| If you want to reduce your household energy bills then | | | | If you have an old electric water heater storage tank |
| its worth considering your water heater. Water | | | | insulate it with an insulation blanket, be careful not to |
| heaters account for a third of all household energy | | | | cover the thermostat as this can skew your |
| consumption. | | | | temperature control. |
| There are four ways to cut your water heating bills: | | | | Insulate the first 6-8 feet of the hot and cold water |
| - Use less hot water, | | | | pipes connected to the water heater. |
| - Turn down the thermostat on your water heater, | | | | Most water heaters last for around 10-5 years, it's best |
| - Insulate your water heater, | | | | to start shopping for a new one if yours is more than |
| - Buy a new, more efficient water heater. | | | | 7 years old. Research what's on the market before |
| Lower the thermostat on your water heater; water | | | | your current water heater fails as this will enable you |
| heaters often arrive from the manufacture with high | | | | to select a heater that meets your needs. |
| temperature settings, a setting of 49°C provides | | | | For long-term savings don't skrimp on your initial |
| nice hot water for most people. | | | | purchase a standard water heater may cost less |
| Reduce the amount of baths that you have within any | | | | initially, however look at the big picture and the savings |
| given week, try to take more showers. Or if you have | | | | that can be made through buying an energy efficient |
| children let one child take one bath and then another | | | | heater, year on year. |
| child can use the water. This may sound not very | | | | Consider natural-gas on-demand or tankless water |
| hygienic but there was a time when water was not | | | | heaters. Research has found there to be massive |
| running from taps and people had to be a lot more | | | | savings of up to 30% compared with standard |
| economical with water that they would collect from | | | | natural-gas storage tank water heaters. |
| wells. | | | | |