Looking to save money on your energy bill? A great place to start is your water heater. Although water heaters consume a lot of energy, several strategies can be employed to cut back and make your heater more efficient. By using one or several of these tips, you should notice a significant decrease in your energy bill.
One simple way to save is to use less hot water. Take shorter showers. Only run full loads of laundry or dishes. Don’t let the water run when shaving or brushing your teeth.
Keeping the water heater set to a lower temperature is also effective. Additionally, it’s a crucial safety measure if you have small children. Setting your water heater to 120 degrees will still clean your clothes and dishes, and you won’t have the worry about scalding yourself or your child.
Is your water heater tank insulated? Pre-cut wraps are available for about $10 to $20 and will prevent heat loss through the walls of the heater. Don’t cover the adjustment panel, and make sure to keep the thermostat set to below 130 degrees so the tank doesn’t overheat. Insulating your hot water pipes will also prevent heat loss. You can purchase pipe sleeves at your local home improvement store.
Heat traps can be installed on water heaters to prevent heat loss through the inlet and outlet pipes. They’re relatively cheap but should be installed by a professional. If your water heater is a newer model, heat traps may already be installed.
Did you know that power companies charge more for energy used during “peak hours”? By setting a timer on your water heater, you can cause it to heat during the non-peak hours, beating the power company at its own game and saving money.
When hot water runs down the drain, you lose money. Installing a heat recovery system can capture this lost energy so it can be reused, sending it back to the water heater or other fixtures.
To speak with a professional about water heaters and money-saving techniques in your Connecticut home, contact Glasco Heating and Air Conditioningtoday.
Our goal is to help educate our customers about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems). For more information about water heaters and other HVAC topics, visit our website.
Glasco Heating & Air Conditioning services South Windsor, Connecticut and the surrounding areas.