Posted: July 28, 2016
Every day you use more than 60 gallons of hot water to wash your clothes, your dishes, and yourself – so it’s no wonder that your water heater guzzles up to 30 percent of the energy used in your home.
If you want to cut your water heating bills, there are basically four ways to do it:
1. Use less hot water – Cut down bills by reducing how often or how long you use hot water appliances. Gallons can add up quickly! Here’s how much you hot water you’ll consume in typical usage with common appliances:
Other ways to cut down on water use include using low-water modes on appliances and installing low-flow faucets and showerheads.
2. Insulate pipes and your water heater tank – Insulate the first six feet of the hot and cold water pipes connected to the water heater, where much of the heat is lost en route to your taps and appliances. If your water heater has a storage tank, insulating it will prevent your water heater from having to reheat standing water.
3. Adjust the water heater’s thermostat – Try setting your water heater’s thermostat to 120°F rather than the 130° or higher default used by some manufacturers. You probably won’t feel a difference – 120° is plenty for most applications.
4. Consider a new tankless or indirect-fired water heater – If your water heater is more than 7 years old, or if you have a traditional system with a storage tank, consider a new energy-efficient propane tankless water heater or indirect-fired water heater. You’ll get unlimited hot water, cut your bills by as much as 30 percent, and help to protect the environment.
The new system will pay for itself in a couple of years – especially when you consider the great incentives available through the PGANE* Safe Water Heater and Central Heating Rebate Program.
Contact PGagnon & Son today to learn more about water heater options, or to get a FREE Estimate on an upgrade for your Southern Maine or New Hampshire home!