ENERGY TIPS
Water Heating
The water heater is the second largest
energy user in the home after your heating
and cooling system. In an average home,
water heating accounts for about 25 percent
of your total energy usage.
How water heaters work:
Storage water heaters, ranging in size from
20 to 80 gallons, are the most commonly
used water heaters in homes today.
When you turn on the hot water faucet,
hot water is pulled out of the top of the
water heater and cold water flows into the
bottom to replace it. The water in the tank
is heated by an electric resistance heating
element, gas, or oil.
The most important energy-related
feature of storage water heaters is the
amount of tank insulation. The more energy
efficient models on the market today have
an R-value of at least 20. Remember, the
higher the R-value the better the
insulator.
Demand or instantaneous water heaters
have no storage capacity. The water is
heated as needed, but the flow rate is
limited. If you have a couple of teenagers
in the house, or you need to do a load of
laundry while someone is in the shower,
then a demand water heater may not provide
an adequate supply of hot water.
Below is a list of ways to save on your
family’s water heating costs. Remember
that the size of your family has a great
impact on your hot water usage, and
therefore, everyone should look for ways to
use energy more wisely.
Ways to reduce your hot water
costs:
-
Lower the water heater
temperature. Water heated to
between 120° and 125° is hot
enough for most households. This is
about midway between the
"low" and "medium"
settings on most water heaters. If you
do not have a dishwasher or have one
without a booster heater, keep the
water temperature at the medium
setting.
-
Conserve water.
Water-conserving or low-flow shower
heads can cut hot water use in half.
Limiting showers to five minutes could
also reduce hot water use.
-
Insulate your water
heater. An insulating jacket
may pay for itself through energy
savings in less than a year. The older
the water heater, the greater the
potential savings. Always follow the
manufacturer’s instructions given
in your owner’s manual. (Water
heater jackets are not recommended for
all models.)
- Install a timer. A
simple timer that shuts the water heater
off 12 hours a day will pay for itself in
less than a year. Savings are greater for
water heaters located in unheated garages
and basements.
Additional Resources
