Short-Term vs. Long-Term Hot Water Heater Savings

Making your hot water heater more efficient is a great way to reduce your electricity bills. What you need to know is that there are two different approaches to doing this. One is the short-term approach through which you make small changes that add up to long-term savings. The other is a long-term approach which focuses on making big changes like buying better hot water heaters. These long-term solutions may require an initial investment of funds but produce more in terms of long-term savings. A smart household will use both methods for a whole-home approach to reducing energy waste surrounding the hot water heater.

Tips for short-term and immediate hot water heater savings:

• Lower the thermostat setting on your hot water heater. Most people can tolerate a low temperature of about 120 degrees. Do this now and start saving money immediately.


• Look for leaky faucets and repair them immediately. That’s water that’s literally just going down the drain.


• Insulate your hot water heater. This immediately improves its efficiency. Make sure that you also insulate the first 5-6 feet of pipes attached to the hot water heater.


• Implement a cleaning plan for your hot water heater to be done 3-4 times per year. This includes double-checking that your insulation is solid but focuses specifically on cleaning out the water tank. Do this by draining approximately one quart of water from the tank to reduce dirt and make the system more efficient. Read your manual for the specifics on how to do this for your hot water heater.

Tips for long-term actions towards hot water heater savings:

• Invest in a new energy-efficient hot water heater. You can choose an Energy Star hot water heater of any kind. You can also look at advanced alternative hot water heaters such as on-demand water heaters and even solar-powered hot water heaters. Note that if you’ve had your hot water heater for seven or more years then it’s time to consider getting a new one.


• Invest in new faucets and showerheads. Low-flow and aerating faucets and showerheads may cost some money initially but they’ll significantly reduce the amount of hot water that you waste throughout the year.


• Invest in the installation of a drain water waste heat recovery system. It may cost some time and money but it can save you up to 30% on your hot water system.

Source: http://www1.eere.energy.gov/consumer/tips/water_heating.html