5 Easy Steps to an Energy Efficient Hot Water Heater

There is nothing better than a nice warm shower after a hard day's work. Well, to think of it, there are dozens of things that are better than a shower, but none as certain to happen. The luxury of warm water comes with an ecological and fiscal price. An inefficient water heater wastes electricity and it also costs you money. Here are five easy tips that can make your hot water heater more efficient.

1. Set the temperature to 120 Degrees. If you're running your hot water heater at 150 degrees, lowering it to 120 degrees can save you 12%-15% on your hot water bills.


2. Insulate the pipes around your heater. The hot water heater heats water. (Imagine that.) By keeping the water in the nearby pipes warm, the colder water in the surrounding pipes will take longer to affect the warmer water inside the tank. This means that less energy is expended by the heater and energy and money are saved.


3. Insulate your water heater. Install an insulating jacket on your water heater and save up to ten percent on your hot water bills. You will reduce heat loss in the tank by a third.


4. Drain the sediment. Even self-cleaning heaters need a little cleaning. Here's a short explanation of how to drain the sediment from a hot water heater. NOTE: This may not work for all models. Check your owner’s manual. Find the discharge pipe. Put a bucket under it. Turn off the cold water supply valve. Turn on the hot water somewhere in the house to release pressure inside the tank. Find a good use for that water. Don't waste it. Drain the tank. Flush out the sediment. This will extend the life of your heater and improve its efficiency.


5. Install low-flow shower heads. About a quarter of your home's water is lost through the shower. You can reduce your water output in the shower by two thirds when you install a low-flow shower head. Doing this will reduce the amount of hot water that you need. Reducing demand for hot water reduces your hot water heater's energy output which reduces your bills.

More on Water Heaters:
Repair Replace (Recycle): Your Hot Water Heater
The Solar Water Heater Solution : Power Water
Build a Passive Solar Water Heater

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