Summer is fading, which means that your water-heating costs will be going up. The Department of Energy reports that heating your water is the third-largest energy expense you incur at home. It’s not hard to lower the cost, and it may be something you can do yourself or with a little help from a pro.
- Insulate the tank. If you can feel heat emanating from the water heater tank, you could use more insulation around it. You can find insulating blankets at home improvement centers. These help stop the standby losses that occur as water sits in the tank. Before you go, measure your tank’s height and estimate its circumference. Choose a size that is close to your water heater’s. The jackets are easy to cut and fit to the tank, especially if yours is an electric tank. Be sure not to cover the thermostat. If you have a gas-powered tank, ask a plumber for assistance, as these depend on proper ventilation for combustion.
- Lower the thermostat, especially if you’ve insulated the tank. Even if you haven’t insulated the tank, dropping the temperature to 120 degrees lowers water-heating costs and slows the formation of hard water deposits at the bottom of the tank. You also won’t have to worry about scalding, which can occur at temperatures over 130 degrees. If you want extra sanitizing for your laundry, pre-spot with hydrogen peroxide or vinegar. Most dishwashers have booster heating coils that kick in to heat the water to 140 degrees for maximum cleaning.
- Install heat traps on your water heater. These are devices that prevent the hot water from backing up into the inlet and outlet pipes when you aren’t using the hot water. It’s a good idea to know the brand and model of your water heater before purchasing. Follow the directions the manufacturer provides for installation, or ask an expert.
If you’d like more information about lowering water-heating costs, or ways to save energy heating and cooling your home, contact Around the Clock Heating and Air Conditioning. We’ve provided HVAC services for the Los Angeles area since 1967.
Our goal is to help educate our customers in Los Angeles, North Hollywood and surrounding areas about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems). For more information about water-heating costs and other HVAC topics, download our free Home Comfort Resource guide.
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