Energy-efficient appliances are a great way to save money, and after years of rebates and tax credits, homeowners are starting to see the value in adding these appliances to their households. It’s always a good time to address energy efficiency in your appliances. You don’t have to wait until you plan to replace a unit. By practicing smart maintenance guidelines, you improve the efficiency and lifespan of all your appliances. A great example of this idea can be seen in the traditional water heater. As one of the biggest energy drains in your home, making even minor changes to improve the efficiency of your water heater could yield considerable savings.
How to Save Money on Energy Costs by Maintaining Your Water Heater
There are certain appliances that you don’t think about until they stop working. For most of us, our water heaters fit into this category. When your appliances work, it’s easy to forget about them. It’s when you need your appliances, and they don’t work that you remember all the missed maintenance calls and servicing plans. A water heater can last anywhere from six to twelve years. You can extend the life of your water heater by incorporating a few maintenance steps into your routine. These changes can also help improve the efficiency of your system – which means your water heater will use less energy to operate. One of the major signs your water heater is struggling to perform is sparse hot water supplies.
- Flush the unit once per year for better performance . Regardless of the age and functionality of your water heater, draining and flushing your system annually is a maintenance suggestion from most manufacturers. System processes may differ, so it’s important to refer to your appliance manual for instructions.
- Check your system for worn parts and replace them. There are a few systems that can become worn or corroded on a water heater. Parts like the anode rod should be checked each year. The anode rod prevents rusting, so it’s being worn over time. A perfect time to check the anode rod, which hangs in the tank, is during the annual system draining and flush. By replacing a corroded anode rod, you can save your water heater.
- Insulate the Hot Water Heater Tank. Insulate your system and protect your energy. If your tank isn’t insulated, you could be allowing the hot water your system has worked hard to produce to lose its warmth. Most water heaters experience a bit of standby loss. Uninsulated water heaters can lose 1.4kWh from being stored in the tank waiting to be used. Wrapping your storage tank can slow standby energy losses and improve efficiency by 40%.
Between switching to energy-efficient systems and maintaining your current ones, you can find considerable savings each month. If you are in the market for a new system, finding one with a higher EF rating will support your energy-saving goals. If your current water heater is less than 10 years old, then the energy guide on your water heater should give you a fairly accurate idea of how much it will cost to operate your appliance each year. It’s common for appliances over ten years old to become less efficient as they age.
Calling in the Plumbing Professionals
It’s normal for machines to break and wear over time, but you want to ensure you are doing everything you can to ensure you get the most out of your appliances. When you encounter these issues in the future, reach out to the plumbing professionals a Lange Plumbing and Fire Protection for assistance. Call us today at (702) 500-0936 for more information about our services.
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