the water in the holding tank. This means that when you are on vacation for two weeks, the unit keeps water hot for no reason. Likewise, when you are at work, asleep, or simply not using hot water, the unit is still running. But when you install a timer, the water heater is turned off when you are not home or at night when you are sleeping.
6. INSULATE EXPOSED PIPING – When you insulate the holding tank, it is good to insulate the exposed pipes near the water heater. The cost of the materials is very minimal, and it will help your water heater to operate more energy-efficiently.
7. CONSIDER BUYING A NEW WATER HEATER – If your traditional water heater is more than ten years old, it is about time to think about replacing it. Rather than wait until your current unit fails, proactively replace it to enjoy increased energy-efficiency and peace of mind. When a water heater fails, it often ruptures and floods the area. Repairing water damage is never cheap. Avoid that potential disaster and save on your operating cost with a new, more energy-efficient unit.
8. CONSIDER REPLACING OTHER OLDER APPLIANCES – Many ENERGY STAR appliances use dramatically less water than the models from just five or ten years ago. Replacing your dishwasher and washing machine can substantially reduce your energy cost in two ways. First, these units use less water during a cycle, so you pay less to heat less hot water. And second, the units themselves operate more energy-efficiently, saving you even more money.
9. INSTALL LOW-FLOW SHOWERHEADS – A low-flow showerhead can reduce water usage by as much as 60% without compromising the comfort and quality of your shower. And with some models costing $25 or less, it is a great way to save energy and water.  

According to the U.S. Department of Energy, the average household spends $400 to $600 each year to heat water. By applying some or all of the tips we have listed, you can significantly reduce that amount. If you have any questions or concerns about any of these tasks or discover any issues with your water heater or plumbing, call (706) 303-0987 to speak to a licensed The Drain Surgeon professional. We even offer same or next day price quotes if you are not comfortable with some of these tasks, such as draining your water heater or installing a new faucet or showerhead.