2007-09-26 08:46:22 · 13 answers · asked by ASHLEY E 2 in Environment ➔ Green Living
You can buy thermal blankets to increase the R value, if your getting close to time to replace a leaky one the Market is coming out with smart models They automatically program themselves to your schedule of use for the most efficient operation and have at least three times the insulation also.
Source: some does and donts
2007-09-26 09:03:33 · answer #1 · answered by vladoviking 5 · 3⤊ 0⤋
It would decrease it, but not by too much. It would NOT increase it. As an example, consider what would happen if you turned it off for a week. Instead of the heater going on, over and over again, to keep the water hot...it didn't go on at all. Of course that takes less energy. Ok...then you come back and turn it on. It takes quite a lot of energy for a short time to bring it back to temp, but that is not nearly as much as it would have taken if it had been left on all week. You get exactly the same effect by turning it off at night, just not as much. "Standby losses" are what cost money while a heater tries to maintain a temperature all the time. The reason it has to add energy, even when nobody is using hot water, is because it constantly is losing heat. The bigger the temperature difference between the hot water and the air around the tank, the faster it loses heat. That is why turning the temp down has a big effect on the energy use. The higher the temp, the faster it loses heat...and the faster it loses it, the more often it has to turn on to heat it back up. The timers are good, but also, insulating the tank with a blanket of fiberglass and the hot water pipe for at least the first 6 feet will help a lot. The notion that it "takes more energy to heat it up" is absolutely wrong, although it's a real popular idea. But it's contrary to the laws of physics, and all the popular opinion in the world won't change the laws of physics!
2016-04-06 02:28:12 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Lower the temperature to increase the efficiency of the insulation. It should be no hotter than needed to keep you from running out. It no case should it be over about 120 degrees or you risk injury.
You could also increase the insulation or better yet use a system that warms the water as it moves into the house with a very limited storage.
Many people use solar heating for water. It is a good way to reduce the energy needed.
2007-09-26 09:17:01 · answer #3 · answered by bravozulu 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
A few easy steps are to wrap the water heater in a blanket (to increase insulation), turn the level down somewhere around "warm", and simply use less hot water by doing things like taking shorter showers.
2007-09-26 09:11:14 · answer #4 · answered by Dana1981 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
I agree with the previous suggestion: Tank-less Heaters.
They are widely used in Europe.
They are little electric heaters that heat water near the faucet just when it is needed.
The big savings is that all the water that is cooling off in long pipes to the kitchen and all the bathrooms have cold water instead, there is no need to heat water just to have it sit and cool off, great waste!
2007-09-26 09:23:20 · answer #5 · answered by baypointmike 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Take shorter showers and buy a new energy effiencient hot water heater.
2007-09-26 09:00:30 · answer #6 · answered by Susas 6 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Use less hot water, buy a current model that is more energy efficient, and/or just insulate it.
2007-09-26 10:04:27 · answer #7 · answered by Beacon 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Turn it on two hours before you need it and off when you don't, that little trick knocked 30% off my power bill alone!
Of course if you have a family that could get interesting but with some planning and discipline it can work.
2007-09-26 18:19:05 · answer #8 · answered by groingo 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Get rid of the dishwasher. Wash your clothes in cold water. Get a Sun-shower.
2007-09-26 10:11:31 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Tankless water heaters are supposed to be a good deal.
2007-09-26 09:12:21 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 0⤋