In fact, heating the water to a pleasant showering temperature is at least twice as expensive as the cost of the water itself. Accordingly, water heating can quickly drive up utility bills and accounts for roughly 10-20 percent of an average household's energy bill.
Following our calculations based on a 10-minute shower, you can expect to spend 73p per electric shower and 40p per gas shower. Overall, it's cheaper to run a gas shower. However, fear not, as there are plenty of ways to cut costs on your energy bills irrespective of what kind of shower you use.
The single, 10-minute long shower will cost you $0.46 or $168.93 if you repeat it daily for a full year. Don't forget that these are sample calculations for one person and 10 minutes for showering only 1 time a day.
If the tank is too small, you won't have enough water, and your system will constantly heat new tanks of water. This will increase gas consumption and use more water than necessary. If your water heater is too large, it will take more gas to heat the tank, so you end up paying more on your energy bill.
At a Glance: Aging furnaces or water heaters work harder to maintain temperature, causing higher gas usage and bills. Poor insulation forces your heating system to run longer, increasing gas consumption. Variable-rate natural gas plans or gas price fluctuations may lead to sudden spikes in your gas bill.
What Uses The Most Gas in a House? According to the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA), the majority of natural gas used in homes is for space heating, which includes both air and water.
In fact, heating the water to a pleasant showering temperature is at least twice as expensive as the cost of the water itself. Accordingly, water heating can quickly drive up utility bills and accounts for roughly 10-20 percent of an average household's energy bill.
Most gas hot water heaters use between 20-50 therms of gas per month. A therm is a unit of measurement for natural gas and is equivalent to 100,000 BTUs. So, if you have a gas hot water heater, it's likely using around 2,000-5,000 BTUs per hour.
Unless you are on a budget billing plan with your gas utility that averages out your payment over 12 months, your heating bill will likely rise in the winter as you use more natural gas, and dip in the summer with the reduced need to heat your home.
Furthermore, based on Department of Energy data, they calculated that the standard 1.6 gallon toilet costs 1.3 cents to flush. Since people flush about five times every day, the estimated cost of flushing the toilet is $24 per person per year.
It's easy to underestimate how much water you use daily, but small habits can add up. Factors contributing to high water usage may include: Long Showers: Spending extra minutes under a warm shower might be relaxing, but it can also substantially increase your water bill.
According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the typical shower head sprays about 2.5 gallons per minute. If you take a shower that lasts 20 minutes, about 50 gallons of water are used. Some high-powered shower heads can use between 20-35 gallons of water for a five-minute shower.
Try a hot compress or shower
Heat can do wonders when it comes to bloating, the experts note. Malieckal suggests placing a heating pad or warm compress on the abdomen to ease discomfort and pain and move trapped gas out of the intestines. Even taking a hot shower can help with the symptoms of bloating, says Malieckal.
With the standard shower head flow rate of 2.5 gallons per minute, a 45 minute shower uses 112.5 gallons of water at a cost of $1.68 per shower.
Gas showers heat water using the power of your home's gas boiler, providing a continuous and robust hot water supply. Unlike electric showers, gas showers do not heat water internally but use the hot water generated by your home's boiler.
Some water heaters operate from gas or natural gas, and the water heater can make up as much as 15% of your total natural gas bill. Old gas water heaters can suffer from inefficiencies that can lower their effectiveness and increase fuel usage.
Drinking hot water can help with digestion and move the bowel contents, including gas.
Visual Checks and Documentation: To determine if your shower is electric, look for a unit with a power cable and control box attached directly to the shower. Consult the unit's existing documentation or labels for specifics about its operation and energy use.
Hot showers cost more money than cold showers, because they require more energy from the water heater. The higher the temperature and the longer the showers, the higher the utility bills.
Take Cold Showers
The cheapest and simplest way to save on water heating costs is to change your behavior. So, start thinking about taking shorter, colder showers. You may think we're crazy by suggesting cold and short showers, but hear us out first. Cold water is better for your skin and hair.
Speeding or making frequent stops and starts can also be culprits of poor gas mileage. The Department of Energy estimates that aggressive driving can lower gas mileage by 15 to 30 percent at highway speeds and 10 to 40 percent in stop-and-go traffic. Meanwhile, idling wastes six billion gallons of fuel each year.
Factors such as outdated appliances, outdated thermostats, and insufficient insulation will play a part in your gas bill rising. Regularly performing a home energy audit can help you lower your gas bill and create a more energy-efficient home.