Throughout the day, an average family uses about 300 gallons of water a day. Over time, this can add up to an expensive water bill each month. If you want to lower costs and put less strain on your water heater, take a look at the following tips to keep consumption low.
How to Bring Down Your Water Heater Costs
1. Fix Leaks
If you’ve noticed your water bills are increasing but your family hasn’t changed their water usage patterns, there could be a hidden leak or a dripping faucet. Even a small leak can waste up to 90 gallons of water each day.
Some will be easy to repair, like replacing a toilet flapper or faucet washers and gaskets. For larger leaks, you’ll need the help of a plumber to identify them.
2. Change Your Daily Water Habits
There are many small habits your family can change that will have a larger impact on overall water usage. Start by installing low-flow showerheads in the bathrooms and making sure your family doesn’t spend more time than necessary. You should also use warm—not hot—water when showering and washing your hands. When brushing your teeth, turn off the faucet until you’re ready to rinse.
In the kitchen, don’t waste time pre-washing dishes before placing them in the dishwasher. Just make sure to scrape food particles into the garbage first. Finally, when doing the laundry, switch to cold or warm water instead when washing clothes. Only use hot water if the laundry is heavily soiled.
3. Insulate the Water Heater
New water heater tanks are designed with insulation to keep them from losing heat. This is important because losing too much heat wastes a heater’s energy and brings up your utility bill. If you have an older tank or older pipes, insulating them conserves your heater’s energy.
If you need to repair or replace your water heater, contact Bernie Buchner Inc. in La Crosse, WI. For over 60 years, this team of knowledgeable technicians has serviced the Tri-State area’s residential homes, schools, and commercial locations with expert repair and maintenance work on all of your plumbing needs. For more information, visit their website and text JOIN to (608) 480-8709 to receive text message updates.