Sears Blue Climate Crew

Six Ways to Lower Your Water Heating Bills

As energy costs rise, so does the cost of heating your hot water. Rather than resigning yourself to a life of cold showers, here are six strategies for hot water savings.

1. Use Less Hot Water

The easiest way to pay less for hot water is to use less. Fortunately, most people can use less hot water without altering their lifestyle:

• Go low-flow Install showerheads that produce less than 2.5 gallons per minute (gpm) and faucet aerators that reduce flow to 1 gpm or less. Both are inexpensive and pay for themselves quickly.

• Fix leaks. A leak of one drip per second wastes about 2400 gallons a year.

• Purchase energy-efficient appliances. When it's time to replace your water heater, dishwasher or clothes washer, look for the ENERGY STAR® label. Consider switching to a tankless water heater, which only heats the water when you need it, rather than keeping it warm all the time in a big tank. As for the dishwasher, look for one with a booster heater; it costs a bit more, but because it heats water to 140 degrees, you offset the cost by lowering the temperature setting on your water heater.

2. Lower the Temperature

Some manufacturers set water heater thermostats at 140 degrees F, but most households only require 120 degrees F. However, a dishwasher without a booster heater might require a water temperature between 130 degrees F to 140 degrees F for optimum cleaning.

For each 10 degree reduction in water temperature, you can save between 3 percent and 5 percent; in energy costs. Reducing your water temperature to 120 degrees also slows mineral buildup and corrosion in your water heater and pipes, which helps your water heater last longer and operate at its maximum efficiency.

3. Insulate the Tank

Unless your water heater's storage tank already has a high R-value of insulation (at least R-24), adding insulation reduces heat losses by 25 to 45 percent, which saves about 4 to 9 percent in water heating costs. If you don't know your water heater tank's R-value, touch it. A tank that's warm to the touch needs additional insulation.

Insulating your storage water heater tank is fairly simple and inexpensive, and it pays for itself in about a year. You can find pre-cut jackets or blankets available from around $10 to $20 – choose one with an insulating value of at least R-8. Some utilities sell them at low prices, offer rebates and even install them at a low or no cost.

4. Install Heat Traps

If your storage water heater doesn't have heat traps, you can save energy by adding them to your water heating system. Heat traps are valves or loops of pipe that prevent unwanted hot-water flow out of the tank. They can save you about $15 to $30 on your water heating bill by preventing convective heat losses through the inlet and outlet pipes.

5. Insulate Hot Water Pipes

Insulating your hot water pipes reduces heat loss, so you pipes can deliver water that is 2 to 4 degrees F hotter for the same heating cost. And you won't have to wait as long for hot water when you turn on a faucet, which saves water.

Insulate all accessible hot water pipes, especially within 3 feet of the water heater. It's also a good idea to insulate the cold-water inlet pipes for the first 3 feet. Use quality pipe insulation wrap, or neatly tape strips of fiberglass insulation around the pipes. Pipe sleeves made with polyethylene or neoprene foam are the most commonly used insulation. On gas water heaters, keep insulation at least 6 inches from the flue. If pipes are within 8 inches of the flue, your safest choice is to use fiberglass pipe-wrap (at least 1-inch thick) without a facing.

6. Install a Timer (electric water heaters)

If you have an electric water heater, you can use 5 to 12 percent less energy by installing a timer that turns it off when you don't use hot water – such as at night or while you're at work – and during your utility's peak demand times.

You can install a timer yourself. They can cost $60 or more, but they can pay for themselves in about a year. Timers aren't as cost effective or useful on gas water heaters because the pilot light is always on.

Some information in this article was adapted from the Department of Energy's Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE) website