Cooperative Living April 2022 - 25

SMART CONNECT
Keeping Your
Water Hot and Your Bills Cool
by Susan Gilbert, Contributing Columnist
Tips to control the expenses associated
with hot water heaters
Natural gas-fueled water heater in
standby mode. Heat loss reaching
125 degrees is evident.
and tested to be the
best performing. You
can compare energy
performance by looking at
the Energy Guide labels on all units.
Quality heat
pumps reduce
electricity use
by about 70%.
a thermos bottle and radiate
heat through their shells to the
surrounding areas. It's important
HEAT PUMP HEATERS
Heat pump water heaters are the most
Insulating your
water heater
and keeping
the temperature
at 120 degrees
can save money.
F
ew people intentionally take a
cold shower, but, if your water
heater suddenly quits working,
that might be your only option. While
unpredictable, it is a situation that can
be managed with some advance planning.
First, consider the age of your water
heater. If it was the original installation,
you can find its age by referring to the
home's construction date from tax
records. If it is been replaced, check
with previous owners, your home's
records of major purchases or the
product label to see what you can learn.
This is important because water
heaters typically only last between 10
and 15 years. So, if your water heater is
more than 15 years old, now is probably
a good time to replace it. Putting it off
until you're out of hot water is never
a good choice.
Make sure you consider the initial
cost of the water heater and installation,
as well as the ongoing utility costs for
the life of the replacement. Energy
Star-certified water heaters are designed
co-opliving.com
energy-efficient electric storage heaters.
Just like an air conditioner moves heat
from inside a home to the outside, heat
pump water heaters move heat from
their surroundings into the water they
contain.
Since moving heat is less expensive
than creating it with electricity, they
reduce electricity use by about 70%,
compared with a standard electric
storage unit.
As an additional advantage, is heat
pump water heaters produce cool air, so
they are great in hot areas like kitchens,
garages, and attics. You may even be
eligible for rebates and tax credits.
More information, including financial
incentives, is available by searching " heat
pump water heaters " at energystar.gov.
STAND ⁄S TORAGE HEATERS
Standard storage tank water heaters
have the lowest initial cost, but higher
energy costs down the road.
Quality matters
because they hold
hot water just like
A tall, 80-gallon
electric water heater
is wrapped with
fiberglass insulation
and construction
foil to block radiant
heat loss.
to get one that is well insulated. Look
for the Energy Guide label to see all the
models and the wide range of energy
each use.
Models using the least energy are
better insulated and cost less to operate.
Visit the energystar.gov website and
search for Rebate Finder to see what
is available in your ZIP code.
TANKLESS HEATERS
Another option is a tankless gas
or propane unit, also called an
instantaneous water heater. These are
more costly to purchase and install,
but they last about 20 years with proper
maintenance. Energy-saving Energy
Star models are available.
Th y also eliminate pesky standby
losses by not having hot water sitting in
a tank radiating heat 24/7. Instead, they
heat the incoming water only when it
is needed. Tankless units may require
an upgrade to your natural gas piping,
but a contractor can advise.
As you consider all the options, keep
in mind some of the numbers. Water
heating accounts for about 20% of
most home's energy use and translates
to about $500 per year for an average
household. It is well worth taking
stock of your current water heating
equipment, making plans for its
inevitable failure and avoiding that
dreaded cold shower. 
Susan Gilbert is CEO of Apogee Interactive
Inc., which works with many Maryland
and Virginia electric cooperatives on energy
analysis and member satisfaction.
April 2022 ●
Cooperative Living ●
23
PHOTO COURTESY WATER HEATER REPAIR PORTLAND
PHOTO COURTESY JAMES DULLEY
http://www.energystar.gov http://www.energystar.gov http://www.co-opliving.com
Cooperative Living April 2022

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