We all love a long, relaxing shower, but running that water heater tank can certainly hurt when it comes to your household’s monthly utility bills.
You might be surprised to learn that water heating can be 12 to 19% of your monthly utility bill. Ouch!
To help you reduce your monthly water heating costs, we’d love to offer you some helpful tips that are good for your wallet, and the environment!
Use Less Hot water
There are some really simple ways to use less hot water that don’t involve spending money on additional parts or upgrades. For example, don’t run the water while shaving or brushing your teeth. Take shorter showers whenever possible, and shut the water off completely while applying conditioner to long hair—it may sound silly but it can save quite a bit.
Turn off the water while you’re scrubbing the dishes with soap or only run your dishwasher when it’s full. Same goes with your washing machine when doing laundry, and make sure to use cold water for most laundry loads if you can, especially the rinse cycle.
Additions and Improvements
If you’re ready to dive a little deeper to reduce your water heating bills, here are some additional improvements that you can do yourself or have a professional install for you.
Lowering your water heater temperature needs to be done safely but it’s a great way to save 3-5% on your water heating costs—a good temperature to set it at is 120 degree fahrenheit. You can also have a timer installed to shut your hot water tank off at night or when it’s not being used regularly.
Installing low-flow faucets and shower heads can also save you 25% to 60% on your water bill and by installing heat traps on your hot water tank, you could save an additional $15 to $30 per month.
Insulating your hot water tank and the first several feet of pipes leading from the tank to the rest of your house is another small improvement that can help raise your water temperature 2-4 degrees Fahrenheit.
Properly maintaining your hot water heater is another simple way to save money and having an annual maintenance plan with your local HVAC professional is a great way to ensure that leaks are addressed in a timely manner, as they can be one of the biggest wastes of good, clean water.
Upgrade to Efficient Models
While your current systems may not need replacing quite yet, it might be worth considering an upgrade to more efficient models. There are specifically many options available for ENERGY STAR® washing machines and dishwashers, for example, which can save you 20%+ on your utility bill.
You can also look into replacing your water heater with a more energy-efficient one. Tankless water heaters are a great option, as they can be up to 40% more energy efficient than a traditional water heater.
If you have energy efficiency questions, need your water heater repaired, or want to look into replacing your water heater with a more energy-efficient one, we’re just a call or click away! We are your source in Pierce County for all your water heating needs—text or give us a call at 253-785-9194.