Water Heaters: how to save money with your hot water tank

Water Heaters: how to save money with your hotheating bill and can reduce pipe-sweating problems in
water tankthe summer. Do not place any pipe-wrap insulation
When I was doing some research on how I can helpwithin 15 cm of exhaust vents at the top of water
my customers save even more money and lostheaters, and never insulate plastic pipes.
resources I came across an article from NaturalMany water heating tank manufacturers pre-set the
resources Canada titled "Better Water Use Meanstemperature of the tank to 60°C (140°F).
Bigger Savings". In particular I felt that the section onYou can lower the thermostat to as low as 55°C
water heaters was not only informative but also(130°F) to save energy. Do not set it any lower,
showed customers how they can help conserveas this would risk the growth of disease-carrying
water (and save money in the process). Everyonebacteria such as legionella.
wins when each individual takes it upon themselves toIf you are concerned about the possibility of scalding at
make small changes that can benefit generations to55°C, a plumber can install a tempering valve that
come. I have included the portion of that article which isreduces the delivered water temperature while
available to anyone on the Natural Resources Canadamaintaining a safe temperature in your tank. Tempering
website.valves can also be installed on individual taps where
Water heatersthe risk is greatest to children, the infirm or elderly. A
Examine your water heater - if its surface is hot orprofessional installer will be able to provide you with
even warm, some of the energy used to heat thespecific details about the best way to do this in your
water is being wasted. Wrap the heater in an insulatinghome.
blanket. Be sure to check your user's manual andNote: Some older dishwashers need to have the
labels on the tank first.water at 60°C (140°F) in order to work
Some new water heaters have insulation and areproperly. If your dishwasher doesn't have an element
highly energy efficient. Adding a blanket may not maketo boost the temperature, you may have to set the
much difference.thermostat at 60°C. If you do, set the thermostat
Shopping for a new water heater? Look for aexactly at 60°C. Temperatures higher than this
high-efficiency unit. Some new models heat water onlycan shorten the life of glass-lined water heaters.
when you need it rather than storing hot water in aTurn down your water-heater thermostat to a
tank.minimum setting when you plan to be away for
When installing a new hot water tank or designing aextended periods of time.
new home make sure that you place the unit as closeTwice a year, or monthly if you live in an area that has
as possible to the kitchen, laundry and bathrooms. Heatheavy mineral deposits in the water, empty a bucket
is lost in long pipe runs. For instance, reducing aof water from your water heater. The drain cock is
hot-water pipe from 10 to 3 metres will save enoughusually found at the bottom of the unit. Be careful: the
energy in one month to heat water for 10 showers.water in the tank is especially hot. If you can, drain the
Similarly, thin pipes are more energy efficient thantank when the water is cold.
thicker pipes; larger amounts of hot water are trappedNever store anything on top of natural gas water
in thicker pipes, and more heat is lost.heaters. Make sure that combustion air openings at the
To help reduce heat loss, always insulate hot waterbottom of these tanks - and opening below the draft
pipes, especially where they run through unheateddiverters at flue ducts on top - are always kept
areas such as basements and crawl spaces. Insulateunblocked.
the first three metres on cold water pipes and the firstFor additional energy-saving tips, read the user's
two metres on hot water pipes running to and frommanual for your home's water heater.
tanks. This can save you about 2 percent on your