Congratulations on the new water heater! You finally chose to bite the bullet when you realized that your water heater was more than 12 years old. After all, your standard water heater only lasts, on average, for 10-12 years before breaking in “spectacular” fashion causing tens of thousands of dollars of damage, or more.
So, you just had a brand-new, high efficient, water heater installed, and now you might be wondering how you can get the most out this great new appliance. Well, here are a few steps you can take to help ensure it functions efficiently for as long as possible:
Step 1:
Lower the temperature on the water heater. Many come set at 140 degrees. By lowering it to 120 degrees, you can dramatically lower the amount of hot water your water heater will need to produce. This will both lower your bills and help reduce overall wear and tear. If you are worried about losing heat during your shower, try mixing in less cold water to keep the water temperature the same. Each 10-degree reduction in water temperature setting can lower your energy consumption by 3-5 percent.
Step 2:
Plumbing leaks. Fix them! One drop per second amounts to 27 liters of water per day. For hot water, this adds up quickly.
Step 3:
Low flow shower head. By reducing the amount of water used, you can reduce the amount of water which needs to be heated, as well as the overall wear and tear on your water heater.
Step 4:
Insulating the accessible water pipes throughout your home. Many big-box stores or local hardware stores will sell pre-fabricated insulation specially designed for home water pipes. Once you determine the size you need, these pieces are easily and quickly installed anywhere you can access
Step 5:
Yes, water heaters should be maintained yearly. At the very least a water heater should be flushed every year to remove any particulates and materials from your water heater tank. Doing so keeps your water cleaner, and makes it easier to heat the water in the tank without these particulates.
Residents of South Jersey and Pennsylvania have been trusting Hutchinson Plumbing Heating Cooling since 1948 with their heating, air conditioning, and plumbing issues. To learn more about water heaters, or about our company and what we can do, please browse our site, or give us a call at your earliest convenience.