Ways to reduce the energy consumption in your house

When it comes to being an energy hog, the hot water heater in your home consumes more energy than most of the other appliances combined. The [hot water heater]1 has to be running day and night to ensure hot water is available instantly when you are in need of it. If you want to reduce your utility bills, here are 5 ways to reduce your water heaters energy consumption.

Draining the Sediment

During normal usage, sediment builds up in the bottom of the tank. It causes the water to become discolored and taste funny too. One other obvious sign the tank is full of sediment is a sulfur smell coming from the water. By having a local plumber drain the tank, you will put less strain on the system which results in a lower consumption of energy.

Using Less Hot Water

During the average week, a family of four takes almost thirty hot showers. That is a huge amount of water that needs to be heated in a week, amounting to a huge increase in your energy bills. One way to reduce the energy consumption of the hot water heater is to simply allow it to process less water. You do this by purchasing low flow shower heads, which need a fraction of the water to still provide you enough to keep clean each day.

Turning Down the Thermostat

The thermostat on the hot water tank has several settings, all of which control how much energy the heater needs to absorb. Even turning down the thermostat slightly will not make a noticeable difference in your shower experience, but it will definitely show when you see a lower utility bill each month.

Insulating the Hot Water Tank

It doesn’t matter what season it is, if the hot water heater is not wrapped, it loses heat. These hot water heaters are like big blankets, insulating the system and keeping the water warmer inside. The end result is the heater does not have to run as long to keep the water heated.

Insulating the Exposed Hot-Water Pipes

Just like the heater itself, heat escapes from the pipes as it travels into your home. By wrapping the hot water pipes with insulation, you can keep the temperature warmer when it arrives to the shower or sink. That will result in you running the water less to enjoy the same heated quality you are used to.

Is the water heater in your Montgomery home in need of maintenance? Call Cole Plumbing at (334) 458-9413 and schedule a service call today!