Water Heating

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 showerheads and faucets.

Water Heating Tips

• Install aerating, low-flow faucets and showerheads.

• 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 hotwater 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.

• 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 yearsold. Doing
some research before your heater fails will enable you to select one
that most appropriately meets your needs.

Long-Term Savings Tips

• 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.

• Consider installing a drain water waste heat recovery system. A
recent DOE study showed energy savings of 25% to about 30% for water
heating using such a system.

• 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.

If you heat water with electricity, have high electric rates, and have
an unshaded, south-facing location (such as a roof) on your property,
consider installing a solar water heater. The solar units are
environmentally friendly and can now be installed on your roof to
blend with the architecture of your house. More than 1.5 million homes
and businesses in the United States have invested in solar water
heating systems, and surveys indicate over 94% of these customers
consider
the systems a good investment. Solar water heating systems are also
good for the environment. Solar water heaters avoid the harmful
greenhouse gas emissions associated with electricity production.
During a 20- year period, one solar water heater can avoid over 50
tons of carbon dioxide emissions. When shopping for a solar water
heater, look for systems certified by the Solar Rating and Certification
Corporation or the Florida Solar Energy Center.