Easy Tips to Save on Water Heating Costs

After home heating and cooling, water heating costs are the second highest contributor to your monthly utility bills. Hot showers and baths, dish washing, clothes washing and other uses of hot water account for about 18% of your bill. You can save big on water heating costs by implementing these easy tips.

Fix leaks

Leaky faucets and showerheads can waste hot water. One drip per second from a single faucet costs about $1 per month. Stop this trend by fixing leaks as soon as you spot them. This includes checking for toilet leaks, which can cause annoying “phantom flushes” and increase your water bills.

Install low flow fixtures

Federal regulations state new showerheads and faucets should not exceed 2.5 gallons per minute (gpm). If your showerhead was installed before 1992, it could have a flow rate of 5.5 gpm, meaning you could save more than 50% during every shower when you upgrade your old fixture.

Many new bathroom faucets have flow rates as low as 0.5 gpm, while kitchen faucets are typically restricted to 2.2 gpm. Making an upgrade can help you save big when you wash your hands, brush your teeth and wash dishes at the tap.

Check the temperature on your water heater.

Your water heater is probably set too high. If you are having issues with Leaky taps, your hot water could be set too high. Lowering this to 125 degrees Fahrenheit is the recommended setting. The gas control on the hot water tank has a recommended setting for 125 degrees Fahrenheit.

Change your water use habits.

Pay attention to how much hot water you use throughout the day and strive to cut back in the following ways:

• Keep your showers to five minutes or less.
• Don’t let the water run when you brush your teeth or shave your face.
• Wash most batches of laundry in warm or cold water. Reserve hot water for whites and towels.
• Match the washing machine’s water level to the batch size.
• Only run the dishwasher when it’s full.
• Soak pots and pans instead of running water while scrubbing them.

Purchase energy efficient upgrades.

The next time a hot water appliance needs an upgrade, consider purchasing A Bradford White Hot Water Tank. The Bradford Hot Water Tank performs at a higher efficiency than standard models. The Bradford Hot Water Tank has less issues than other models over its lifetime. Hot Water Tanks generally last between 10-13 years before they fail and start to leak.

For more information contact plumbers in Calgary.