Are you looking for ways to save money and energy on your water heater? If so, then you’ve come to the right place. In today’s economy, you can’t afford to spend too much money on your heating bills. And with energy being one the main recurrent expenditures you need to budget for in your home every month, it’s best to think of creative ways of cutting down its consumption.
Below are some of the most effective steps to cut down on your energy bill and save money on your next month’s water heating bill.
1. Buy Water Heater from a Reputable Company
One often-overlooked way a water heater could help you save money is by buying this item from a trustworthy vendor. The best place to start would be going through customer reviews like the AO Smith water heater reviews. By getting first-hand accounts of how efficiently a water heater functions, you can be sure that you’re purchasing a quality appliance that you trust. By doing so, you can be sure that you aren’t spending your hard-earned money on a water heater that doesn’t work well or that will soon need expensive repairs.
This means you save money in the long-run that would have otherwise been spent on expensive repairs. It’s best if you choose a product of the highest quality possible within your budget. Even if it costs more than a cheaper model, you’ll still be saving money on your energy bills and your future fuel costs.
2. Repair Leaking Faucets
An effective way to save money and energy is to have your water heater serviced every couple of years to check for leaks. By doing this, you’ll be able to confirm that your water heater is working as well as it can. While the issue of a leaky faucet might seem trivial, failure to repair it might end up costing you time and money in the long-run.
Therefore, if you discover any leaks or problems with your water heater, it’s in your best interest to have it serviced right away. If you wait until you have an emergency instead of calling a plumber for preventative care, the problem could get worse. This eventually leads to you losing large quantities of water over time to plumbing leaks, which costs you a lot of money.
3. Insulate the Tank and Pipes
Insulating the tank and pipes is also an effective way to save money on your water heater costs. This insulation material used is a combination of polyethylene foam and plastic insulation that traps the heat during the winter months and disperses it out of your home during the summer. With this insulation in place, you don’t need to constantly switch on your water heater since the tank and pipes will do a superb job of retaining the heat. But, when insulating the tank, make sure to adhere to the stated manufacturer guidelines, including not covering the top, bottom, or the thermostat.
4. Inspect the Heater’s Water Flow
It’s also important to check the water flow into the tank. If you want to cut down on your energy bill, you need to increase the water flow. One effective way to do this is by adding a small pump to increase the water flow. As you do this, you should try and use as few pumps and, when using the hot water tap, try to turn it off after finishing using all the hot water. Using only a few pumps allows the water to run naturally for a while, even after turning off the water heater.
5. Install a Timer
Many people have found that installing a timer on their water heater reduces energy consumption when the appliance isn’t being used. The timer automatically switches off the heating elements when nobody is using it. This saves you lots of money that would have otherwise been spent on energy bills. The installation of a timer could also help prolong your water heater’s lifespan, which saves you money from having to buy another unit.
Installing a water heater with a built-in water heater timer is quite easy, but there are certain things you should consider before doing so. For instance, make sure you don’t forget to turn off your power before installing the timer on your water heating system. You can do this by unplugging the power from the wall socket.
Then, you can take out the screws that secure the bracket and then pull out the bracket. Once you have done so, you can mark the spot on the wall where the timer will be mounted to ensure a straight line between the wall and the bracket. Marking the spot is important because you’ll want the timer to be mounted precisely in the spot you marked and will need for the bracket to remain unobstructed as you install the timer in your water heating system.
6. Adjust the Thermostat
Another great way to cut down on your water heating bill is by lowering your thermostat’s temperatures. For every 10-degree reduction, you get to save between 3–5% on your energy bill—therefore, you should try and adjust your thermostat’s temperature. Usually, the default setting on most of the thermostats is 140ºF, but a temperature of 120ºF would be ideal for most households.
7. Install Heat Traps
If you wish to eliminate your high water heating bills, installing heat traps is a great way to do so. Hot water heat traps work by reducing unwanted convection and preventing already heated water from flowing out the water heater, thus lowering your water temperature. These heat traps are generally made of metal, but you can also find ones made of plastic. The advantage of using heat traps is that they are very cheap and relatively easy to install.
However, make sure the heat traps are installed correctly—otherwise, it may not prevent heat loss. Instead, it could result in your home losing more heat through the gaps between the walls and the insulation.
Takeaway
Hot water is a vital component for the smooth running of your daily tasks from cleaning dishes, taking showers, and washing clothes. However, all this leads to massive energy costs. If you wish to lower your energy bills, follow these tips to save money and energy on your water heater.