Water Heating

Water heating is a large energy expense in your home. It accounts for a considerable amount of your utility bill. There are four ways to cut your water heating bills: use less hot water, turn down the thermostat on your water heater, insulate your water heater, or buy a new more efficient model.

Turn down your water heater: Lower the temperature setting of your water heater. This reduces energy consumption. Water heaters sometimes come from the factory with high temperature settings, but a setting of 50°C provides comfortable hot water for most uses.

Insulate your water heater:Insulate your electric hot-water storage tank with a thermal insulation material blanket,make sure not to cover the thermostat. To see if your tank needs insulation, place your hand on the tank. If it feels warm then you need to replace the insulation blanket...

Insulate water lines: If the pipes that supply hot water throughout your house are hot to the touch, then heat is being lost. By insulating hot water pipes you can reduce this loss. Start at the water heater and insulate all of the accessible pipes.

Don't let the water run: Minimize water usage while brushing teeth, shaving, and washing hands in bathroom sinks.

Fix drippy faucets: A faucet that leaks one drip per second can waste 1500 liters of water a year. If the water is hot, that 1500 liters will cost you on your electricity bill plus the cost of the water itself.

Upgrade your showerhead: Because the energy and water savings are enormous, replacing older showerheads with low flow units could save a family of four as much as 50,000 liters of water per year, significantly reducing water heating costs.

Replace old water heater: Although most water heaters last 10–15 years, it’s best to start shopping now for a new one if yours is more than 7 years old. Doing some research before your heater fails will enable you to select one that most appropriately meets your needs.

Remove sediment from your water heater: Drain a quart of water from your water tank every 3 months to remove sediment that impedes heat transfer and lowers the efficiency of your heater. The type of water tank you have determines the steps to take, so follow the manufacturer’s advice.

Solar Water Heaters: If you heat water with electricity you will be charged much more on your energy bill ,so it is worthwhile to think of solar water heaters,if you have an un-shaded location (such as a roof) on your property, consider installing a good quality solar water heater. The solar units are environmentally friendly and can now be easily installed.
Solar water heaters avoid the greenhouse gas emissions associated with electricity production. During a 20-year period, one solar water heater can avoid more than 50 tons of carbon dioxide emissions.