Many people have New Year’s resolutions. However, few people probably consider making the use of their home’s water heater more efficient one of those resolutions. Well, unlike a stringent diet, getting more out of your water heater is actually achievable for the long term. You just have to change certain habits.
Perform Regular Maintenance
First, you need to ensure you are performing the regular required maintenance on your water heater. Like many home systems, a water heater left alone will probably not operate properly forever. Common maintenance tasks you should complete include:
- Checking for leaks
- Flushing the water heater
- Inspecting the anode rod
- Inspecting the pressure relief valve
These different tasks may need to be performed at different times. For example, the water heater should be flushed once or twice a year. However, the anode rod may only need to be inspected every other year.
Manage Your Water Heater’s Temperature
The default setting for many water heaters is 140 degrees Fahrenheit. However, if you want to save energy, one choice you can make is to alter the setting to 120 degrees instead. The difference in water temperature isn’t enough to lower your family’s comfort, and it will save you money on your utility bills.
Another option is implementing something known as a “tempering valve.” This will mix cold water with hot water. It’s a more efficient choice and will help lower the chance that one of your family members is scalded by hot water.
Lowering Hot Water Usage
One way to certainly increase your water heater’s efficiency is to lower the amount of hot water you use in your home. This isn’t as hard as you may imagine. For example, you could simply choose to wash your clothes in cold water. You could also purchase faucet fixtures and showerheads that are labeled as “low flow.” This can make a big difference.
Installing Insulation
Another good choice is to install insulation around your pipes to ensure that the hot water sent through them doesn’t lose any heat in the process. At least the first few feet of a hot water pipe should be insulated to save energy and heat. Insulating your pipes, of course, will also stop them from freezing during the winter.
Upgrade Wisely
If you need to replace your current water heater, this would be a good time to increase your energy efficiency. Simply upgrade to a more energy-efficient model. Consider water heaters that carry the Energy Star label. That label indicates that the government backs its claims of increased energy efficiency in the market.
Don’t wait for a problem to occur to act. If you live in the Monroe, LA, area and need water heater repair or maintenance, hire our company, Gordon AC & Plumbing, for the project.
