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Money-Saving Tips

Tips on lowering your water heater's energy usage

  • Install aerators in faucets and low-flow shower heads. They may reduce your hot water consumption by half.
  • Repair leaky faucets and shower heads. A leak of one drip per second can cost $1 per month.
  • Insulate your hot water storage tank and pipes, but be careful not to cover the tank thermostat(s).
  • Have your thermostat lowered to 120°F. Electric water heaters often have two thermostats, one each for the upper and lower heating elements. These should be adjusted to the same temperature to prevent one element from doing all the work and wearing out prematurely.
  • If you have an electric water heater, install a timer that automatically turns the hot water off at night and on in the morning. A simple timer can pay for itself in less than a year.
  • Install a heat trap above the water heater. It’s a simple check valve or piping arrangement that reduces standby losses by preventing the tendency of hot water to rise up from the tank into the pipes.
  • Drain a quart of water from your hot water tank every three months to remove sediment that prevents heat transfer and lowers the unit's efficiency.
  • Take more showers than baths. Baths use the most hot water in an average household. You use 15 to 25 gallons of hot water for a bath and less than 10 gallons for a five-minute shower.