Energy Savings Tips: Water Heaters, Hot Water Tanks & Tankless Water Heaters

Energy Savings Tips: Water Heaters, Hot Water Tanks & Tankless Water Heaters

Here are ways to save energy on water heaters, hot water tanks & tankless water heaters (sorry, turning off the water heater doesn't count). These money-saving ideas can help you lower your energy bill by reducing energy consumption in your house or apartment.

You can also help to reduce the demand of electricity at peak electrical demand times - 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. These energy saving tips below may help cut down on the amount of energy you use and trim your household energy costs, while lowering peak demand on your electricity utility company.

Water Heaters, Hot Water Tanks & Tankless Water Heaters

Just by lowering the temperature on your water heater from 130° to 120° can help you save up to 5 percent on your energy bills.

* Take shorter showers, no longer than five-minutes.
* During your shower, you can turn off the water as you shampoo your hair or lather your body, then turn the water back on to rinse off.
* Set your water heater temperature between 120°F­130°F if you don't use a dishwasher.
* Some say shower with a friend to save energy. That probably is not the best way to save energy as you may end up taking longer showers instead of shorter showers.
* Fix leaky faucets. One drop of hot water per second can waste 2500 gallons per year. If just 1% of us repaired a leaky hot water faucet, the savings would add up to 25 million gallons of water and enough natural gas savings to heat 800 homes all winter long.
* Use cold water - when you can, use cold water to wash clothes or rinse dishes.
* Use a water heater jacket. If your water heater feels warm to the touch, buy a water heater blanket and save up to 9% on your water-heating costs. Check the caution label on your water heater. Newer models come with proper insulation and some even prohibit installing a blanket. Finally, don't cover the inspection plate with the blanket, it could be a fire hazard. Also note that water heaters in the garage or outside use a lot more energy because they are more directly exposed to cooler weather.
* Install low-flow water savers. Low-flow devices on your faucets and showers can cut up to 11% of your water use, which will help reduce your energy and water bills.
* Insulate hot-water pipes.
* Buy a new hot water heater. You can save money and energy cost by selecting a model with a 9 to 12-year warranty. Those typically have thicker insulation and more powerful burners or heating elements for faster heating than models with shorter warranties.
* Buy a tankless water heater. A tankless water heater saves money by heating water only when you turn on the faucet, and then just heating the water you need for that episode. But smaller, cheaper units probably won't produce enough hot water to serve a typical family. Larger, gas-fired tankless water units can cost $1,000 or more and are expensive to install because they often require larger gas supply lines and special venting.
* Consider solar water heaters.