Water Heaters and How You Can Save Money and Energy

Water heaters are essential to a modern plumbing system, but there's no question that they add considerably to your monthly electric bill. While you probably don't want to start taking ice cold showers anytime soon, you may be interested in how you can start saving money and energy without making huge sacrifices. The good news is that what you want is entirely possible to achieve. No, you won't be able to reduce your hot water costs to nothing. But, by following a few simple tips, you can increase the heating efficiency of your appliance and reduce the sticker shock you feel when you open your bills.

Wrap It

A responsible homeowner, living in a climate that gets cold in the winter, should invest in a blanket designed for water heaters. Yes, even your appliances need to be kept warm when the temperature outside starts dropping! By wrapping the appliance in a fiberglass blanket, you can reduce a great deal of the heat loss you would normally experience. This allows the appliance to work much less, meaning you will see an immediate savings on your electric bill. Some estimates show that homeowners can save as much as 40% of their heat loss by employing a blanket, which can translate to up to 10% of your electricity bill. Make sure, however, that your device doesn't already come with an insulating feature.

Efficient Shower Heads

One of the reasons water heaters have to work so hard is due to inefficient, free-flow showerheads using up far too much of their output when the homeowner takes a shower. If you want to cut down on this, you might consider changing out the head for something more energy conscious. Some families have been able to cut their electric bills nearly in half just by employing this simple strategy. Low flow showerheads take some getting used to, but they can make a big difference in your expenditures.

Check the Thermostat

When you buy an HDTV, the settings are often calibrated to showing off in a big box store. Home theater enthusiasts know the importance of cutting down these "torch" settings when enjoying the television in their own home. Water heaters work similarly, although there isn't the same obvious reason behind it. Check the thermostat and make sure it isn't set too high. Turning it down can save you immediate money on your bill. Make sure you don't drop below 120 degrees, however, as this could lead to bacteria growth.