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On average, water heating accounts for about 15% of a household's total energy expenses. While our main concern about water heating is having a reliable source of hot water (After all, nobody likes to run out of hot water in the middle of a shower), it's also important to reduce water-heating expenses whenever possible.
Your water heater is one of the appliances that will be inspected and evaluated during a home energy audit.
The audit will rate water heater efficiency and also identify potential safety and durability issues. Dr. Energy Saver Cleveland may also recommend upgrades based on these findings.
Learn how your house uses & loses energy —and how you can save energy and money with specific improvements. When you sign up for a home energy audit with Dr. Energy Saver Cleveland, you'll receive a free copy of our book, "Saving Energy and $ at Home."
If you don't need to replace your water heater, or if water heater replacement is an upgrade you can't afford at the present time, there are still some energy-saving improvements to consider:
Tank insulation. If the outside of your tank-type water heater is warm to the touch, this is an indication that too much heat is being lost. Dr. Energy Saver Cleveland can reduce this "standby heat loss" (and cut your water heating expenses) by installing water heater insulation.
Tank. The most common type of water heater (shown above) comes in different sizes, and can utilize electricity, natural gas, propane or oil as the heat source.
Heat pump. This is a variation of the tank-type water heater, but it utilizes an electrically powered heat pump as the heat source. Heat pump water heaters are usually more efficient than standard tank-type water heaters. They're also more expensive and less suitable for use in colder climates.
Indirect. This type of water heater utilizes heat supplied by a furnace, boiler or heat pump.
Tankless. More compact and more efficient than tank-type water heaters, tankless models have an electric or gas-fired heating element that only turns on when a hot water tap is opened or when an appliance calls for hot water. Tankless water heaters are more expensive than tank-type models.
Pipe insulation. Hot water supply pipes should be insulated to reduce the heat loss that takes place between the hot water heater and the tap or appliance. Pipe insulation saves energy and also cuts down the wait for hot water to arrive, but many houses lack this feature. Dr. Energy Saver Cleveland can complete this upgrade quickly and affordably.
Eco-friendly showerheads. Showering accounts for about 30% of total home water consumption, so a high-volume showerhead will increase your water-heating costs (and your water bill, if you depend on a municipal water supply). There are many eco-friendly "low-flow" showerheads on the market, but some are better than others. Dr. Energy Saver Cleveland can help you select low-flow showerheads that utilize aerating and/or pulsing technology to deliver a satisfying soak.
Water-efficient appliances. Your dishwasher and washing machine have a major impact on water use and thus, water-heating expenses. Even among Energy Star® appliances, water usage can vary greatly. If an energy audit establishes that one or both of these appliances are water "hogs," consider replacing them with new water-efficient models.
Call 1-888-590-3637 or contact us online to schedule a whole-house energy audit.
