According to the Department of Energy’s website, water heating can account for just around 12 percent of a family’s overall utility bill. That being said, it seems pretty clear that the key to saving money is knowing how to save on your water heating bill. At Superior Plumbing and Drains, LLC, we know that there are a few simple steps that you can take today to reduce your water heating bill almost immediately.
While not everyone is in the position to go out and purchase a new tankless water heater, there are still plenty of options at your disposal to reduce your overall costs. If you have ever wondered what practical steps you can take to save yourself money on your heating bill, this article is for you. Today, we will be highlighting 5 simple ways that you can start to save on your water heating bill.
Take Short Showers Rather Than Baths
It goes without saying that the amount of money that you could potentially save on your heating bill depends largely upon the habits of you and your family. For this reason, it is crucial that you are monitoring the habits of your family in regards to the amount of time the hot water is being used.
While it is a luxury to be able to take a nice hot bath from time to time, limiting your baths to short showers as much as possible can do wonders for your heating bill. While that isn’t to say you can’t indulge in a hot bath every now and then, this is a very practical step you can take to lower your water heating bill.
Lower the Temperature on Your Water Heater
Another practical step that you can take to lower your water heating bill starts with lowering the temperature on your water heater. Believe it or not, for every 10-degree reduction in the temperature on your water heater, you can save between 3 and 5 percent on water heating costs. It is highly recommended to lower the temperature on your water heater to around 120 degrees Fahrenheit.
After making the necessary adjustments to the temperature, try taking a shower. It is likely you will observe no noticeable difference in temperature. There are even a few additional benefits to adjusting the temperature on your water heater in the form of slowing mineral buildup and corrosion on your pipes and water heater as well as reducing scalding.
Insulate Your Hot-Water Storage Tank
Whether your hot-water storage tank is oil, electric, or natural gas, you can work to effectively reduce heat loss and prevent the unit from turning on as frequently by insulating the tank. While you should be careful to take the necessary steps to follow the manufacturer’s recommendations when insulating your hot-water storage tank, this action can have a huge impact on your overall water heating bill each month.
Be careful not to cover the storage tank’s top, bottom, burner, or thermostat when insulating the tank as this can prove hazardous. At Superior Plumbing and Drains, LLC, we highly recommend consulting a professional plumber when insulating the tank to eliminate the risk of any costly issues. Give our plumbers a call to have all of your questions about hot-water storage tank insulation answered!
Install Heat Traps
Installing heat traps on your natural gas or electric water heater can have a significant impact when it comes to reducing heating costs. In fact, installing heat traps can save you, on average, between $15 and $30 per month. This can, however, vary depending on hot water usage in your home.
Heat traps, which are either loops of pipe or valves, work effectively to allow water to flow into the tank while preventing unwanted hot water to flow out of the tank. Heat traps are incredibly cost-effective and can even be installed at the same time as your hot water heater. Those in search of a new water heater will likely find that the particular model they have in mind even have factory-installed heat traps.
If installing heat traps on your water heater is an option for you, we highly recommend giving it some thought. Heat traps offer the potential to save up to hundreds of dollars each year on heating costs.
Consider Purchasing a New Water Heater
While each of the ways to save on your heating bill that we have discussed so far are fairly cost-effective, it should still be noted that one of the best ways to save money is by investing in a new water heater entirely. This is an especially crucial consideration to make if your current water heater is over 10 years old. Aside from being inefficient, water heaters that are older than 10 years pose a costly risk if they burst or leak, resulting in irreparable damage in your home.
If you are currently considering upgrading your home’s current water heater, there are a variety of options at your disposal. One that we highly recommend, in particular, is a tankless water heater. Tankless water heaters, while certainly an investment, can end up saving you as much as $70-$80 per year across its 20+ year lifespan. That adds up to quite a bit of cash!
Tankless water heaters provide a constant supply of hot water and are estimated to be between 8 and 34 percent more energy-efficient than a standard storage water heater. Again, taking the use of hot water in your home into account, a tankless water heater could save you up to $100 per year on heating costs.
Interested in Upgrading Your Water Heater? Call Superior Plumbing and Drains, LLC!
If you have taken all of your options into account when thinking about lowering your heating bill and have decided to upgrade your water heater, give Superior Plumbing and Drains, LLC a call! We specialize in installing tankless water heaters and would love to help you get well on your way to saving money each month. There are effective measures you can take to reduce your heating costs and our experienced plumbers are on standby to help you. Contact us today to get started!
