Energy-Efficient Tips for Maintaining Your Hot Water Tank

When you are looking for ways to conserve energy, it pays to look at your water heater. Your water heater makes up about 17 percent of the energy costs for your home, so being proactive about maintaining its efficiency is vital. An energy-efficient water heater not only saves on utility bills, but it also helps reduce your carbon footprint. What’s more, when you maintain your water heater to improve its energy efficiency, you will also prolong its lifespan.

What is an Energy Efficient Temperature for a Hot Water Tank?

One of the easiest ways to decrease your water heater’s energy consumption is to lower the temperature. Water heaters are often set to extremely high temperatures, sometimes as high as 60°C (140°F). Just by reducing the temperature to 49°C (120°F), you can reduce your energy consumption by four to eight percent. This means substantial savings on your utility bills, and it also slows the mineral buildup inside the tank, improving its longevity. What’s more, lowering the temperature makes the water heater safer, reducing the risk of scalding. The thermostat is usually on the side of an electric water heater’s tank or near the bottom of a gas water heater’s tank. Turn off the power, and then you can adjust the temperature with a flathead screwdriver.

Hot Water Tank Maintenance Tips

Regular maintenance is another factor in prolonging the water heater’s lifespan. We recommend enlisting the help of a professional to manage this, but some people prefer to take it on as a DIY project. However you decide to do it, maintenance should include:

• Flushing the Tank: Turn off the power, and connect a hose to the drain valve, with the other end in a suitable area for drainage. Open the valve and allow the tank to empty completely before opening the cold water supply to stir up remaining sediment and drain again. Close the valve and refill the tank, then turn the water heater back on once the tank is full.
• Checking the Anode Rod: This rod attracts corrosive elements in order to keep the tank from corroding. It should be inspected at least every three years, and replaced if it is depleted by more than 50 percent.
• Replacing the Air Intake Filter: This only applies to tankless water heaters, but is an important step for this kind of water heater. On a tankless heater, the air intake filter protects the unit from contaminants like dust, which could cause it to overheat. Replacing your air intake filter according to the manufacturer’s instructions prevents this from occurring.
• Testing the Pressure Relief Valve: This safety feature is designed to release pressure if the water gets too hot, and testing it monthly ensures that it is working properly. To test it, let some of the water out by lifting the lever on the valve. If the water doesn’t come out, or a significant amount of water comes out, the valve needs replacement. If the water comes out, then stops when the valve is lowered, then the pressure relief valve is working properly.

Additional Hot Water Tank Tips

Aside from routine maintenance, there are steps you can take to improve the energy efficiency of your water heater. Essentially, anything you can do to prevent heat loss and keep the heated water from escaping into the plumbing will help keep your water heater full of hot water. One method for accomplishing this is to install heat traps. Heat traps are specialized valves or loops of pipes that allow water to flow in and out of the tank when you want it to, but prevent it from doing so unnecessarily. They reduce natural convection, so that cold water doesn’t flow into the tank and hot water doesn’t flow out when you don’t want it to, and they can reduce heat loss by up to 60 percent. Another method for preventing heat loss is to insulate both the water heater and the first six feet of pipes connected to it. This can help maintain water temperatures, and this reduces the water heater’s workload and can save as much as 16 percent on your energy costs annually. This is something you can do on your own, simply by cutting an insulation blanket to fit around your tank while allowing unobstructed access to panels and controls. Secure it with adhesive tape or straps, then place insulation sleeves over the pipes and seal the edges to secure the insulation.

Choosing an Energy-Efficient Hot Water Tank

Of course, every hot water system eventually reaches the end of its lifespan, and when you need to replace yours, consider upgrading your energy efficiency. Choosing a newer, more energy-efficient water heater can mean significant savings on your energy costs. One great option available is the heat pump water heater, which transfers heat from the air into the water for an efficiency of up to four times that of a conventional model. Tankless water heaters are also a good choice. These heaters provide water on demand, which eliminates the heat loss associated with storing hot water, and means up to 34 percent more energy efficiency. 

For Hot Water Heater Installation, Maintenance, or Repair, Contact Hydro-Flo Plumbing and Heating

You count on your water heater to work for you, and you can count on Hydro-Flo Plumbing and Heating, too. Whether your water heater needs maintenance or you need a whole new water heater, our team of experienced professionals will do the job safely and efficiently. A locally owned and operated HVAC and plumbing company, we’ve been serving Edmonton, AB, and the surrounding areas for over 18 years. We have earned a reputation for excellence in the community, and we are committed to providing outstanding customer service, offering a wide range of high quality residential and commercial plumbing and HVAC services, completing our projects quickly and within budget. To learn more about our caring, compassionate service, as we work to make our community better, or for help with your plumbing or HVAC, contact us through our website.