Everyone is looking to save money where they can these days, and either replacing your water heater or adjusting a few settings you may reduces your monthly bills. A newer water heater is probably going to be more efficient and use less fuel to maintain the temperature in your tank, however there are other savings methods that can be utilized even with more modern water heaters.
Flush Your Water Heater Tank
Sediment and water impurities can get left behind in the water heater tank and either damage your tank’s liner and/or need more fuel to maintain the temperature of the water in the tank. Flushing your tank once every year or two can lengthen the life of your water heater and save you money on early replacements or repairs and lower your fuel cost, whether your water heater runs on gas or electric.
Turn Down the Temperature
While it’s advised to keep the water temperature above 120 degrees Fahrenheit for safety reasons, you can lower your temperature from your current temperature to the advised 120 degrees. Lowering the temperature setting will lower the temperature of the water in the tank and thereby reduce the heating costs.
Use Devices to Cut Down on Water Usage
You can add devices to your plumbing system to cut down on water usage while losing only a little functionality. Low flow shower heads will cut down on the amount of water used per second while not being as powerful of a stream. A faucet aerator can be attached to your faucets that will release air with the water flow to cut down on usage while still having pressure. Certain appliances will have a water saving option such as an “economy” setting on a dish washer.
Apply Insulation on the Pipes
If your water heater is located in a drafty area or cold area such as a drafty basement, adding insulation to the pipes or even potentially a water heater blanket which is made especially for keeping a water heater warm. Keeping the pipes or water heater from cooling off can cut down on heating costs.
Replacement of Old Water Heaters
Older water heaters can lose efficiency and take more fuel to maintain the temperature as newer model water heaters. Call us to discuss options and inquire about our $75 water heater rebate on all water heaters installed by Wittmaier Plumbing