Water heaters can chew up significant energy dollars. In fact, behind heating and cooling your home, the water heater is likely the second biggest energy hog in your home. However, you can lower the amount you spend on heating water by employing three easy tips to lower the demand year-round:
- Insulate your water heater. Jackets or blankets are available at home improvement stores. Typically made from fiberglass, these jackets reduce standby heat losses. You’ll need to know how many gallons your water heater holds, its height and approximate diameter. When installing a jacket on gas water heaters, you may want to contact a professional, since gas heaters need to be covered properly for combustion and venting. Installing a jacket on an electric heater can be a do-it-yourself project, following the directions closely and not covering the thermostat. Once its insulated, turn the thermostat down to 120 degrees for safety and energy savings. You can also insulate the pipes running from your hot water heater to curb heat losses that occur during water delivery to your faucets.
- Consider a timer for your water heater. These can work in conjunction with a water heater jacket to increase energy savings. Once it’s installed, you can set the timer to turn the water heater on shortly before you return home or rise in the morning. You may need the help of an electrician or plumber to install the timer if you have no experience or knowledge of wiring.
- Drain a quart of water from water heaters four times a year to lower the presence of dissolved solids that impede heating. A buildup of hard water, especially in electric tanks, lowers water heater efficiency. When you turn your heater down to 120 degrees, fewer mineral solids build inside the tank, increasing its life.
When you lower your water heater’s energy demands, you’ll start seeing the savings immediately. Geisel Heating, Air Conditioning and Plumbing can help you with these energy-reducing projects. We service Medina, Lorain and Cuyahoga counties in the Greater Cleveland area. Please contact us for more information.
Our goal is to help educate our customers about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems). For more information about water heaters and other HVAC topics, download our free Home Comfort Resource guide.
Geisel Heating, Air Conditioning and Plumbing services Western Cleveland. Visit our website to see our special offers and get started today! For those Do it Yourselfers who would rather take control of your own indoor comfort, you can shop our online store for replacement parts, products and accessories!
