Water heating is the second largest energy expense in your home, accounting for about 18% of your utility bill. To conserve hot water, you can fix leaks, install
It's generally much cheaper to heat water using your central heating system, rather than using electricity with an immersion. The exception might be during the summer, when you have your central heating turned off, or if you have an old inefficient boiler.
Turn Down the Heat
Lowering the temperature of your water heater to 120⁰ Fahrenheit can reduce costs dramatically. You can cut energy costs by as much as 5% for every 10 degree drop in temperature.
An unusually high water bill is most often caused by a leak or change in water use. Some common causes of high water bills include: A leaking toilet, or a toilet that continues to run after being flushed, most common. A dripping faucet; a faucet drip can waster 20 gallons or more of water a day.
Electric water heaters generally have lower running costs and lower emissions than gas water heaters. Hot water heat pumps are the most efficient option, requiring significantly less electricity to run than traditional electric water heater systems. Hot water cylinders can be installed inside or outside the home.
Boil Water Over a Fire
To do this, place water in a pot and suspend the pot by a tripod or center pole, place it on a grate above the flames, or set it directly on hot coals to heat it up.
Only heat the hot water twice a day
Try heating the water for an hour in the morning and an hour in the evening. Start the water heating about an hour before you need it. For example, if you shower at 08:30, start heating the water at 07:30. If you wash up in the evening at 19:30, then start the water heating at 18:30.
Newer models require specialized tools and training to install, and the associated labor costs can add up quickly, making the total cost of the water heater higher than you expected. Be sure to ask about installation costs and if it includes special fees like additional pipes, wiring, or permits.
Set too high, or at 140ºF, your water heater can waste anywhere from $36 to $61 annually in standby heat losses. Additional savings will be realized by the lower temperature for consumption (from water demand or use in your home, such as clothes washing, showers, and dishwashing). These may amount to more than $400.
Tankless water heaters, also known as demand-type or instantaneous water heaters, provide hot water only as it is needed. They don't produce the standby energy losses associated with storage water heaters, which can save money.
The Water Scrooge™ VALVE compresses air, eliminating its volume before it reaches the water meter—the meter no longer measures it! You pay less for the same water usage! The Water Scrooge™ Valve is EXTERNALLY ADJUSTABLE for maximum performance EVERY TIME!
Use your existing solar panels
If you have an existing hot water cylinder with an electric immersion heater, however, then you can divert any excess energy your panels produce into heating your hot water using what's known as a solar immersion heater.
Usually natural gas is the cheapest way to heat water, followed by electricity, with propane being the most expensive.
Though common, oil systems are one of the most expensive ways to heat a home.
Best Ways to Heat Water Without Gas or Electricity
Fire pit. Tea candles. Fireplace. Wood stove.
Average water bill cost by state
The average monthly water bill varies significantly by state. Costs are lowest in Vermont, Wisconsin, and North Carolina at $18 to $20 per month. In comparison, California and West Virginia have the highest average bills in the country at $77 and $91 per month.
On average, approximately 70 percent of that water is used indoors, with the bathroom being the largest consumer (a toilet alone can use 27 percent!).
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.