Heat pump water heaters move heat from one place to another instead of generating heat directly for providing hot water, resulting in high efficiencies and significant cost savings. Solar water heaters use the sun's heat to provide hot water and also save money on energy bills.
The best budget option if gas is not available or is expensive is a heat pump water heater, but there are considerations based on your climate for where they can be located to be efficient.
It depends on how much hot water you are using and when. It can be more economic to keep it on constant. It takes longer to heat a full tank of cold water than it does to heat the water as it's used. If it's on constant then it'll not fire up unless it needs to. 'Constant' is a bit of a misleading term.
If your hot water runs out too fast, you may have an issue with: Too much hot water demand from multiple sources at the same time. Sediment build up inside of your water heater tank. A broken dip tube.
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 low-flow fixtures, insulate accessible hot water lines, and purchase an ENERGY STAR certified dishwasher and clothes washer.
Temperature Is Too High
The most obvious reason for a high water heater gas bill is if the temperature is set too high. According to experts, most homeowners should keep water heater temperatures between 120 and 140 degrees F.
Timers are most cost effective if you don't want to install a heat trap and insulate your water heater tank and pipes. Timers aren't as cost effective or useful on gas water heaters because of their pilot lights.
Try an hour in the morning and an hour in the evening; if you don't run out of hot water, then that's enough – no need to spend more money than you have to!
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.
Typically, a hot water heater that uses a tank will run for 3 to 5 hours per day. So, a 4,000-watt heater used for 3 hours a day at 10¢ per kWh will cost $1.20 per day, about $36.50 per month, or $438 per year.
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.
The maximum Department of Energy recommended water heater temperature setting you should never exceed is 140 degrees Fahrenheit. The lowest recommended setting should never be below 120 degrees Fahrenheit.
Tankless Water Heaters. Another rule of thumb is this: Tankless heaters will always be more energy-efficient and cost less per month than tank heaters. Tankless water heaters are, generally speaking, more efficient than tank water heaters.
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.
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.
Gas hot water systems (also called LPG hot water systems) typically cost between $750 and $1900 to buy. Solar hot water systems are the most expensive to buy at between $4000 and $10,000, but they are the cheapest to run.
Usage Patterns: If you frequently use hot water late at night or early in the morning, it might be more convenient to leave the tap on. This ensures that you have instant access to boiling water when you need it. However, if you rarely use hot water during these hours, turning the tap off can save energy.
There's no absolute rule for how hot a shower should be, but most doctors advise keeping water below 110 degrees. Too hot and you risk stripping the skin of its natural oils leading to dry, itchy skin.
Most homeowners should flush their water heaters every 6 months or so, but if you have extremely hard water, you may want to do it more often. Flushing your hot water heater could be necessary as often as every few months depending on the mineral content of your local water supply.