According to the US Department of Energy (DOE), water heating accounts for about 18% of the average American household energy bills. This number, therefore, makes a significant portion of your overall heating costs. However, many homeowners do not take the necessary steps to ensure that their water heater is running as efficiently as possible, costing them more in the long run.
How To Make Your Home’s Water Heater More Efficient With Water Heater Maintenance Emmaus PA
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Fortunately, you can reduce your water heating costs significantly simply by improving the efficiency of your home’s water heater system. Here are some tips to help you achieve that goal.
Call A Plumber To Flush Out Your Water Heater Tank
Over time, naturally-occurring minerals such as calcium and magnesium will accumulate in your tank. If left unattended, excessive sediment buildup will eventually cause your water heater to become less energy efficient.
At the same time, your water heater will likely develop problems such as diminished water supply due to clogged pipes and inconsistent water temperatures. Even worse, if the sediment buildup causes your tank to become clogged, the pent-up pressure could potentially cause it to explode.
To avoid such problems, you should get a qualified plumber to flush out your water heater’s tank regularly. Moreover, if you have hard water, you should invest in a water softener to reduce mineral buildup and limescale.
Consider Insulating Your Water Heating System
To minimize heat loss as hot water flows through your hot water system, insulate your water pipes. The DoE says that you can raise your water temperature by between 2 and 4 degrees Fahrenheit just by insulating your hot water pipes, allowing you to turn down the thermostat on your hot water tank.
Additionally, insulating your water pipes will prevent them from freezing in the winter. For safety reasons, use fiberglass pipe-wrap if your water pipes are within 8 inches of the flue. The fiberglass pipe-wrap should be at least 1-inch thick and without coating. What’s more, if you have a tank style heater, you should also insulate the tank.
If you are looking for a cost-efficient and effective way to insulate your water heater tank, use insulative blankets, which are particularly ideal for tanks that do not have strong insulation, such as old tanks. In essence, you should use insulative blankets if your hot water tank is old, poorly insulated, or has an R-value of 24 or lower. That said, despite being relatively inexpensive, tank blankets can help minimize heat loss by up to 45%.
It is essential to call a plumber to complete this task. Doing so will ensure that it is done correctly and safely.
Fix Any Leaks In Your Hot Water Plumbing System
Hire an experienced plumber to check for leaks in your hot water plumbing system, and carry out any necessary repairs. Any leaks in your hot water plumbing system will likely affect the efficiency of your home’s water heater. In particular, your plumber will inspect your hot water system, including the pressure relief valves and the temperature gauge. Additionally, the plumber will inspect your plumbing fixtures, including your showerheads and faucets. Remember, if leaks do not waste hot water in your home, your heating system will not necessarily have to work longer and harder to supply hot water throughout your home, which means it will be more efficient.
Conserve Hot Water To Preserve Your Water Heater
One of the easiest ways of improving the efficiency of your home’s water heater is to reduce your hot water consumption. Simply put, the less water you consume, the less energy you require to heat water.
Some of the things you can do to achieve this goal include installing water-efficient appliances and installing a tankless water heater. You can also reduce the amount of time you spend in the shower and use the ‘economy’ setting on your dishwasher. At the same time, turn down the thermostat on your water heater to ensure it does not heat water above a set temperature.
Conclusion
Water heating costs are generally high across the US. To improve the efficiency of your home’s water heater, you should conserve hot water and fix leaks in your hot water plumbing system. You should also insulate your water heating system and flush out your water heater tank.
When searching for reliable plumbing services, be sure to call Robinson Plumbing. We offer water heater maintenance, installations, water heater repairs, and much more. Get your home back in working order by using our affordable and highly professional services. Call Robinson Plumbing now to schedule a free, in-home estimate.
Some of the areas we service include Alburtis, Allentown, Emmaus, Macungie, and these zip codes: 18011, 18101, 18049, 18062 as well as all surrounding areas in Northeastern, Pennsylvania.
Call us today at (610) 351-9889 or contact us for any questions that you might have!