How Water Heaters Save Home Energy Bills

Heating water at home can get quite expensive and that’s why energy-saving solutions are currently being suggested for homeowners. Water heaters can take up around 12-18% of your utility bill and it’s one of the largest single contributors to high home energy bills. Whether you’re looking into replacing your water heater with an energy-efficient one or not, there are so many ways where you can cut back on some of the consumption costs as well as saving energy.

Find out below how you can either replace your water heater or you can tweak your habits to save energy with your existing water heater.

Consider going energy-efficient

If you can afford it, consider replacing your old water heater with an energy-saving one; there has been an influx of models that are engineered to operate in an energy-saving manner. This will not only be beneficial to the environment, but it will also cut back on the utility costs and bills. These are some of the top energy-efficient heaters:

Go Tankless!– Unlike old water heater models, getting a tankless water heater means just as the name sounds: it has no tank to store water but supplies you with on-demand hot water. They can also help you save money and energy; according to www.toptenwater.com, they’re one of the leading energy-efficient models there is due to the tankless system and its life expectancy of 10-15 years. They can run on electricity or natural gas and the way they work is that heat coils are used to heat the water as you need it; the average tankless heater can supply around 3.5 gallons of hot water per minute.
Gas Storage Tanks – If you prefer to store your water for easy use by buying a storage-tank water heater, then consider getting one that operates on natural gas. Choose one that is insulated with a decent-operated pressure relief valve. They’re more energy-efficient than the electric ones and will save you a ton on utility bills; however, they might be more expensive to buy than the electric ones. Then again, saving energy is a worthy investment.
Invest in Solar Energy – If you live in a country with never-ending sunlight, then consider going solar when it comes to your water heater. They’re highly energy-efficient and easy to use. A roof-mounted cell will be installed to absorb all of the sun rays, transfers it to an antifreeze-like liquid in a closed-loop system that then runs to your water tank. This is ideal in sunny regions because you’re saving money and saving energy as well.

Reducing energy consumption

If you’re not in the market for buying a new water heater, then consider changing some of your habits regarding water consumption. You won’t believe the little things you can do here and there that will actually end up saving you energy and a few bucks.

Install a Low-Flow Showerhead – Showering, even for 10 minutes, can use up around 50 gallons of water with an inefficient showerhead. Cut that amount in half if you use specialized low-flow showerheads that will save water consumption. Don’t worry though, you won’t be compromising water pressure and that shower ‘feel’.

Adjust Laundry and Dishwashing Habits – These two are also major contributors to high energy costs and consumption. When washing, use lower temperatures and rinse settings. Using cold water will not only save money, but you’re also saving your clothes from shrinking or color fading. Be sure to use a full load of dishes and clothes in your appliances as well as shorter wash cycles, so you’re not running on almost empty washing rounds.

Fix Leaky Faucets – You might think that little water drips here and there won’t affect your water consumption. On the contrary, if a leak comes from a hot water tap, then you’re not only consuming water, but you’re also costing energy to heat it. A slow leak means 60 drips per minute, which means you’re wasting about 8.6 gallons a day and 3,150 gallons per year! Be sure to fix any leaky faucets for maximum energy-efficiency.

Install a Timer – We often forget the water heater running all day, which can get costly. Consider installing a timer that can be programmed to shut off when you’re not using it like at work or when you’re sleeping. Some electric companies charge higher

during peak hours in some areas, you can even program it to shut off during these hours.

Insulate Your Pipes – Insulating the first three feet of your water pipes that come out of the water heater can help drastically. If not insulated, your water can get lukewarm by the time it reaches you. It can be an easy project for DIY but be sure to look up the correct way of doing it.
Water heaters, albeit vital and necessary in every home, can be the sole culprit in high energy bills. You need to use one with the comfort and peace of mind of saving energy and its costs. Consider replacing your water heater with a new energy-efficient one instead. If you’re unable to, then why not follow these above-mentioned tips to save money and energy.