Are you suffering from higher water bills? Don’t worry, I’ve got you covered with these nine effective tips:
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1. Lower Your Thermostat
Check out your hot water heater, which may be located in your garage or basement. Check the current temperature it’s set at.
If your water heater’s thermostat is anything above 120 degrees F, take it a few degrees back. You can save up to 3-5% in water bills for every 10 degrees F you reduce. Besides that, you reduce the household’s risk of burns from the high temperatures!
2. Fix Any Leaky Faucets
Do you have leaky faucets that need repairs but you’ve been postponing it? Well, it’s time to act on it NOW!
Why? Think of it this way: If you have a faucet suffering from a slow leak (which is around 60 drips a minute), then you’re wasting almost 3,200 gallons of water a year!
And if the leak comes from a faucet connected to your hot water system, then you’re paying for both your water and the energy it takes to heat it.
You can find out exactly how much your leaky faucet is costing you in energy bills by checking the drip calculator from The American Water Works Association website.
But before doing that, make sure that you take the time to either call a professional or repair the leaky faucet yourself. You may end up saving more in the long run than holding back the repairs.
3. Opt For Low-Flow
You can put off your bathroom repairs (besides the leaking faucets), but you should never postpone replacing any old plumbing features in dire need of an upgrade.
If you have showerheads and/or faucets that were manufactured before 1992, make sure that you replace them using low-flow models.
A modern showerhead will use less water (up to half less) compared to older showerheads. Plus, it saves you time from repairs and lessens the risk of other problems in the long run.
4. Use Less Hot Water and Use a Timer
Of course, the best way to save on the water heating bill is to lessen your usage of the water heater. This means less hot water (you don’t need to completely stop using it or only use it once in a blue moon!).
There are various ways to save hot water bill, and it all boils down in being mindful of the use of it.
- Try to take shorter showers and let your family follow suit
- Wash the laundry using cold water (unless instructions specify not to, then run only one full load filled with laundry that requires hot water)
- Run your dishwasher only when it’s full
Try to look at your daily routine and think about the things you can do to lessen the hot water usage. Another thing you can do is to install a timer on the hot water heater.
This will be programmed to automatically switch on when you wake up, and switch off when no one’s home and during the night when no one uses it.
When you live in an area charging higher electric rates during the peak hours, use the timer to switch off the water heater during such hours.
5. Drain Your Tank
Sediment would begin building up in hot water heaters over time, and this needs draining out now and then.
Most water heater manufacturers recommend that you drain your tank from sediments once every six months. However, it’s better to do it quarterly. How come?
Because the sediment in your hot water heater will have it work even harder, which means you’ll have an even higher utility bill. As a result, your hot water heater may have a shorter lifespan.
This is such a simple task that only takes 15 minutes to do, so don’t postpone your scheduled draining.
6. Insulate the Pipes and Water Heater
Insulate the first three feet of your water pipe coming out of the hot water heater. This prevents your water from losing heat when it’s on the way to its water fixtures.
This is very easy to do, and if you have a gas hot water heater, keep the insulation at least six inches from its flue. Or, you can avail services of Pipe Insulation Brisbane for a quicker and efficient job.
Also, you can insulate your hot water heater as well. While newer models are well-insulated, those with older hot water heaters have less insulation. You may want to install an insulation blanket, which you can purchase online or in-store.
7. Install Heat Traps to the Water Tank
Heat can escape the hot water heater through its cold water inlet pipe, or the hot water outlet pipe. You may want to install heat traps if the tank came without them, which is usually in older water heaters.
These are affordable valves, or loops, which prevent hot water from escaping up your pipes when you’re not using the tank. It can save up to $30 yearly, making it a good investment!
8. Have a Recirculating System or POS Hot Water Heater
If you need to run your faucets for a long time before the hot water reaches you, you may need to have a recirculation system or point-of-use hot water heater.
This will speed up the hot water delivery time, wasting less water and energy heating it.
9. Replace Your Water Heater (If Needed)
Tank hot water heaters would last for up to 15 years on average. If yours is about to see the end of its lifespan, it’s time to replace it with a modern and efficient model.
I recommend getting tankless or solar hot water heaters, which cost less to run while giving you a good supply of hot water.
Wrapping It Up
If you have high water heating bills, NOW is the time to begin taking action to save up. With these tips, you’ll be able to save a few bucks a month, making it worth the effort.
Let me know if these tips helped you in the comments section below, good luck!
