There’s no doubt that your water heater is one of the most essential components of your entire home. However, just like any other appliance in your household, you likely want it to operate as efficiently as possible. Explore these practical tips to reduce how much energy your water heater uses to decrease monthly utility costs.
Get Regular Service
It’s important to schedule regular maintenance with one of our plumbers. During a tune-up, our professional will thoroughly examine the entire system, checking for signs of wear, leaks, and any other potential issues. They will also flush the tank to remove any built-up sediment that could hinder performance. This process involves draining the tank to remove sediment and debris that settle at the bottom of the tank and interfere with the heating process.
Annual maintenance is usually sufficient for most residential water heaters. However, if you have hard water and don’t use a water softener, consider having your tank flushed twice a year to prevent excessive sediment buildup. Without regular flushing, this sediment can accumulate, reduce the unit’s efficiency, and cause premature wear on the tank, leading to costly repairs or the need for premature replacement.
Set Your Water Heater at 120 Degrees Fahrenheit
One of the best ways to help ensure that you’re getting the maximum efficiency out of your water heater is to set its temperature at 120 degrees Fahrenheit. It’s important to note that anything lower than this can allow bacteria to grow inside your water heater’s tank and affect the quality of your water.
For every 10 degrees that you go over 120 degrees, you can expect your overall water heating costs to increase by about 5%. With a tankless water heater, there’s typically a digital display for the temperature adjustment.
Alternatively, tank water heaters often feature two thermostats: one at the top and one at the bottom of the tank. Both thermostats control different heating elements: the upper element heats the water at the top of the tank, while the lower element heats the water at the bottom. It’s generally recommended that both thermostats be set to the same temperature for optimal performance. This helps maintain consistent water temperature and ensures even usage between both elements. If the upper thermostat is set higher than the lower one, it could lead to uneven heating and unnecessary stress on the heating elements. This could also reduce efficiency and cause one element to wear out more quickly than the other.
Get a Water Heater Blanket
If you rely on a tank-style water heater, it’s a good idea to invest in a heating blanket for it. This is simply an insulation jacket that gets put around the entire tank to help prevent heat transfer from the water in the tank to the air surrounding it. By retaining more heat within the tank, your appliance will not have to run as frequently, improving energy efficiency.
Install Low-Flow Fixtures
Installing low-flow fixtures in your showers and sinks is an effective way to reduce hot water usage in your home. These fixtures don’t reduce the pressure of the water; instead, they limit the amount of water used by incorporating aerators. The aerator mixes air with the water stream, which reduces water flow without sacrificing water pressure or performance. As a result, you use less water for showering and chores like washing dishes, which means your water heater doesn’t have to work as hard to maintain hot water temperatures. This not only reduces your energy consumption but also extends the life of your water heater. Over time, low-flow fixtures can make a noticeable impact on your water and energy bills.
Install a Water Softener System
The buildup of hard water minerals between maintenance visits can cause your water heater to work harder and consume more energy. These minerals can accumulate on the heating elements or inside the tank, forming scale. As the scale builds up, it creates an insulating barrier that reduces the efficiency of the heating elements, making it more difficult for the water heater to transfer heat. As a result, the water heater must run longer and use more energy to reach the desired temperature.
It’s best to remove the minerals before they reach your water heater. Installing a water softener system is one of the most effective ways to achieve this. By softening the water, you can reduce the strain on your water heater, improve its efficiency, and extend its lifespan. Additionally, a water softener helps protect your entire plumbing system by preventing scale buildup in pipes and faucets, as well as protecting appliances like your dishwasher and washing machine.
Insulate Your Pipes
During the colder winter months, you may notice that the temperature of your hot water seems to drop. This decrease in temperature happens because, as hot water travels from your water heater to your plumbing fixtures, it loses heat to the surrounding air. To prevent this, you can insulate your hot water pipes using foam pipe insulation or heat tape, both of which are available at most hardware stores.
Insulating your hot water pipes helps prevent the transfer of heat from the water to the surrounding air. This ensures that your water stays warmer on its journey from the water heater to your fixtures, allowing you to enjoy hot water without needing to raise the thermostat setting on your water heater.
Consider Installing a Timer
If you rely on a tank water heater, then it’s going to continuously run throughout the overnight hours to keep the water in its tank warm and ready for use. A great tactic to help minimize this overnight runtime is to use a timer. This device will shut off your water heater during designated hours when you don’t need hot water.
You can set the timer to conveniently switch the unit back on a couple of hours before you’re going to be up in the morning so that you have nice hot water when you need it. By reducing the amount of runtime of your water heater throughout an average day, you can significantly reduce your energy usage and even extend the overall lifespan of your water heater.
Consider Upgrading to a Tankless Water Heater
If your tank water heater is nearing the end of its lifetime, consider upgrading to a tankless model. In terms of efficiency, tankless water heaters have the edge. Unlike traditional models, which constantly run to maintain a reserve of hot water, they only activate when you need hot water. This on-demand operation helps maximize efficiency, making a tankless water heater an exceptional choice for homeowners looking to reduce energy consumption.
Exceptional Water Heater Service
At Davis & Green, we proudly provide exceptional water heater repair services as well as replacements and new installation for the residents of Richmond, VA and the surrounding communities. In addition to water heater care, we also specialize in drain and sewer services, kitchen and bathroom plumbing, pipe repair, and sump pump maintenance. Contact us today to schedule your next service visit with one of our friendly and knowledgeable team members.
