Hot water tips

The second largest energy user in most homes is the water heater. On average this appliance costs around $35 per month to operate.

• Reduce your water heater setting to 120 degrees - 130 degrees to 140 degrees if you use an automatic dishwasher. Be sure to shut off power to the water heater before making the adjustment. Quick recovery water heaters have two thermostats and they both should be set at the same level.
• Fix leaky faucets immediately. One drop of hot water per second can waste 2,300 gallons of water per year... and the electricity needed to heat it. 
• Keep hot tub water at a maximum of 104 degrees for safety reasons. For each 10-degree drop in temperature, you can save up to 5 percent in water-heating energy costs. 
• Use cold water instead of hot to operate your garbage disposal. 
• Don't let the hot water tap run continually when washing dishes by hand. 
• Install energy-efficient showerheads. A quick shower uses less hot water than a bath. 
• Maintain your water heater. If you have a new water heater consider removing sediment once or twice a year. 
• If your water heater is in an unheated location, wrap it with an insulation blanket unless it is a super-efficient tank that already includes an extra thick wall of insulation. Usually water heaters manufactured after 1995 don't need additional insulation. 
• Wrap hot water pipes that are in unheated spaces with insulation. 
• Check hot water pipes in crawl spaces for leaks and repair them.