Water Heating Tips

Water Heating Tips

• Install aerators in faucets and low-flow showerheads to reduce your hot water consumption.
• Repair leaky faucets and showerheads. A leak of one drip per second can cost $1 per month.
• If your water heater feels warm to the touch, especially if it was made before 1991, you may need to add an insulation blanket. Insulate your hot water storage tank and pipes, but be careful not to cover the tank thermostat(s).
• Lower the thermostat(s) on your water heater to 120 degrees Fahrenheit. If you use a dishwasher that preheats water, you don"t need to set your water heater thermostat higher than 115 degrees.
• Electric water heaters often have two thermostats – one each for the upper and lower heating elements. These should be adjusted to the same level to prevent one element from doing all the work and wearing out prematurely.
• Install a heat trap above the water heater. A heat trap is a simple check valve or piping arrangement that prevents "thermosyphoning" – the tendency of hot water to rise up from the tank into the pipes, thereby lowering standby losses.
• Drain a quart of water from your hot water tank every three months to remove sediment that prevents heat transfer and lowers the unit's efficiency.
• Take more showers than baths. Baths use the most hot water in an average household. You use 15 to 25 gallons of hot water for a bath and less than 10 gallons for a 5-minute shower.

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