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Water Heating Matters
Did you know that water heating is the third largest energy expense in your home?
According to Department of Energy, water heating is responsible for 13%-15% of your home's total energy use. Unfortunately, most water heaters are neglected and become less efficient over time because they are not properly maintained and cleaned. Scale, lime and rust sediment builds up and makes heating water more costly.
That's why it's important to choose your water heater carefully. The wrong decision can cost you more over the lifetime of the heater. On average, storage tanks last approximately 13 years and tankless systems 20-25 years.
Why Natural Gas is the Efficient Choice
Experts agree that natural gas is the most affordable and efficient way to heat water. Natural gas is up to 45% cleaner than electricity generated from coal and contains more energy for your money.
Natural gas is the cleanest burning fossil fuel.
By using natural gas, you are doing your part to help protect the environment by reducing carbon dioxide emissions.
Natural gas water heaters are more efficient than
electric models. In fact, a 40-gallon natural gas water heater can generate just as much hot water as a 50-gallon electric model, faster and more efficiently.
Two for one.
You can get two bathtubs of water heated with natural gas for every one tub-full of water heated with electricity. Natural gas water heaters are more affordable to operate than electric models.
Natural gas is abundant and American.
Nearly 85% of the natural gas we use in the U.S. is produced here. The balance comes mostly from Canada. Geological surveys estimate that, in the U.S. alone, there are more than 1,250 trillion cubic feet of recoverable natural gas in the ground that can provide supplies for decades to come.
Reducing Costs to Heat Water
Here are a few tips you can use to reduce your
water heating costs:
Use less hot water where you can.
- Fix leaky faucets and pipes. A leak of one drop of water per second equals 60 gallons of water a week.
- Install low flow showerheads. Showerheads with a flow rate of 2.5 gpm (gallons per minute) or less will provide the maximum efficiency. Showers use much less water than baths.
- Use the proper water level setting on your clothes washer for the size load of clothes. Use warm or cold water for washing clothes and cold water for rinsing.
- Run your dishwasher only when it's full. The majority of the energy used in an automatic dishwasher goes toward heating the water.
- When washing your face or shaving do not let the water run continuously.
Reduce the temperature of the hot water.
- Set the temperature on your water heater to 120 degrees. Lowering the setting of your water heater thermostat can save approximately three to five percent in energy costs.
- Set your water heater temperature control to the pilot position (or vacation setting) when your home is vacant for two days or longer.
Maintain and clean the water heater every three months.
- Utilize an insulating water heater jacket on water heater models purchased prior to 1990 where the tank is warm to the touch. Follow safety directions when installing.
- Insulate your hot water pipes to reduce heat loss and lower consumption.
Replace an old tank with a high-efficiency
natural gas water heater.
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