Is Hot Water Draining Your Budget? Here are 5 No-Cost Tips For Home Improvement DIY-ers
Water heating is more than just a drop in the bucket when it comes to your energy bill. It accounts for nearly 20 percent of the energy costs in a typical home. By finding ways to reduce or be more efficient with the hot water you use, you can keep your energy dollars from going down the drain.
No-Cost Tips You Can Do Yourself
Here are five easy ways to conserve hot water:
- Lower the temperature of your hot water heater. Turn the thermostat on your water heater down from 140°F to 120°F. You can reduce your water heating costs by 6 to 10 percent.
- Take showers, not baths. Showers use less water than baths. Consider using a timer or a short, 10-minute playlist. Challenge yourself and others to finish before the music does.
- Avoid hand-washing dishes in hot running water. It adds to your energy costs. Fill the sink halfway, and then scrub away.
- Wash clothes in cold water. Today’s detergents work well in cold water, saving about 90 percent of the energy your washing machine would use to heat water.
- Run a full load. Operating your dishwasher or clothes washer when they are partly loaded wastes energy. Wait until you have a full load before flipping the switch.
