Washing hands or dishes, doing laundry or taking a hot shower are ultimately done when your hot water system is well functioning and efficient. Heating water has been found to account for 20% of the average energy budget for a household on an average. In this discussion, we have made a list of some tips on improving hot water system efficiency so you can keep the energy consumption of your water heater as low as possible.
These are the tips shared by the hot water specialists for the homeowners in Perth.
1.Limiting the Hot Water Usage
The first and obvious solution for improving your water heater’s efficiency is restricting the overuse of hot water. Choose quicker showers, colder laundry loads and efficiently loaded dishwasher cycles to encounter some better savings.
2.Installation of Efficient Shower-Heads and Faucet Attachments
Replacing the current plumbing fixtures with some more efficient alternatives is another remarkable way of reducing the hot water amount. The low-flow fixtures are much more effective at reducing the gallons per minute ending up as unnecessary wastewater. Faucet aerators and showerheads are easy and affordable to replace. The energy consumption difference is well worth its minor expense.
3.Lowering the Hot Water System Temperature
Another effective step that can be taken is lowering the water heater thermostat’s temperature. Commonly, hot water heaters are installed with a temperature set to 140 degrees. But this is an unnecessarily high setting.
But if you lower the setting to 120 degrees, then it will reduce the water heater’s energy usage from 6%-10%.
Every water heater are having a built-in thermostat, but there are some that have thermostats that do not show actual temperature settings. Rather, they are having fewer and simpler settings such as “warm”, “hot” etc. If it is the case, then the safer and more efficient option is “warm”.
4.Insulating Water Pipes
A water heater can be prevented from working harder than actually needed, insulating it. Insulating the hot water pipes as well as the cold water pipes running through the house’s exposed areas reduces the unwanted heat loss. Once you have completed the research, then insulating pipes become fairly simple by the needed measurements.
Even the water tank itself can be insulated with a water heater insulation blanket kit. It might be unnecessary if you are having a newer water heater as generally, they are featuring built-in insulation.
5.Draining the Tank
Another way for making the water heater function with additional efficiency is by flushing out the water. Typically, the manufacturers recommend getting it done twice a year. But make sure to consult the owner’s manual before you flush out water. After disconnecting the energy source, then close the water supply valve. Next, attach the hose to the drain valve running somewhere outside the home, similar to a storm drain or a large five-gallon bucket.
6.Investing In A Tankless Water Heater
A water heater’s tank should be flushed out for preventing the calcified mineral sediment inside. This problem can be avoided by purchasing a new tankless water heater. The tankless water heaters get turned on when hot water is running through them and get shut off when hot water is no more needed. This is the most efficient option available.
Greater efficiency is the finest way for saving money. The tips we have discussed here are money-saving. These cost-effective and reliable tips will better help you to save time for the rest of the year. Improving water efficiency is the key to using the water heater in such a way that all the needs are met, and money is saved at the same time.