Everyone likes a hot shower – until the bills come in, that is. While water heating is an essential part of our lives, it would be nice to cut the monthly expenses. Your extra savings can come through minor changes that will not even change your daily schedule. Try these tips out to use less water and energy, as well as seeing substantial savings.
- Check and Repair Leaks: According to Energy.gov, “A leak of one drip per second can cost $1 per month.” May not seem like much, but it does add up if the leak drips at a faster pace or there is more than one leak. It is best to have your water heater examined every year to make sure there are no leaks or cracks. An appliance expert can also ensure that the water heater is working properly and that it hasn’t collected too much sediment on the bottom. In most cases if your water heater leaks, you need a new water heater.
- Move the Water Heater: Most homeowners do not have a choice where the water heater is placed. However, if you do have the choice, position the water heater next to the kitchen or main bathroom, since those areas require the most hot water usage.
- Turn Down the Temperature: Most water heaters are set at 140 degrees F, but they can be adjusted to 115 degrees F, while not affecting your lifestyle. Dishwashers are now made to have their own water heating system to boost the water temperature to 140 degrees F. If you have an older dishwasher, you would either need to replace it or keep the water heater at 140 degrees F.
- Go Energy-Efficient: When it comes to saving money on energy and your water heater, the most profitable place is by replacing old appliances with new Energy Star ones. Not only do these appliances save money in the long run, but they actually work better and even come with local rebates from your gas, water, and electric company. You can also switch out your toilets, faucets, and showerheads for low-flow fixtures. Energy.gov says, “You can purchase some quality, low-flow fixtures for around $10 to $20 a piece and achieve water savings of 25%–60%”. Essentially the fixture will pay for itself in a year or less. Of course, with low-flow fixtures, there is a noticeable difference, but it may be worth the sacrifice once the monthly bills come in.
There is no reason not to embrace money-saving and energy efficient appliances in this day and age. Many avoid new appliances because they feel they come with their own laundry list of problems, mostly in the repair department. However, the right repairman is experienced in these new machines and can repair them when problems arise. Don’t let the new technologies scare you away from appliances that will save you energy, money, and time.
