How to Cut Your Hot Water Costs
How to Cut Your Hot Water Costs
Water is an essential resource. It’s so essential, in fact, that we use it to do pretty much everything, from cleaning ourselves to food preparation. As a result, your hot water consumption can take up approximately 25% of your power bill.
Thankfully, cutting your hot water costs isn’t too difficult, and doesn’t require any significant lifestyle changes. Simply follow these steps and watch as your power bill decreases! How do you cut hot water costs?
Reassess Your Showering Habits
Do you love taking a long, hot, and luxurious shower? You’re not alone, but unfortunately, this luxury can hit you hard on your monthly utility bill. If you and your housemates want to avoid a much higher bill, you should each reassess how frequently you shower, how much time you spend in the shower, and how much hot water you use.
By using warm water instead of hot, or by taking one less steamy shower every week, you’ll be saving water and taking some pressure off your water heating system. Don’t believe it? You’ll see a difference on your monthly bill with just a week or two of moderated shower usage.
Install Low-Flow Fixtures
Low-flow fixtures can be installed showerheads and taps, among other elements. This is especially useful if you’re the kind of person to leave the tap running. Though you should try to avoid this wasteful and expensive habit, a low-flow fixture will help reduce the damage every time you do it.
Full Loads Only
One of the primary ways that people waste water; is by doing small loads of laundry and turning on the dishwasher when it’s only half full. By waiting until you have a full dishwasher and enough laundry to do a full load, you’re saving water and money on your monthly bill.
You can take this a step further by selecting shorter wash cycles and by using cold water instead of hot water for both appliances. Hot water isn’t necessary when cleaning clothes, so long as they’re not covered in soil or any other difficult stains. Using cold water instead saves money and does nothing to reduce the effectiveness of your washing machine.
Watch Out For Leaks
Do you know those droplets of water that you sometimes see dripping out of your faucet when it’s turned off? Those tiny droplets are often indicators of another problem, and this could be costing you more money than you think.
Even a minor leak that’s losing just one droplet per second can cost you $1 every month. If you neglect these leaks, they could become more plentiful and more severe. It’s much more affordable in the long run to repair them before they cost you unnecessary amounts of money.
Use an Efficient Hot Water System
If you’re experiencing problems with your current hot water system, or if your system is over ten years old, it might be time to have it repaired or replaced. Older systems and systems in need of repairs are less efficient, adding unnecessary costs to your bill each month. The money you’ll save with a more updated model with partially offset the cost of installation, so there’s no reason not to reach out to a licenced business today to get the services you need.
If you incorporate these simple changes into your daily routine, you’re guaranteed to see a reduction on your monthly bill. However, if you want the best possible results, try to get the whole household involved. Send them this article and start saving money today.
