9
ways to save with a water
heater
| ✔ 1. Do
not turn on hot water when using cold When hot is turned on, even a moment, cold water immediately enters water heater. Water heater runs more. Single handled faucet lifted in center will draw hot water from tank. Applies to gas and electric heaters. Keep faucets in good repair. Fix drips. If single handled faucet has crossover, then hot water can draw through defective faucet cartridge when other faucets turn on. How to test for crossover Things you can do to increase amount of hot water |
 Cold water enters tank How water heater works |
Today's gas water heaters require more clean air, and no exposure to flammables.
Flammable vapor ignition retardation system is mandatory on gas water heaters due to casualty and property loss by insurance industry. Many things cause FVIR to trip. Causes, symptons and solutions vary widely.
FVIR senses ignition of flammable vapor from solvent or fuel, and shuts access between flame and fuel. Thus preventing flashover or explosion that will save your life.
Flammable vapor event can require replacement of water heater.
Do not store gasoline in unapproved or open container.
Read household product labels for flammable warnings.
Turn off burner and pilot when using flammables
Read water heater manual for advisories Read2 Water heater precautions
Adjust thermostat down to 120°
For each 10 degree reduction, save 3-5% operating cost.
120 degrees or lower is considered optimal
130 degrees recommended to kill bacteria when washing clothes
Temperatures above 140 can cause minerals to distill out of water and damage pipes
See how to adjust temperature on gas and electric water heaters
Use surge protector when water heater plugs into outlet
Take showers instead of bath.
| ✔ 4.
Reduce
consumption Take showers instead of bath. Bath uses 12-15 gallons hot water. Shower uses 5-9 gallons hot water Read Read2 Install shower timer Don't run water continually when shaving Wash dishes by hand Wash clothes in cold water Install low-flow faucets and shower heads Fix leaks read 1 read 2 read 3 |
 Take showers/ not baths Photoshop how-to |
Cost $20 => Payback less than 1 year.
See illustration
Home centers sell ready-to-use blanket for $25.
✔ Does water heater need insulation?
Will 2" foam stop 50 degree temperature differential? No.
Tape thermometer to water heater, cover thermometer with fiberglass insulation, after 20 minutes, remove insulation & compare before and after thermometer reading.
Electric water heater and gas water heater are wrapped differently
Both gas and electric: Never obstruct TP valve. Leave access to drain.
Electric water heater: OK to insulate entire tank, except TP valve.
Gas water heaters: NO insulation on top of tank -or- over draft air inlet -or- air intake opening -or- around gas control valve
Insulate pipes
Water pipes lose heat. When colder water enters tank, it must be heated more.
Pipes on top of tank draw heat out of water heater. Tank runs more.
Gas water heater: Insulation must stay away from top of heater and vent pipe.
Electric water heater: Insulation can cover all pipes and top of water heater
Add insulation to TP valve to prevent heat loss.
Do not cover lever with insulation. Do not cap off TP valve or cap off discharge tube.
Read about TP valve code
Water heater safety precautions
How to replace TP valve
Troubleshoot leaking water heater
Electric water heater only
Electric water heater only: Internal steel tank has no insulation on bottom. Water in bottom of tank is hot. Proof: open drain valve at tank bottom releases hot water. Heat loss can be slowed with insulation.
For example, use Dow blue styrafoam
Or build 2x4 frame filled with insulation and covered with 3/4" plywood. Plywood is fairly good insulator. Metal and aluminum are very poor insulators and will cause heat loss.
Note: water weighs 8.34 pounds per gallon
40 gallon steel water heater filled with water weighs approx 410lbs.
80 gallon water heater with water 670lbs.
Make sure floor structure can support weight of 2-4 large men.
Timers can save money when people also reduce consumption and schedule hot water read1 read2.
See water heater timers Read3
If you have old heater, start fresh: clean out tank, replace anode rod, lower thermostats,
wrap heater with insulation, and install a timer.
Go next door and install a timer for your neighbor.
How much money does a timer save
 Timer I use on my water heater See installation |
Applies to electric water heaters
Avoid peak electric prices. Save money.
Wire timer to operate electric water heater during off-peak times.
Water heater is always ON like usual, but less hot water is available during peak-price hours
How to wire off-peak water heater
Changing water heater to 120Volts will save money during peak hours. If people also lower consumption.
How to convert water heater to 120Volt.
How to install electric meter on water heater.
| ✔ 11. Prevent
electrolytic corrosion/ & connection failure Lengthen lifespan of water heater and protect plumbing from deterioration. Use di-electric nipple with plastic lining when connecting pipes to water heater. Sold at local home center. Image on left shows failed di-electric unions. Failed because washer wore out. Di-electric nipples do not require washer. Some folks prefer brass fittings since they do not corrode. Di-electric prevents electrolytic corrosion or electrolysis caused when different metals are connected together. Different metal pipes can also cause Low Hot Water Pressure |
 At falcon |
Broken and leaking pipes cause repair costs.
Braided hoses can leak, and interior rubber coating can come apart and get into pipes.
This applies to both water heater and washing machine and water softener.
Ruptured washing machine hose and water heater supply lines cause flooded homes.
Use di-electric nipples between flex connections and water heater.
High water pressure above 80psi can cause water heater damage, plumbing damage and rupture. Install pressure-reducing valve and set pressure for 40 psi.
Minimum 6"
| ✔
14. Add
heat traps
to slow natural convection of heat upwards. Read1
Read2 Prevent loss of heat leaving top of water heater. Insulate pipes |
|
| Some new water
heaters have
built-in heat-trap nipples and washers. Pre-installed heat-trap nipples and washers can clog causing pressure problems. Replace with di-electric nipples and add heat trap pipes.as shown Low water pressure |
 See detailed image of installation |
Keep insulation away
from top of gas water heater. Insulate both hot and cold pipes.
Larger imageWater heaters that rust out quickly might be connected to water pipes that are not grounded.
Hot water pipes are not grounded in many homes. Read Pdf
To get 'rid of stray current corrosion, jumper between hot and cold pipes with #6 solid copper wire. And check that cold water pipe is grounded to main panel and to grounding rod. Read1 Read2
Check that water heater is bonded to electrical ground: this action will prevent electrocution.
Example image shows: ground wire, di-electric nipples, heat-traps, and pipe insulation
With gas water heater, keep insulation above top of tank
With electric water heater, pipes can be fully insulated
Attach vent hood to water heater using 3 sheet metal screws
Connect each vent join with 3 sheet metal screws
Larger image
Check that water heater is bonded to electrical ground at main panel: this action will prevent electrocution.
Add a ground screw directely to metal tank, and run ground wire to grounding busbar on main panel.
Applies to gas and electric water heaters.
Many gas water heaters are connected to electrical outlet for power vent, or damper etc
Electric water heaters have ground screw. Make sure ground wire from main panel is connected to screw.
Attach ground wire from both hot and cold pipes to ground screw.
Shorts can occur if electric heating element touches anode rod, or if element cracks inside electric heating element.
See image Read more.
Use 30 amp breaker and 10 gauge wire on household water heater.
30 amp circuit runs cooler = less amp loss from heat = more efficient use of electricity
Circuit breaker and breaker box last longer
How to replace circuit breaker
Figure volts amps for water heater
Flooded heater will void warranty and manufacturers recommend replacement.
Do not touch water heater that has been flooded, risk of electric shock. Make sure breakers are turned off before servicing. Most homes have ground wire connected to cold water pipe.
Flooded gas water heater can be risk of explosion and fire if put back into service. Malfunctioning gas control valve and gas that is not completely burned cause risk.
Read flooded water heater
Leaking water heater
Avoid major damage to home caused by tank rupture and leaking..
Inspect water heater each 6 months.
Inspect and replace anode rod every 2 years. Read
Put drip pan under tank.
Use reinforced flexible connections.
Drip pan saves damage
Anode rod prevents water heater from rusting.
Maintaining anode rod means water heater lasts longer, saving money.
Install 2 anode rods, and tank lasts longer. Convert 6-year tank into 12 year tank.
Tanks needing frequent anode replacement might benefit from powered anode rod read.
Save $40 a month right now.
Read about 2 water heaters
Many homes have 2nd water heater for convenience. The 2nd heater may not be necessary.
If 2nd water heater is needed, put in a smaller tank, or install under-counter water heater at faucet.
How to install under-counter water heater
How much does it cost to run water heater? Read
 |
 |
✔ 21. Small
heater at sink Pot heater Under-counter heater can reduce need for larger water heater. Let's you turn off second water heater. How to install under-counter water heater How to increase amount of hot water |
Smaller tank costs less to operate when consumption is also reduced. Overworking gas water heater will cost more in repair. Choose the right size. Conserve. Plan. Put in smaller tank if consumption is reduced.
Home might require at least 40 gallon for resale value. Read
Consider that all costs are energy, so total cost over life of appliance is important. Save water heater manual. Anticipate that water heater lasts 6-12 years Read the basics, See typical reference chart and plan ahead for most efficient unit read 1. Consider options read 2 Consider solar assisted read 3 Consider self-cleaning tanks. Dept of Energy efficiency information read 4 Consider heat-pump water heater read 5 Avoid hype: read side-by-side test for tankless read 6. Compare water heater innovations. Save old tank for solar project read 7 or tempering tank read 8
Avoid tankless promotion
Saving money with tankless is highly questionable for average user. Read side-by-side test results
All costs are energy. True cost includes monthly energy bill, cost of product, installation, softener-and-filter, maintenance, water consumption, disposal and replacement of water heater. Read manual and ask questions. Recommended maintenance schedule will cost more than energy savings. Look at parts sheet and ask about repairs costs. Visit manufacturer's website for troubleshoot resources. Web search brand and model. Read1 Troubleshoot Rheem tankless Troubleshoot Bosch tankless
Do-it-yourself repairs
Fix it yourself, and that saves money. Read product manual before you buy. Keep it simple.
Post your question on a pro water heater forum 1 2 3 4 5 6 Read product manual. Install gas water heater yourself |^| Install under-counter water heater |^| Troubleshoot gas water heater |^| Troubleshoot electric water heater |^| Troubleshoot tankless. Visit water heater manufacturer website for manuals see list of manufacturers/brands.
Do-it-yourself resources
Maintain
Flush each 6 months
Inspect for leaks each 6 months
Check and replace anode rod each 1-3 years
Troubleshoot resources for electric
Troubleshoot resources for gas
Safety precautions
Read and save product manual
More Do-it-yourself resources
Recirculation system
Recirculation system motor costs money to operate, and water heater runs more hours.
If you have recirculation system, use timer instead of thermostat to control circulation.
Typical Grundfos UP15 pump uses 29 watts and costs modest $25 per year when run 2 hours per day, but water heater runs more and costs additional $20-35 per year.
See image Read more
Clean out tank
Water heater that is maintained will last longer and work more efficiently. And save money
Frequent flushing plus a water heater timer could eliminate need for water softener.
See steps to flush tank
Once sediment accumulates, it cannot be completely removed from gas water heater. Build-up of calcium carbonate reduces heating efficiency, especially in gas water heaters. With electric heater, calcium carbonate can short out bottom element. See steps to clean tank. Read softener research pdf
Efficiency of
electric water heater can be fully restored
Efficiency of gas water heater cannot be restored
Efficiency of gas water heater cannot be restored
✔ 27. Understand Efficiency, Hard-water, and Water-softener. Storage-type Electric water heaters operate at 99% efficiency with or without water-softener, until sediment reaches bottom element. Full 99% efficiency can be restored to Electric storage heater by cleaning sediment out of tank. See how to clean electric Storage-type gas water heater operates at 69% efficiency. Tankless gas 79%. High-efficiency storage-type gas has 96% efficiency. All gas water heaters lose efficiency when hard water is not softened. Efficiency of gas water heaters cannot be fully restored by cleaning or de-liming. See how to clean gas Hard water must be softened for gas water heater efficiency. However, soft-water is corrosive to anode rod. When water-softener is used, anode rod needs inspection every 2 years. Anode options Read softener research pdf
Rethink
home layoutLocate showers and baths next to water heater, while toilets that use no hot water can be farther away.
Avoid over-sized bathtubs that require bigger water heater.
Kitchen should face south to take advantage of nearby passive solar heater since lunch & dinner occur at times when solar water heat is most abundant.
$100,000 small house design that uses .88 cents per day energy Must read
Connect coil to cold water line
| ✔ 29.
Drain-water
heat recovery This idea possible if house has accessible drain system Copper pipe or strap is wrapped around outgoing copper drain pipe to recapture hot water as it leaves house. Recaptured heat is transferred to incoming cold water Shower heat recovery estimated at 60% since heated shower water is draining same time new cold water is entering heater. See pie chart Government energy site See GFX heat exchanger video Read |
 Coil or strap wraps tightly around copper drain line |
 How to make coil |
✔ 30. Install tempering tank located in naturally warm location can preheat water before it flows into cold water side of water heater.
Re-purpose old water heater: Use old water heater for tempering tank, don't throw it away.
Tempering tank can be old water heater, or coil of copper tubing, or any 20-80 gallon water tank not connected to fuel source. See image Read more
Tempering tank is Excellent use for old water heaterAlso use old water heater for passive solar water heater
Recycle
Tempering tank
Make Solar collector
Water pressure: Pressure over 80 psi can damage water heater Read
Symptoms: TP valve goes bad frequently. Cause: Closed system because of check valve or faulty pressure valve, or community water problem or water well pressure set too high. TP valve problems
Connect BTG 100 pressure gauge to water heater drain valve to check pressure. Pressure problems
Install pressure reducing valve. Replace check valve. People with water well > turn down pressure on water well > save both hot and cold water, save electricity, and well equipment lasts longer. See pressure gauge.
Earthquake straps help prevent gas leak and fire in event of earthquake.
Prevents damage to property and injury from falling tank.
Dropped water heater, or water heater fell over
Larger image
Hydrocarbon vapors from gasoline, fuel and thinners stay low to ground.
Raising water heater will prevent flammable vapor ignition, and repairs if water heater goes into lockout.
Do not set gas water heater on carpet. Must be on wood or metal surface.
Read how to troubleshoot gas water heater
Read about flooded water heater
Read more 1 2 3 4 5
| ✔
35.
Thermal
expansion tank is small safety device put on
incoming
cold water line to stop
excessive expansion of pipes and tank caused when thermostat is
set high. High pressure damages tank and plumbing. Also install pressure-reducing valve. Read 1 3 4 5 Not normally installed with residential heaters. Expansion tank reduces risk of catastrophic water heater rupture leading to water damage and could prolong life of appliance. Expansion tank usually required with solar and solar-assisted systems |
 |
Digital controls and
electronic gas controls can fail with surge
Water heaters that connect to electricity should have dedicated outlet with correct polarity and ground
| See water heater electronics. Whole house surge Belkin plug-in surge |
 |
 |
✔ 38. Protect gas water heater
-Avoid dusty environment that will clog air intake, cause unburned fuel, and create fire hazard-Do not install cold water line above gas valve where condensation drips on valve.
-Annually clean burner area with wire brush and vacuum cleaner. read1 read2
Troubleshoot and clean gas water heater
-Remove chemicals from same room as water heater.
-Chemicals corrode water heater parts and vent pipe. 'Spray propellants, cleaning solvents, refrigerants, swimming pool chemicals, calcium and sodium chloride, household bleach, waxes and process chemicals are corrosive at very low levels with no odor." Read Bradford White Pdf pg2-8 Read Rheem pdf
| ✔
39. Keep
air
intake clean - gas heater Some gas water heaters have air intake located on bottom of heater. Set this heater on bricks so air intake can be cleaned. Read manual thoroughly. Clean air intake frequently. Keep water heater area free of lint, chemicals and solvents that clog air intake or cause deterioration of combustion parts or trip FVIR. Read water heater safety precautions |
 How to clean air intake frequently |
Larger image
Off-peak water heater ideas
Water heaters with high recovery rates and high first-hour delivery use more BTUs per gallon of hot water.
Hybrid water heaters, when operated without back-up elements, can save energy, but technology is best suited to warm climate, and consumer should research choices carefully Read. All costs are energy, so small, inexpensive, well-insulated water heater might be better choice than hybrid. Whirlpool Energy Smart electric water heater offers energy choices Read. Do-it-yourselfers can change electric water heater into off-peak water heater, where lower element is turned off to save energy Read. Water heater timers can be wired so they turn off lower element See. Water heater timers can be set so just enough hot water is available when needed Compare timers.
Real science at work that you can apply.
Heat from refrigerator re-used in water heater
Modest home has 88 cent energy bill
Water heater uses refrigerator heat
Low-energy home uses heat pump integrated with heat from kitchen refrigerator pg9
Tomorrow's homes will have solar water heaters. Use old water heater tank. Start today.
Read long list of ideas
Hawaii requires all new homes to have solar water heaters.
California offers incentives for solar installation read1.
Congressional bill aims for 200,000 rooftop solar water heaters read3
Larger image
|
✔ 43. Geothermal Ideas 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Geothermal self-help forum Geothermal can be from volcanic heat.Or from local ground temperatures. All water that enters home in underground pipe is geothermally heated. Incoming cold water causes water heater to run more. See chart |
 Average ground water temp |
Prevent loss and damage
Water heater precautions
Larger image
Original image: death of a planet '97
Burning hydrocarbon fuel produces acidic water, carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, nitrous oxide, ozone
Breathe this and die. A = B
Reduce consumption today using this webpage.
Natural gas: 84,470 BTU produces 1 pound of carbon dioxide
Propane gas: 62,893 BTU produces 1 pound of carbon dioxide
Coal (electricity): 47,780 BTU produces 1 pound of carbon dioxide
Electric water heaters produce more carbon :
There are more gas water heaters than electric.
Carbon from generating electricity is centralized at power plant
Gas water heaters, and gas appliances release carbon from vent stack located at each home and business.
Carbon footprint calculator
Wikipedia
Low Nox (nitrous oxide) water heaters
Solar water heating ideas
Read everything in manual.
Record date of purchase and warranty period
Follow maintenance schedule and installation advisories
Manual will save money and heater will last longer.
1) Read about anode rods
2) Read about stray current corrosion
3) How to flush water heater
4) Water heater safety precautions
