Did you know that heating your water accounts for almost 20% of your home’s energy bill? Heating water uses more energy than almost anything else in the house (except for heating and cooling your whole home.) With costs that high, if your water heater isn’t very good, you’ll feel it even more.
Water heaters that aren’t as efficient don’t work as well as they should and cost more each month. It’s a situation where everyone loses, and it could get worse over time. There are, luckily, a few tried-and-true ways to make your water heater work better. Here are five easy things you can do to make your water heater work better and save money.
Step 1: Drain Water Heater Sediment
Minerals like magnesium and calcium collect in the tank of your water heater over time. These minerals will eventually sink to the bottom of the tank, where they will harden and become sediment. When sediment builds up in your tank, it can make your system work harder than it needs to in order to heat water. Over time, the extra work causes pressure to build up in the tank, which can cause it to get too hot or even break. You can easily get rid of the sediment in your water heater by draining the tank completely and flushing it out with cold water at least once a year (or up to three times if you have hard water).
Getting rid of sediments will make your heater run much better and prevent more expensive repairs that can happen when sediments build up. You can do a good job of flushing your water heater yourself if you have the right tools. You can also hire a pro to do it as part of a larger maintenance call for your water heater.
Step 2: Insulate Water Pipes
Especially in your pipes and water tank, heat tends to leave quickly. Even though this is normal, it makes your water heater work less well than it could. When heat escapes from your pipes, you have to heat more water to make up for it. The longer and harder your water heater runs and the more power it uses, the more water you heat. This means that your electric bill will be higher. Insulating water pipes keep heat from escaping and make them more efficient.
When you insulate your pipes, the heat stays where it should be, in the system. Insulated water pipes keep heat in for longer and can raise the temperature of the water by 2 to 4°F on their own. Even insulating the pipes that carry cold water can help.
If you do a little research, it’s not too hard to insulate your pipes and water heater. Just choose an insulation material, measure your pipes, and get started with tools you already have at home, like scissors, a tape measure, duct tape, and gloves.
Step 3: Use fixtures with low flow
Low-flow plumbing fixtures are another easy way to save money over time without spending much time or effort up front. Low-flow fixtures do what their name says: they slow the rate of water flow (in gallons per minute) so that less of your precious hot water goes down the drain unnecessarily.
You can save the most energy by replacing things like shower heads, faucets, and even toilets with ones that use less water. This can cut water use by up to 50 percent. They cost a bit more upfront, but in the long run, they save you a lot of money. This is especially true if someone in your home likes to take long, hot showers.
Step 4: Set your Water Heater to 120 Degrees Fahrenheit
Many people don’t know this, but every water heater has a thermostat built in. This thermostat tells the system how hot the water in the tank needs to be. The more energy your system uses to heat the water, the longer it runs and the more energy it uses overall. Check your water heater’s thermostat if your hot water gets very hot quickly or seems dangerously hot. Your water will be safer and your bills will be lower if you turn down the thermostat on your water heater.
Most water heaters will come with a default setting of 140 degrees. In reality, you shouldn’t wash or bathe in water that is over 120 degrees anyway. Experts agree that bacteria can grow in settled tank water if the temperature is below 120 degrees, so don’t set your water heater temperature lower than that. You can save 3-5% a year on your water bill by following the steps in this guide to lower the temperature on your water heater by hand at home.
Step 5: Fix any leaks in the pipes
Leaks in the plumbing happen more often than you might think. They also affect your home in more ways than you might think. Even small faucet leaks waste 1,661 gallons of water and $35 on your water bill every year. Your water heater is also affected by all the water you waste. When hot water leaks out of your pipes, your water heater has to heat more water. That means it’s going for longer, so it’s using more energy. The most common sign that there is a leak in your plumbing is that your water heater is always running. This is because it needs to replace the hot water that has been lost. So how can you find leaks before they drain your water tank and your wallet?
Leaks in your water heater usually start inside the heater. First, look around the tank of your water heater for any leaks that you can see. The most likely places to look are the temperature-pressure relief valve and the drain valve. The temperature-pressure relief valve may leak because it’s broken or because that’s what it’s supposed to do. You should also check the water pipes, especially those near sinks, showers, and other fixtures. Don’t forget that no leak is “too small” to fix. Call a plumber if you need help fixing something or figuring out if there might be a leak.
Maintain your water heater regularly.
When there doesn’t seem to be anything wrong with your water heater, it’s easy to forget about it. Even if there are no obvious leaks or problems, you should make sure your heater is as efficient and well-kept as it can be. It will save you money on your water bill right away, and it will also help your water heater last longer.
If you need help making sure your water heater works as it should, or if you want to replace or fix your water heater, call BJC Plumbers North Bergens plumbing experts today to schedule a service. We’re always happy to do whatever we can to make your home more comfortable and save you money in the long run.