If you use hot water more frequently, it’s essential to understand the best practices for domestic water heaters. These are one of the most utilized appliances in homes. You can use the devices to heat water for bathing, laundry, and washing hands.
However, water heaters tend to consume a lot of energy in most homes. In a report by the U.S. Department of Energy, water heating accounts for 18 percent of an average household’s utility bills. So, it’s vital to adopt strategies that can minimize costs.
Is your hot water heater using too much electricity? In this guide, we’ll look at some tips on how to make a water heater more efficient to save on heating costs.
8 Tips on How to Make Water Heaters More Efficient
Whether you use a tank or tankless water heater, there are many ways to reduce your energy costs on heating water. The following best practices for domestic water heaters will help you save more money and keep your water heater running efficiently.
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Insulate Your Water Tanks and Pipes
If you store hot water in a tank, the chances are high that it will lose some heat. That’s why you should insulate the hot water storage tanks to minimize heat losses. Notably, the rate of heat loss tends to be high when the tank is in a cold surrounding.
Also, the pipes transporting water from storage tanks to various destinations tend to lose a lot of heat when not insulated. So, you need to insulate any exposed piping to save on energy costs. Thankfully, insulation costs are relatively affordable.
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Use a Water Softener
Hard water contains calcium and magnesium minerals that can potentially wreak havoc to water pipes and tanks. The crystals will build up over time and reduce the water heater’s efficiency. That’s why water heaters that heat soft water tend to last longer.
If you reside in a place with hard water, you don’t have to worry. You can always install a water softener in your house to remove the minerals. However, you need to choose the right size of a water softener. Click here to learn more about choosing the best water softener.
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Install a Tankless Water Heater
If you are spending much money to heat water using a tank storage water heater, it’s time to try out the tankless water heater. It’s a modern energy-efficient model that can consistently supply hot water and save up to 40 percent on heating costs.
The traditional water heater works by heating water and storing the hot water in a tank. Even if you don’t use the water immediately, the heater must keep the water warm by heating it in cycles. So, it ends up using much energy to maintain temperature.
Unlike tank water heaters, tankless water heaters heat water on-demand. You don’t need a reservoir to store hot water as the heater only turns on when you turn on a hot water tap. This way, you can save thousands of dollars on heating costs.
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Reduce Your Hot Water Usage
Another way to lower your energy bills is by reducing your hot water consumption. For instance, you can sometimes use cold water to do laundry, take shorter hot showers, or switch to the energy-efficient mode on your dishwasher.
You need to figure out where you use hot water frequently, whether it’s the laundry or shower. Once you’ve determined that, you can develop strategies to minimize usage. By using less hot water, you can save a significant amount of money on heating.
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Perform Regular Maintenance Practices
To maximize your water heater’s lifespan and efficiency, you need to perform frequent maintenance practices. Preferably, you should hire a professional who has many years of experience in handling water heaters.
During maintenance, the technician will look for issues that affect your water heater’s efficiency. If there’s any mechanical problem, the technician will repair the heater to improve its performance. Consequently, that will help you save on heating costs.
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Flush Your Water Heater
Flushing a water heater frequently is one of the most effective ways to keep it clean and running efficiently. It also helps prevent the heater from calcifying, especially if it is in a location with hard water. Most experts recommend flushing the heater twice per year.
If you leave the water heater unflushed for a long time, calcification can occur, reducing its efficiency. So, draining the tank will prevent the buildup of sediments and mineral deposits from accumulating in the storage tank.
However, if you find it quite challenging to flush the water heater’s storage tank yearly, consider installing the tankless water heater. You won’t have to worry about draining your water heater. That will make your life more comfortable and relaxed.
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Install Solar-Powered Water Heaters
If you feel you’re spending a lot of money on electricity bills, consider investing in solar-powered water heaters. These models use energy from the sun to heat water. So, you’ll be using hot water most of the time without spending a coin on electricity.
Solar heaters usually come with booster heaters (gas or electric) to help you heat water even when there’s no sunlight. Notably, the gas-based booster heater is more efficient than electric booster heaters. You will save up to 70 percent on water heating costs.
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Install a Water Heater with the Right Size
When buying a water heater, you need to choose the right-sized one to supply hot water in your household. But if you install an undersized water heater, it will strain to heat water. It gets overworked as the burner heats continuously to keep water hot.
Whether it’s a tank or tankless water heater, you need to be sure that it can fulfill all your hot water needs. However, the tankless versions tend to be more versatile than their counterparts. You can install many of them in various locations in your home.
Final Words
Running water heaters every day can be costly in terms of energy consumption, especially when you have a large household. Thankfully, you now know how to make a water heater more efficient. These eight best practices for domestic heaters will help you improve your water heater’s efficiency and save on heating costs.\