In 2022, homeowners were constantly on the lookout for ways to make their homes more energy efficient. Not only does improved energy efficiency help make the planet more sustainable, but it will provide direct relief to the homeowner’s monthly utility expenses.
One strong idea for reducing utility consumption is the installation of a new water heater. Modern water heaters can help guarantee that a gallon of hot water heated is a gallon of hot water used. If you are in the market for a new water heater, the following breakdown looks at the various ways that a new system can help improve your utility consumption.
Older Systems Are Less Energy Efficient
One of the first reasons to consider a new water heater is that, no matter how good the product was originally, systems will invariably lose efficiency as they age. In the case of traditional tank water heaters, most units will begin to lose their effectiveness after 10 years of use. This can lead to weak heating elements that no longer get the job done or leaks that are not only messy, but a never-ending turnstile in which heated water escapes.
Check the label on the side of your water heater. It should have an installation date for the product. If this label is missing, the water heater’s age can be ascertained via the unit’s serial number. If it is over 10 years old, you can very likely save on your utility bill simply by going out with the old, in with the new--regardless of which style of water heating system you choose.
Allows You to Choose What Is Best for Your Home
The problem with most water heaters is that unless you built the home yourself, you are likely using a water heater installed by someone else. As a result, no matter how good the existing system is, it is unlikely to be the ideal choice for your household and may cause you to spend on water heating costs unnecessarily.
For example, if you are a retired couple living in a home that features a massive 80-gallon storage tank, then you will be spending money to heat water that you will never use. On the flip side, if you have a small, on-demand water heater for a bustling family that will be using multiple hot water utilities at once, then your system will likely output insufficient hot water, requiring you to try again at a later time, boosting water consumption.
Therefore, it is a good idea to shop through the various hot water heaters on the market today and find the model that best aligns with your household needs to ensure that this kind of waste does not occur.
New Systems Are Better At Protecting Against Heat Loss
There are three primary ways that heat is lost through a water heating system:
Firing loss
Standby loss
Distribution loss
Firing loss occurs during the process of converting fuel to heat. Of the two common fuel sources used by water heaters (gas and electricity), an electric heating system is less likely to suffer firing loss than a gas system. An electric water heater is 100% efficient at the point of conversion, while gas heaters are only about 80% efficient, making electric, on-demand water heaters a favorite choice for homeowners looking to improve energy efficiency.
Standby loss occurs due to keeping water hot during storage. It is a common issue with traditional water storage containers, which is another reason why many homeowners love electric, on-demand systems. However, as tank systems are the best fit for most homeowners’ budgets, modern units come equipped with a higher degree of insulation around the tank, helping keep stored water hot and eliminating heat loss through the unit’s walls.
Finally, distribution loss occurs when moving the hot water from the heating unit to the point of use. Every type of water heating system will suffer some distribution loss, but it can be mitigated in a couple of ways. First, look into insulating pipes and keeping the water heater as close to areas of heavy use as possible. If the water heater is on the complete opposite side of a large home’s high usage areas, then it is inevitable that distribution losses will be higher. In addition, choose a system that has recirculation pumps controlled by a timer. Systems that have hot water continuously recirculating through the pipes can spend up to $50 per month more on water heating costs.
Uses Alternate Systems to Heat Water
Finally, for homeowners that want to go above and beyond in their energy efficiency efforts, there are some advanced water heating systems that they may want to explore that do not rely on traditional gas or electricity methods:
Heat pump water heaters - instead of using electricity to heat water directly, this system uses electricity to transfer heat from one place to another to heat the water. For example, it may pull heat from the ambient air to heat the water before moving it to storage.
Hybrid gas water heaters - these systems have small tanks that allow for high first hour efficiency but eliminate much of the firing and standby loss associated with full-size gas tank systems.
Solar water heaters - use the sun to help heat the water. While this is one of the best ways to use renewable energy to heat water, it may not be feasible for all households.
Choose a New Water Heater to Reduce Your Utility Bills
One of the best ways to manage monthly utility costs is through the installation of a new water heater. By improving on the inefficiencies of old systems, choosing the unit that is ideal for your household, protecting against common forms of heat loss, and leveraging alternate energy sources, a new water heater is an important component of an energy-efficient home!
Andrew Wesley is a freelance writer that loves sharing his knowledge and expertise on plumbing projects and materials. He lives in Atlanta, Georgia, where he enjoys spending time with his wife and working on projects in his spare time. Andrew’s work as a freelance writer can be found on Building Product Advisor, a new construction industry resource launching in Fall 2022.