Reducing Water Heating Costs
Water heating is the second largest energy expense in your home. It typically accounts for about 13% of your energy usage.
There are four primary ways to cut your water heating bills: use less hot water; turn down the thermostat on your water heater; insulate your water heater and pipes; or buy a new, more efficient model.
Reducing Water Heating Costs
You can take steps to use less hot water and improve the efficiency of your existing water heating system.
- If your hot water tank is warm to the touch, consider insulating it
to save 7%–16% annually in water heating costs. Follow manufacturer recommendations. - Consider insulating your hot water pipes. Doing so can reduce heat loss, allow you lower the temperature setting, and save an additional 3%–4% per year on water heating.
- Set your water heater temperature to 120oF, a temperature considered safe for most of the population.
- Install heat traps on the hot and cold pipes at the water heater to prevent heat loss. Most new water heaters have built-in heat traps.
- Drain a quart of water from your water tank every 3 months to re- move sediment that impedes heat transfer and lowers the efficiency of your heater. Follow the manufacturer’s directions.
- Consider installing a drain-water waste heat recovery system. Drain-water, or greywater, heat recovery systems capture the energy from waste hot water— such as showers and dishwashers—to preheat cold water entering the water heater or going to other water fixtures. Energy savings vary depending on individual household usage.
- Consider installing a residential circulation pump to save water.
- Install aerating, low- ow faucets and showerheads.
- If you find yourself waiting for the water in your shower to get hot, consider installing a showerhead that has a temperature-sensitive switch that turns off the water when hot. When you step into the shower, you flick a switch on the showerhead that restarts the hot water flow.
- Repair leaky faucets promptly. A leaky faucet wastes gallons of water in a short period of time.
If you are in the market for a new dishwasher or clothes washer, consider buying an ENERGY STAR model to reduce hot water use. See the Appliances section for more information or visit energystar.gov.
