#1 – Insulate
Unless you have a new tank with a high R value just by adding insulation you can make a major impact on stand-by heat loss – in many cases as much as twenty-five to forty-five percent! Experts say you will realize a four to nine percent heating cost savings.
How do you know if you need to insulate your water tank? Plumbers say the BEST test is to put your hand on your storage tank and if it’s warm there is a 100% chance it needs additional insulation.
Adding thermal insulation to your existing storage water tank is straight forward and relatively inexpensive and best part is with the saving you’ll realize the new insulation will pay for itself in under a year. Water heater installers recommend locating a jacket or blanket insulation cover with an R value of at least eight.
Check with your utility company first because many of them actually install water insulation for free and if not free, a reduced fee.
#2 – Timer & Off-Peak Power
This tip is for electric water heaters.
Install a timer that shuts the water down in the evening when there is no need for hot water. Timers are a DIY project and are particularly nice if you are not interested in installing a heat trap or insulating your water heater tank.
Many local utility companies offer “demand management opportunities.” Your utility may even offer what’s known as “time of use” rates. You’re charged according to high and low use times.
#3 – Lower The Temperature
Turning down the thermostat on your water heater can reduce your utility bill. A three to five percent reduction in energy cost can be made for every ten degrees you dial down the water heating temperature.
Typically, water manufacturers set temps as high as 140 degrees and yet the typical household only needs 120 degree water. Hotter water has a downside, you can burn yourself. One reason factory temperatures are set high is to accomodate the higher temperature requirements of a dishwasher. However, if your dishwasher has a booster heater go a head and turn your water heater temperature down.
#4 – Intall Heat Trap
If your existing water tank does not have heat traps you are over paying to provide hot water to your home. Research indicates you’re spending fifteen to thirty dollars more than you should if you do not have heat traps installed.
Heat traps or as they are sometimes called “loops of pipe” stop unwanted heated water from flowing out of the storage tank while at the same time allowing water to flow into the tank. If it is a valve heat trap then it prevents hot water from flowing with the use of a ball that either floats or restricts water movement.
Of course the valves are different for the cold and hot lines and if you are unfamiliar with plumbing techniques their installation is best left to a professional.
Fact is, water heater efficiencies range from a low of 60% to an astounding 99% and obviously when you run a higher efficient water heater you will see a drastic reduction in energy costs. By upgrading to a higher efficiency water heater system most household not only see lower energy costs they experience more consistant and better delivery of hat water.
Toss your old tank and installing a new one is a fairly easy DIY project. Federal regulations have insured that current models are safer and more efficient than models from even a few years ago.
New tanks have better insulation which typically means a larger unit, so the caution here is to measure your space, then buy your new water heater.
Eric Carlson