Four Ways to Cut Down on Hot Water Use and Save
Your water heater typically accounts for from 20-25 percent of your energy bills each month – which probably isn’t that surprising considering you need to heat water for your showers, dishwasher, washing machine, and faucets.
If you want to keep your water heating bills on the low side of that range, there are four ways to do it:
- Use less hot water – By reducing how often – and for how long – you use hot water appliances, you can cut down quite a bit on your bills. The gallons add up quickly – here are some typical volumes for common hot water uses:
- Clothes washer – 25 gallons
- Shower – 10 gallons
- Dishwasher – 6 gallons
- Kitchen / bathroom faucet (2 gallons / minute)
You can also try installing low-flow faucets and showerheads and repairing leaky faucets quickly to save dozens of gallons every week.
- Lower the default temperature on your water heater – Water heaters are factory set for a temperature that could be higher than you need. A setting of 120°F is fine for most home hot water applications.
- Insulate your water heater’s storage tank – Insulate your water heater’s storage tank, being careful not to cover the burner compartment. For more information, follow manufacturer’s instructions or contact us.
- Consider a new, more efficient water heater – Consider a new water heater if it’s more than seven or eight years old. Today’s highly efficient water heaters will pay for themselves in a couple of years.
Considering a new high-efficiency water heater? If you purchase a 40 or 50 gallon water heater from Rucci you’ll automatically be upgraded to a free 10 year warranty. Contact us today to learn more!