Improving your water heater efficiency can translate into big savings on your utility bill. It is estimated that up to 25% of the energy consumed in your home is spent on heating water.

With the average life expectancy of a water heater being 13 years, doing what you can to maximize your appliance’s efficiency could significantly benefit your pocketbook. Here are some tips to make the best use of your home water heater:

• Drain your water heater regularly.  Doing so will flush out minerals which accumulate at the bottom of the unit, causing inefficiencies.
• Insulate your water heater.  Water heaters are set to maintain a certain temperature at all times.  Insulating your tank will slow down heat loss and result in fewer heating cycles.  Check out insulation jackets/blankets that are made specifically for this purpose.
• Use low-flow shower heads: Based on one 10-minute shower per day, a low-flow or water-saving shower head can save you up to 10,000 gallons of water a year and reduce your energy cost of heating the water also by as much as 50%. Click here to learn more or watch the how-to video for installation instructions.
• Consider an upgrade. A new ENERGY STAR qualified water heater can save you 7 to 10% if your unit is more than 10 years old. Plus, Vectren natural gas customers who upgrade qualify for a $100 to $150 rebate. Use Vectren’s Energy Calculators to determine how much you could save by upgrading.
• Install a timer.  If you have an electric water heater, install a timer that turns it off at night when you don’t use hot water. Doing so can save you 5% to 12% of energy.
• Insulate your water pipes. This slows down the loss of heat through the pipes.

Vectren does not endorse any particular product or wholesaler.

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