| As energy prices have risen over the last decade, | | | | 3. Often water heaters will fill with sediment from the |
| everyone is seeking ways to reduce energy | | | | incoming water supply. This sediment will collect in the |
| consumption in an effort to save money. Moreover, | | | | bottom of the tank and reduce the overall capacity |
| consuming less energy has become mainstream | | | | of your water heater. To remove this sediment, |
| through the "greening" of America. Eco-friendly | | | | simply attach a hose to the hose bib at the base of |
| solutions have been developed by engineers ranging | | | | you water heater and drain the tank completely. Be |
| from automobiles to power plants to households. | | | | sure to have shut off the power or fuel supply and |
| Throughout the early part of this decade the | | | | the incoming water supply before doing this exercise. |
| prospering American economy led to thousands of | | | | Once the tank has been drained, turn the incoming |
| new homes being built and many others renovated. | | | | water supply on while keeping the hose bib open |
| Energy Star appliances were the fashionable choice in | | | | allowing the tank to be completely flushed of all |
| new construction and renovation as the very hungry | | | | sediment. |
| homebuyer market forced many homebuilders to | | | | Minimize Heat Loss from the Water Heater to the |
| install the most eco-friendly appliances as available to | | | | Plumbing Fixture |
| attract buyers to their homes. Recent economic | | | | 1. Although this is an obvious recommendation, often |
| events and the ensuing recession has stalled the | | | | times it is one that is neglected or not saw as a |
| homebuilding industry and halted renovations. This | | | | major energy draw. The most obvious thing to |
| does not mean, however, that American | | | | confirm when minimizing heat loss is that no faucets |
| homeowners are not still seeking energy saving | | | | or fixtures are leaking. There are many who believe a |
| solutions within their home. With the current state of | | | | drip here and there does not add up but it does, to |
| the economy, replacing your existing appliances with | | | | the tune of five gallons a day or one hundred fifty |
| a high efficiency or Energy Star certified type may | | | | gallons a month, which is the equivalent to three or |
| not be financially possible. Let's focus on solutions | | | | more full tanks of hot water. A fifty cent seal can |
| with your existing appliances. | | | | usually save you one hundred fifty gallons of hot |
| There are several energy consuming appliances within | | | | water per month. |
| the household, but the focus of this text is the hot | | | | 2. Consider insulating the hot water supply lines |
| water heater. Whether you have an electric, natural | | | | between the water heater and the plumbing fixture. |
| gas, or propane water heater there are things that | | | | In all likelihood, the vast majority of the hot water |
| you can do to save energy and ultimately save on | | | | piping within your home will be buried inside walls and |
| your utility bill. It stands to reason that the best way | | | | floors. This piping will not easily lend itself to being |
| to save energy is to reduce the amount of electricity | | | | insulated, thus it is not recommended to begin |
| or fuel gas used by your hot water heater, maximize | | | | removing wallboard to access this piping. Where you |
| the efficiency of the conversion of fuel to heated | | | | need to focus is piping which is exposed, especially if |
| water, and minimize heat loss from the hot water | | | | your water heater is located in your garage or an |
| heater to the plumbing fixture using hot water. | | | | unheated space. |
| Reduce Amount of Electricity or Fuel Gas | | | | Insulating the piping is simple, simply procure closed |
| Consumption | | | | cell preformed piping insulation from any home |
| 1. Reduce the holding temperature of the water | | | | improvement store and slide over the piping. The |
| heater by dialing down the thermostat to the | | | | tricky part is the 90° corners. The trade secret |
| manufacturer's recommended setting of 120°F. | | | | is to remove a pie shaped piece with a utility knife at |
| Many homeowners keep their hot water heater's | | | | the inside part of the corner allowing the insulation to |
| thermostat dialed past the standard set point as | | | | bend around cleanly. At the corner simply make one |
| defined typically by the solid mark on the thermostat | | | | wrap with electrical tape and you are good to go. |
| knob on the lower side of the water heater. | | | | 3. If your water heater rests on a concrete slab or |
| Remember, many appliances such as dishwashers | | | | pad, consider installing an insulating pad between the |
| have internal heaters which heat the water to | | | | base of the water heater and the concrete pad. On |
| 160°F for sanitary reasons. | | | | a side note, if you do not currently have a drain pan |
| 2. Consider installing low-flow type shower heads and | | | | underneath your water heater now is a good time to |
| aerators. Although the term low-flow has been | | | | install one. You will probably have a difficult time |
| shunned by homeowners in previous low-flow | | | | obtaining an insulating pad, as they are not a shelf |
| plumbing fixtures, manufacturers have now produced | | | | item and have been overlooked for years as a |
| fixtures which retain sought after pressure using | | | | means to save energy. An insulating pad is simply a |
| between 10-50% less water. | | | | piece of high load polystyrene insulation. By placing a |
| 3. Only wash full loads in your washing machine. | | | | 1 ½" piece of high load polystyrene insulation at |
| Washing machines use large volumes of hot water, | | | | the base of your water heater you now have an |
| between 5-30 gallons, which can provide serious | | | | R-10 insulation barrier mitigating the heat sink effect |
| demand on your home's water heater. | | | | of the concrete slab. |
| 4. Use the cold-cold selection with your washing | | | | 4. It is not recommended that an insulation jacket be |
| machine taking advantage of new laundry detergents | | | | installed over top of the water heater storage tank. |
| designed for cold water only by Tide. This will reduce | | | | The reality is your water heater has a closed cell |
| the total hot water consumption in your home by at | | | | polyurethane insulation layer installed between the |
| least 10% depending on the size of your household. | | | | inner storage tank and the outside metal closure |
| Maximize the Efficiency of Raw Energy to Heated | | | | jacket. This is premium grade insulation which is |
| Water | | | | superior to the batt insulation jacket sold in home |
| 1. If you have an electric water heater, consider | | | | improvement stores. This jacket is 1" batt insulation |
| replacing the heating elements even if they still | | | | which has an R-value of approximately 3, which once |
| functioning. In many areas the incoming water supply | | | | you account for the air gaps is really 1 to 2. |
| if "hard" or contains lime/calcium which adheres to | | | | Understanding the minimal insulation gain, it is apparent |
| the heating elements and significantly reduces their | | | | the insulation jacket is not a worthwhile installation. |
| efficiency. This is a simple task and can be a D-I-Y | | | | Taking advantage of all or some of these |
| depending on local code and your mechanical | | | | recommendations will yield energy savings and save |
| inclination. | | | | money on monthly utility bills. Many of the |
| 2. If you have a natural gas water heater, consider | | | | recommendations will require only your elbow grease |
| having a licensed plumber do a routine cleaning of the | | | | and inexpensive materials, a worthy investment when |
| burner and tune it to maximum efficiency. This is | | | | your budget is tight. Once your existing water heater |
| should be no more than a $100 job and will | | | | efficiency is maximized, move on to other appliances |
| immediately pay you back in energy savings. | | | | using the same principles. |