As we say farewell to warm nights and brace ourselves for the cooler months, many people are dreading the inevitable rise in their energy bills. The good news is that there are measures you can take to try and keep the price down, and as water heating generally takes up a large portion of the average household’s energy usage, we thought it would be a good idea to start here. Here are some simple tips and tricks you can implement to save some cash this winter.
Insulation is your friend
By insulating your water heater, you help it to keep water hotter for longer. An uninsulated heater will work hard to heat its contents and then quickly lose that heat while not in use, only to use energy heating it back up again when the next person decides to hop in the shower or run a bath. Give your heater a helping hand by insulating it so that it can keep your water hotter for longer, and it will repay you by using less energy.
Reduce the temperature
No one likes a scalding hot shower that you can barely step a toe in, let alone stand under. The thermostats on most water heaters will usually be, by default, set at a temperature much hotter than you want or need. Depending on what it’s already on, reducing it by 10 or 20 degrees can save your heater from working hard and using energy to heat the water to a point where it is scalding. So you’ll save money on your energy bill and you won’t have to deal with waiting for burning water to cool down anymore. It’s a win-win!
Replace your water heater
If your water heater is on the way out and you’re simply just biding time before you have to bite the bullet and replace it with a new one, now might be the right time. While they might seem expensive, most water heaters now come with energy efficiency ratings that are guaranteed to be kinder on your wallet than the ancient one you bought years and years ago.
