Water heating is one of your home’s top energy expenses

Water heating accounts for about 14 percent of your utility bill. There are four main ways to cut your water heating bills:

Use Less Hot Water

A family of four, each showering for five minutes a day, uses 700 gallons of water a week. This is enough for a three-year supply of drinking water for one person. You can cut that amount in half by using low flow non-aerating showerheads and faucets alone. Follow these tips to reduce your hot water use:

• Install non-aerating, low-flow faucets and showerheads. New showerhead flow rates can’t exceed more than 2.5 gallons per minute (gpm) at a water pressure of 80 pounds per square inch. Purchase quality low-flow fixtures for around $10-$20 a piece and achieve a water savings of 25 to 60 percent.
• Repair leaky faucets promptly; a leaky faucet wastes gallons of water in a short period.
• Purchase energy efficient dishwashers and clothes washers. Check the Energy Guide labels to determine how much energy these appliances use. Always purchase appliances with the Energy Star label.
• Turn off your water heater when you’re on vacation.
• Install timer controls that will shut your hot water heater off during the night and during your cooperative’s peak demand times. This modest investment can pay for itself in lower bills in about 14 months.

Turn Down the Thermostat on Your Water Heater

• Lower the thermostat on your water heater. Many heaters are set to 140 degrees F or higher. For most households, 115-120 degrees F is sufficient. For each 10-degree reduction, you can save up to five percent on your water heating costs.
• After living with the new setting for a while, readjust it if necessary to a temperature that suits your needs. In addition to saving energy, you’ll increase the life of the water heater and reduce the risk of scalding.
• Drain a quart of water from your water tank every three months to remove sediment that impedes heat transfer and lowers the efficiency of your heater.

Insulate Your Water Heater

• Insulate your electric water heater tank and pipes, but be careful not to cover the thermostat.
• Choose an insulation jacket with an insulating value of at least R-8, or use two R-5 jackets if that’s all you can find. Jackets cost $10-$20 and can pay for themselves via lower energy bills in less than one year.
• On gas water heaters, keep the jacket away from the drain at the bottom and away from the flue at the top, and make sure the airflow to the burner is not obstructed.
• Insulate hot water pipes, wherever they are accessible. This reduces heat losses at the tank and along pipes leading to faucets. You also won’t have to wait as long for the water to get hot when you turn on the faucet.

Buy a New, More Efficient Water Heater

• It may cost more initially, but the energy savings will continue during the lifetime of the appliance. It’s best to start shopping if yours is more than seven years old.
• New water heaters are insulated with up to one to three inches of high-efficiency foam.