When a new year begins, people are excited to start fresh. They set goals for self-improvement, and some look for ways to save money, such as by cutting down their utility bills. Many people do not realize that one of the biggest energy users in their home is the water heater. This makes sense, though, because this appliance is in use quite often, heating water for showers, washing dishes, and doing laundry. Since it uses so much energy, even small changes in how you manage it can make a significant difference in your energy costs throughout the year. Because we all want to save money and be a little kinder to the planet, let us look at some easy ways to optimize your water heater and make it run more efficiently.
Turning Down the Heat
What many homeowners do not know is that water heater manufacturers often set them much higher than necessary, usually at 140°F (60°C). This temperature can be dangerously hot and waste energy. For most households, reducing the setting to 120°F (49°C) is a safe and sufficient temperature for comfort and hygiene. You will not only save on energy costs, but you will keep children and seniors safe from scalding and severe injury.
Giving Your Water Heater a Jacket
The heat from your water heater tank escapes into your garage or basement. That is wasted energy your water heater must constantly replace. An excellent way to stop this heat loss is to wrap an insulation blanket around the tank. This special blanket acts like a cozy coat, keeping the heat inside where it belongs. This measure is especially helpful for older water heaters that have less internal insulation than newer models. It is a relatively inexpensive product that can provide significant savings over time. Even if your water heater is in a heated space, reducing the heat loss from the tank is a smart move because it means less work for the heating element or burner.
Fixing Leaks and Checking Connections
Some homeowners think that a small leak is no big deal. But what they fail to realize is that the cost ads up. A small leak can waste lots of water and energy. A hot water faucet that drips once per second can waste 3,000 gallons of water and add $30 or more to your utility bills.
If you have a faucet that keeps dripping, be sure to ask a professional plumber to repair it quickly. Fixing these small leaks prevents the water heater from having to unnecessarily heat and replace that lost water.
Also, check the pipes that connect directly to your water heater. If those pipes are hot, consider insulating the first few feet of the hot water pipe leaving the tank with pipe foam.
To keep your water heater operating at its peak, nothing beats professional inspections and maintenance. A professional plumber can thoroughly look your water heater over and mitigate any issues that they find during your service call. Properly maintained appliances run more efficiently and cost less to run. To start the year off right, contact Carlson Plumbing Pros Inc. in Fountain Valley, CA to schedule an inspection and maintenance for your water heater.
