Using Your Water Heater More Efficiently

February 13, 2007

Next to your furnace, your water heater probably uses more energy than any other appliance in your home. Here are some ways you can operate it more efficiently.

• Repair any leaks in your faucets and hot water pipes. A typical steadily running leak can waste over 40 gallons a day. This will cost you an extra $10.00 or more on your monthly gas and water bills or $20.00 if your water is heated by electricity.

• Reduce your consumption. Everyone can reduce energy consumed, and money spent, by using less hot water. Most of us use less hot water to take a shower than to take a bath. You can also keep the flow at a reduced level. Don’t turn the shower on full force. Low-flow shower heads and low-flow faucet aerators are preferable to flow restrictors because they provide a better spray. There are several types available at your building supply store. There you will be one you can use and afford, and of course you can take it with you if you move. You can also use cold or warm water to wash clothes and then rinse with cold water.

• Turn down the thermostat. Turning the thermostat down from the normal setting of about 140°F to 120°F will save lots of energy and money. In some homes, those savings have amounted to more than 10% of the total energy usage. Turning down the thermostat may create a problem for you. With a reduced temperature setting, you will be running out of hot water faster when you shower, wash your hair, or wash dishes. Depending on your family habits, size, etc., you may run out of hot water and quickly get very loud complaints. There is a way to find the best setting. Turn down the thermostat 5°F or so-say half a notch. If you get no complaints, turn it down again and again, until you do get complaints. Then turn it back up half a notch. That should give you the compromise you want between saving energy and saving tempers. There may be another problem. If you have an automatic dishwasher, some manufacturers recommend a minimum water temperature of 140°F to get dishes clean. Check with your dishwasher owner’s manual for the proper temperature setting.

• Periodic maintenance by a qualified serviceman is recommended, especially if you have a gas water heater. Gas burners must be correctly adjusted. If out of adjustment, much of the fuel you are paying for is unburned-goes up the flue and pollutes the air. Since many hot water heaters are adjusted for sea level, it is particularly important to adjust for high altitudes in New Mexico. A glimpse at the flame can tell you if adjustment is needed-a blue flame tinged with orange indicates complete combustion, and an orange or yellow flame shows that you are wasting fuel and need to call a serviceman.

• Drain off heater sediments. Sediment creates an unwanted insulating layer at the bottom of the tank between the heating element and the water which means that less heat goes into the water and more heat is wasted up the flu. The “harder” the water in your area, the quicker the sediment builds up and the more frequently draining is need. A water softener may reduce the necessity for frequent draining. If your water heater is less than two or three years old, begin draining off a few gallons of water to remove sediment from the bottom. Just put a pail under the faucet at the bottom of the water heater and fill the pail every month or two. However, if your water heater is already several years old, chances are that once you get the faucet open you won’t be able to fully close it again because of corrosion. This will cost you the price of a plumber to come in and replace the faucet. The amount you save by subsequent draining will not equal the cost of the plumber’s bill.

• Whenever you leave for an extended period, don’t pay to keep heating water you won’t be using. If your vacation is in the summertime, set the water heater control to the “Pilot” or “Off” position. If you are vacationing in the winter, set the control at minimum to prevent freezing, not “Off,”if it is in an unheated space.

• With gas water heaters make sure the combustion air supply and exhaust flue are not blocked. If air is drawn from inside the home, consider ducting it in from the outside. Also do not store flammable materials near the burner or flue. With electric heaters, turn off the electricity to the heater before you do any work or make any adjustments, including adjusting to thermostat.

• Insulate your water heater. Some of the newer water heaters are manufactured as energy saving models with adequate built in insulation. Other heaters may need extra insulation around the tank to reduce heat loss. You can buy and install a ready-made water heater insulation blanket kit, or you can make your own wrap around blanket from part of a roll of 3-1/2” (R-11) or 5-1/2” (R-19) fiberglass insulation. When you wrap the tank, make sure to tape all the seams. If using homemade insulation wrapper, wrap three straps of wire around the insulation to hold it together , but be sure not to compress it too tightly. You can also insulate all exposed water pipes to protect the water inlet from freezing and to reduce heat loss to some extent. Pipe insulation is usually found in wraparound insulation kits, flexible tubing, or rigid foam type. Choose a size that fits your pipes snugly. If you live in a colder part of the state and decide to use heat tape for added freeze protection, be careful not to overlap the tape-and follow the manufacturers instructions to minimize any fire hazards. It is best to use a heat tape that is thermostatically controlled, rather than one that is on all the time.

Special thanks to the NM Energy, Minerals and Natural Resources Dept. for the information in this article.

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