Water Heating

Water heating is the third largest energy expense in your home. It typically accounts for about 14% 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, and buy a new, more efficient water heater. A family of 4, each showering for 5 minutes a day, uses 700 gallons of water a week; this is enough for a 3-year supply of drinking water for 1 person. You can cut that amount in half simply by using low-flow aerating shower heads and faucets.

  • Insulate your water heater to save energy and money
  • Look for the FTC EnergyGuide label

Water Heating Tips

  • Repair leaky faucets promptly; a leaky faucet wastes gallons of water in a short period
  • Insulate your electric hot-water storage tank and pipes, but be careful not to cover the thermostat
  • Insulate your gas or oil hot-water storage tank and pipes, but be careful not to cover the water heater’s top, bottom, thermostat, or burner compartment; when in doubt, get professional help
  • Install aerating low-flow faucets and shower heads
  • Buy a new water heater
    • While it may cost more initially than a standard water heater, the energy savings will continue during the lifetime of the appliance
  • Although most water heaters last 10 to 15 years, it’s best to start shopping 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
  • Lower the thermostat on your water heater; water heaters sometimes come from the factory with high temperature settings, but a setting of 115º F provides comfortable hot water for most uses
  • 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
  • If you heat with electricity and live in a warm and sunny climate, consider installing a solar water heater
    • The solar units are environmentally friendly and can now be installed on your roof to blend with the architecture of your house
  • Take more showers than baths
    • Bathing uses the most hot water in the average household
    • You use 15 to 25 gallons of hot water for a bath, but less than 10 gallons during a 5-minute shower
  • Consider the installation of a drain water waste heat recovery system