Basic Water Heater Facts

If you are a new homeowner, you may not realize that your home’s water heater uses the third largest amount of energy of all your household appliances. A water heater is crucial and in most cases you cannot reduce the amount of use that it gets.
Below are ways you can increase the efficiency of your current water heater or even replace it with a more efficient solution.

First, if you don’t want to replace your current water heater, here are three things that you can do to increase the efficiency of your water heating.

          Use less hot water. Consider taking warm showers instead of hot showers, and lower the temperature of your dishwasher.

Take shorter showers when possible, or install low-pressure shower heads. Many people incorrectly believe that baths use less water than showers. Four people showering for five minutes each, three times a week use almost 1,000 gallons of water every single week.

Insulate! Just as insulating your attic reduces heat loss through the roof, insulating your water heater keeps water hot for a longer period of time.

If your water heater is more than five years old, you may need to replace it in the near future. If it is more than ten years, definitely consider replacing it before it stops functioning.
Water heaters are an enclosed mechanism and therefore cannot be repaired. It is always good to know which replacement model you will select if your water heater stops working.”