When you’re searching on Google for tips on how to save money, it’s pretty common for “the experts” to make suggestions that aren’t really all that helpful. For instance, if you’re trying to cut your water heating costs, it’s easy for a website to suggest, “Hey, just get a new water heater!” Obviously, that isn’t terribly helpful if you don’t have cash to spare in the first place. So, we put together a list of a few things you can do to save money on your hot water bill that are super cheap. Nothing on this list will set you back more than $20, and some of them won’t cost you a cent!
Turn the temperature on your water heater down.
Cost: $FREE!
It’s quite common for water heaters to be turned up much higher than necessary. And when you’re using a traditional water heater—as opposed to newer tankless water heaters—this means that you’re keeping the equivalent of a giant tea kettle on the burner 24/7. Believe it or not, the determining factor for the minimum water temperature in your house is your dishwasher (or lack thereof). The reason for this is because of food safety—you don’t want bacteria from your last meal to be hanging around, waiting for your next.
If you use a dishwasher, your water heater should be set to 48 to 50 degrees. However, look at the manual for your dishwasher—there may be manufacturer suggested settings that are more appropriate for your model. Older models may require water temperatures of up to 60 degrees, while some very new or high end dishwashers work just fine with water heaters set to 40 degrees.
If you hand wash your dishes the old-fashioned way, then you have some options. If you use bleach to decontaminate your dishes, set your water heater to about 40 degrees. If you rely on a hot water rinse to kill germs, then you may need to have your water heater set to 60 degrees. However, 60 degree water can cause serious burns in only a few seconds, which means that you should turn your water heater back down to a safer temperature when you aren’t scrubbing dishes.
Change your behavior when you’re taking a shower, washing dishes, or brushing your teeth.
Cost: $FREE!
It’s a bad habit that a lot of people have: letting the water run needlessly while you’re scrubbing your scalp, your teeth, or a particularly stubborn piece of dried food on a plate. This may seem minor, but it really does add up very quickly. On the site ScienceBlogs, a recent post indicated that one person can waste more than 5000 litres of water per year, just while brushing their teeth. (This example was actually quite conservative, as the hypothetical person only brushed their teeth once per day. Ew.) If you aren’t actively using the water coming out of the tap, turn it off until you’re ready to use it again.
Put an insulation blanket on your water heater.
Cost: Less than $20
If your water heater is warm to the touch, then that means that your water heater is doing its darnedest to heat the entire room it’s located in, in addition to the water in the tank. While its desire to go above and beyond the call of duty is commendable, that can be a little hard on the wallet. Many natural gas and electricity providers offer water tank blankets at very low, subsidized rates. If not, you can still easily find one for less than $20 if you shop around online. Be sure to carefully read the instructions provided with your insulation blanket, in order to avoid any risk of fire or other problems.
Install low-flow fixtures or restrictors in your faucets, showerheads, and toilets.
Cost: Anywhere between a few cents and $20
If you need a little help in reinforcing the good water-saving habits mentioned above, water-saving fixtures and restrictors can be great for saving water. Water-saving showerheads and faucets, as well as toilet tank add-ons, can be found for as little as a few dollars. If you want to hold onto your existing fixtures, a water restrictor might be your best bet. Water restrictors are basically small plastic or metal gaskets that you install inside of a faucet or shower head, that cut down on how much water can flow through in a given time. These can cost less than a dollar, if you buy in bulk.
