How To Maximize the Energy Efficiency of Your Existing Water Heater

1. Insulate! The easiest way to pump up your water heater’s energy conservation is to cover the unit with good insulation. You can purchase an insulated jacket that fits most water heaters; however, check your model first as some manufacturers specifically request that you not use insulation. You can improve their energy efficiency by about 25 - 40 percent, especially on older water heaters. Also don’t forget to insulate the hot water pipes wherever you can throughout your house. There’s no sense in heating water if all that heat is going to escape right out the copper pipes while your hot water is on its way to the showerhead. You should also consider installing hot water traps or one-way valves in your hot water pipes. These prevent cooled water in your pipes from draining back into your hot water tank, forcing your heater to warm it up again and reducing energy efficiency.
2. Keep your water heater thermostat set at 120 degrees Fahrenheit for optimal energy conservation. Too many people keep their hot water heaters cranked way up, only to use cold water to cool that water down at the tap. If you are planning on being away for a week or more on vacation, turn your water heater thermostat all the way down to its vacation setting. This will help your home’s energy efficiency even while you are away.
3. Reduce hot water consumption. Try to limit showers to five minutes, and turn off taps while soaping your hands, brushing your teeth, or when you are away from the kitchen sink. The best way to reduce hot water consumption is to install low-flow shower heads and taps. These inject air into the water as it comes out of the tap, which maintains water pressure while reducing the amount of water you actually use. Some utility companies will even offer you a rebate or coupon to install low-flow shower heads and taps in your home, which means you could be improving your energy conservation for free!
4. Install a drain water heat recovery system. This is a cool little invention that really maximizes the energy efficiency of your water heater. Assuming you’ve taken all the above steps to reduce your hot water consumption, now get the most out of what goes down the drain. As hot water escapes down your shower or kitchen sink drain, the drain pipe heats up. This drain recovery system takes advantage of that formerly wasted heat by taking the cold water fill pipe connected to your water heater and wrapping it tightly in a coil around your drain pipe. So as heat escapes the drain pipe, it is used to warm up the cold water going into your hot water heater. Thus your heater has less work to do when new water fills the tank. That’s creative energy conservation at work.

Solar Water Heaters

You can also greatly increase the efficiency of your water heater by using solar energy to pre-heat or even completely heat your water before it ever gets to your water heater, meaning your water heater has little or no work to do. Alternatively, some solar water heaters have a built-in backup heater in case not enough solar heat exists to heat your water, or when demand is high. There are two types of water heaters: passive and active. There are three types of passive solar water heaters:

1. Flat plate collector solar water heaters use a glazed polymer black plate that collects heat from the sun and transfers it to water passing beneath it in a tube. This water then goes on to your water heater.
2. Integral collector storage systems are large black tanks that collect solar heat and heat your water before it goes to the water heater.
3. Evacuated tube solar collectors use several parallel glass pipes with a metal core. Water passes between the core and the outer glass tube. The core is connected to a large metal fin that heats up as it absorbs solar energy, then transfers the heat to the water in the tubes.

There are two types of active solar water heaters:

1. Direct circulation systems pump water through a solar heat collector on the roof.
2. Indirect circulation systems use an anti-freezing liquid that heats up in a solar collector on the roof, then descends into your water heater in a coiled pipe, where it transfers the heat to your water without mixing. This system is used in regions that experience freezing winter temperatures, whereas the direct circulation system is used in places with mild winters.

Some factors to consider before investing in a solar water heater:

1. Household demand. How much hot water do you use in a day? To offset the cost of owning and operating a solar hot water heater, you must have significant energy bills caused by lots of hot water use.
2. Location. In general, warm or hot climates are better suited for a solar water heater. If you live in a region that experiences freezing temperatures in the winter, consider your options carefully, as several types of solar heaters involve circulating cold water in pipes outside your home, where they are susceptible to freezing.
3. Make sure you check local building codes and regulations before installing a solar water heater, and hire a professional contractor to install it.

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