Want money saving solutions that will pay for themselves in five minutes? Look here. Because, yes, we should all have high efficiency on-demand water heaters, but not necessarily the budget for it right now. It’s a great goal for the future of your home, but lets look at what you can do today, for this season, at zero cost. Here are some ideas:
- FREE. Have a hot water tank? Check the temperature and consider turning it down. A temperature of 120 is usually more than adequate. Most tanks will have a range from 100 – 140 degrees for operating temperature. You may think that a lower water temperature means it won’t go as far. True in theory, but in practice, you will probably not know the difference – except in your utility bill. The way a hot water tank works is to heat the water, then shut off until it cools to a trigger point that will reheat it again. If the tank must reheat to a higher temperature, it uses more fuel to do so, and loses that heat more quickly as there is a large difference between the water temperature and the air temperature.
- FREE – and easy. Call R&B for a free estimate for an on-demand water heater, because it doesn’t hurt to ask. Then check out the Fortis BC website for grants and to calculate your savings and your payback period.
- Not free, but cheap. Have an older tank? Consider a water heater insulation blanket. They sell at big box retailers for around $65 and they will save you from heat loss. Newer tanks have a lot more insulation in them so tank blankets are less effective.
Those will get you going. Check out the follow-up blog for Free Heating Tips.