Consumption, Consumption, What's Your Function? - Water Heaters

NOTE: With winter upon us, In the Loop with DotLoop has designated the next month as Home Energy Month and will feature articles on how you can reduce your home's energy consumption through simple steps. DotLoop is dedicated to making every aspect of the home buying and owning experience as eco-friendly as possible.

In our last post, we tackled heating tips, advising you against keeping your heater turned up when you're away from your home. With this post, we'll discuss tips on keeping your water heater in the best shape possible and how you can be more energy-conscious without having to sacrifice warm showers.

3-2-1 Blast Off!

But first, let's have some fun. The video below, courtesy of MythBusters, shows just how dangerous an unchecked water heater can be for you and your family.



As you can see, sleeping underneath an ill-tempered water heater may make for a fun trip to the moon, but it also comes with a hefty ER bill, too. As such, you'll want to get your water heater in tip-top shape, which means getting it checked at least every three to six months.

Money Down the Drain

According to the U.S. Department of Energy, a residential water heater is the third largest energy expense in a home. Some more surprising facts:

• On average, it takes more hot water to cook than it does to wash the dishes by hand afterward (5 gallons vs. 4)
  
  
• Hand-washing dishes uses less hot water than a dishwasher: 4 gallons on average compared to 12
  
  
• Taking a bath or showering both use the same average amount of hot water (20 gallons)

Controlling Water Heater Costs

You don't have to heat your bathwater on the stove just to save money, though. Simply follow these simple tips to keep the warm springs flowing:

• Use less hot water. Simple enough, right? Try conserving water by doing dishes by hand, for example.
  
  
• Turn down your water heater's thermostat. Sure, hot showers are nice, but you don't need to look like a steaming Terminator when you come out of the bathroom. The average temperature for a shower is 107.5 degrees Fahrenheit, so keeping your water heater turned up to 140 degrees isn't necessary (the U.S. Department of Energy recommends a setting of 120 degrees). Also: use the vacation setting on your water heater when you won't be home for more than two days.
  
  
• Insulate your water heater. Covering your water heater can help keep precious heat from being wasted. Be sure to follow your manufacturer's recommendations, though. Never cover the burner compartment.
  
  
• Get a newer, more energy efficient water heater. Okay, so this one is not as cheap to do, but if you're in the market, investing in a new water heater may save you money in the long run. Most water heaters last 10 to 15 years, but the U.S. Department of Energy suggests you start shopping after the seven year mark to keep from being unprepared if your water heater goes out. When selecting a new water heater, make sure your new it has a high ENERGY STAR rating.
  
  

Let The Sun Shine

If you are in the market for a new water heater, why not go with a solar water heater? With more than 94% of consumers considering solar water heaters a good investment, and their ability to offset 50 tons of carbon dioxide emissions over the course of a 20-year period, solar water heaters may be the greenest (and, ultimately, cheapest) way for you to feel even better while taking hot showers on a cold day.