6 Tips to Reduce Your Monthly Water Heating Bills

Water heating accounts for about 18 percent of your home’s total energy bill, making it the second most costly utility behind space heating and cooling. Often, the most effective way to reduce your monthly water heating bills is to install a high-efficiency tankless water heater. However, if you’re not in a position to invest in a new appliance, you can still reduce your bills using these six low- and no-cost techniques.

Take shorter showers

A long soak in a hot bath may be relaxing, but it’s not very efficient. Opt for five-minute showers instead. Consider shutting off the water while you lather up, only turning it back on to rinse off the soap and shampoo.

Install low-flow fixtures

Faucets and shower heads from before 1992 could use more than twice as much water as new ones. It’s a small investment, but installing low-flow shower heads limits these fixtures to 2.5 gallons per minute (gpm) or less. Low-flow kitchen faucets use no more than 2.2 gpm, and bathroom faucets use 0.5 to 1.5 gpm.

Don’t let the water run

Be mindful about turning off the tap while shaving, brushing your teeth, or stepping away from the sink. When doing dishes by hand, fill one sink basin with wash water and the other with rinse water. This saves a substantial amount of hot water compared to leaving the tap open.

Lower the water heater temperature

The standard setting is 140 degrees, but storing your water this hot may not be necessary. Every 10-degree reduction in temperature saves you about 3 to 5 percent on your water heating bills. Plus, lowering the temperature reduces the chance of scalding at the tap. Just don’t set it lower than 120 degrees, or you risk microbial growth in the tank.

Use your hot water appliances more efficiently

This means washing cold batches of laundry whenever possible and only running the dishwasher when it’s full. If you lower the temperature on your water heater, be sure to use the dishwasher’s heat booster setting, if it has one, to help the dishes come clean. Then, when the time comes to replace your washing machine or dishwasher, look for one with the Energy Star label.

Install plumbing insulation

Place your hand on the water heater tank. If it feels warm, it’s wasting energy. Reduce this standby heat loss by insulating the tank with a special water heater jacket. You can also insulate the exposed hot and cold water pipes coming to and from the water heater to reduce energy loss here.

Call Mike Counsil Plumbing & Rooter

If your water heater is acting up, or you notice higher-than-usual energy usage or water bills, you may need a water heater repair. Choose Mike Counsil Plumbing for the job. We’ll suggest the safest, most cost-effective option, whether it’s conducting a repair or replacing your outdated water heater with a high-efficiency model.

To request the water heater services you need, please contact Mike Counsil Plumbing in San Jose, CA.