Energy Savings Through Reduced Water Heater Usage

A steady supply of hot water is taken for granted in most American households. Though it’s unlikely that such a convenience would be given up willingly, it’s still true that water heating accounts for almost 25 percent of our monthly energy expenditures. Some relatively simple changes and water conservation measures can provide significant energy savings in hot water usage. When you increase energy savings in this area, you’ll also see monetary savings on your utility bills.

Ways to encourage energy savings

• Find and repair leaks – Probably the most important way to cut down on hot water use in your home is to eliminate the waste of water. Leaks in the hot water system are a major source of lost water, energy and money. Hire a plumbing contractor to inspect your hot water system to find and repair leaks within the supply pipes, at the water heater or elsewhere in the system. Pay particular attention to faucets; even a small leak or ongoing drip at the faucet can waste many gallons of water and cause your utility bills to be unnecessarily high.

• Install low-flow fixtures – Low-flow plumbing fixtures are designed to reduce the amount of water used for plumbing-related tasks while still providing plenty of hot water for cooking, cleaning, bathing and other functions. Low-flow showerheads and faucets can provide noticeable energy savings and reductions in your water use. Make sure shower heads have a flow rate of less than 2.5 gallons per minute (gpm). Kitchen faucets should have a flow rate of 2.2 gpm or less and bathroom fixtures 0.5 to 1.5 gpm. Low-flow faucet aerators can also be used to help conserve water. Install aerators with flow rates of 1.0 gpm or lower.

• Use high-efficiency appliances – If possible, replace existing water-using appliances with high-efficiency models, particularly Energy Star-certified models. These types of appliances use less energy and water while still achieving excellent results.

For more information on achieving greater energy savings through water conservation, contact us today at Sobieski Services. Our goal is to help educate our customers in Delaware, Pennsylvania, Maryland and New Jersey about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC & plumbing systems).

Image Credit: Vinay Deep