Nat Sauteed
Lately, as energy prices spiked, more and more bill payers finding themselves faced with stark choices. Where, in the past, they might not have thought twice about running a hot bath, now they are more likely to opt for a quick shower. Regardless of which fuel you use, gas or electric, water heating systems are major energy consumers in our homes. They contribute over 30% of costs to the total energy bill of an average household and sometimes, this percentage can be much higher.
Reasons for High Consumption of Energy by Water Heaters
Various factors contribute to overconsumption of energy by water heaters. For instance,
- poor maintenance resulting in leaks from tanks taps and pipework
- faulty or badly set thermostats
- failure to replace older boilers with more efficient better energy rated systems
Commonly Used Water Heaters
There are various kinds of heaters. According to our friends over at Waterheaterreviewssite.com some work on a tank system while others offer instantaneous hot water with a continuous flow of regardless of its rate of consumption. In modern days the use of water heaters has increased greatly. It is expected that wherever you spend time, hot water will be available. To have hot water on demand water heaters and boilers come in all shapes and sizes from independent stand-alone electric units in public buildings and workplaces to complex and extensive systems in large establishments such as schools, prisons, and hospitals.
What was once considered the epitome of luxury in a British home is now anytime, anywhere product taken for granted. And yet, each time the hot water provided by the water heater is used, someone, somewhere, has to dig a little deeper into their pockets to pay for the privilege.
Ways of Reducing Energy Consumption
Here are some ways to cut your bills and reduce the overconsumption of energy by water heaters.
- Address maintenance issues and fix any leakages.
- Instantly repair or replace taps and showers that are malfunctioning.
- Install efficient showerheads that restrict water flow and consumption.
- Use water heaters with thermostats set to a moderate usable temperature.
- Replace water pumps with more energy-efficient units.
- Switch off the water heater immediately after use.
- Insulate pipes and lag tanks to keep water hotter for longer.
- Use spa and pool covers so that you do not need to heat the water frequently.
- Keep the water heater switched completely off when not in use, especially in offices and similar places with intermittent demand.
If after taking these steps, you still find your energy bills to be on the higher side, you may want to consider switching suppliers. It is not something many people have already done, as a survey of 1,412 dual fuel energy customers shows that 15% of them have never tried this option. A better package will certainly help here.
Conclusion
Water heaters are not the only high energy consumers by any means. Any appliance that creates heat including, toasters, kettles, hairdryers and convection heaters are energy-hungry. Each makes its own sly contribution to increased home energy bills. For most of us the only way to pay less is to use less. Education to raise awareness on how to find a better energy supplier and how to reduce overall energy bills is well underway, even so, you may be able to leave your hair to dry naturally, but not using hot water to clean ourselves, our clothes and our homes is not a viable option.
