All across the nation, our utility costs are rising, and finding ways to reduce your utility bills must be a priority. Many homeowners believe that it’s difficult to reduce their water use and energy consumption without compromising on their home comfort. This is not true; in this article, we will show three simple ways to reduce the utility costs in your home.
- Insulate the Water Tank
Take a look at your water tank; it should have an R-value of at least 24 to offer the best energy efficiency. Insufficient levels of insulation allow the heat to escape, and this can result in heat losses of 25-45% in the average home. According to the U.S. Department of Energy, upgrading your water tank insulation can save 7-16% on your annual water heating costs. If you have an older inefficient water tank, this can also waste a great deal of energy, and it’s a good idea to replace it for a modern unit.
- Repair Leaky Faucets
A leaky faucet can keep you awake at night with its constant dripping sound, but if you knew how much money it was wasting, you definitely would not be able to sleep. A single drip may not seem like a large volume of water to waste, but if you add it up over time, it’s a significant drag on your wallet. There may be more than one leaky faucet, and there could be hidden leaks in your home that waste even more water. There are online drip calculators that can provide some insight into how much water you may be wasting in your home. A water leak puts your home at risk from water damage, and it can drive up your utility bills. Fixing a leaky faucet is fairly simple if you have DIY skills, or you can hire a local plumber to detect any leaks in your home and fix them for you.
- Use Energy Star Appliances
Energy Star rated appliances are designed to use less energy without compromising on performance. An Energy Star appliance may cost more upfront, but the energy savings will offset the purchase price in the medium to long term. An Energy Star rated washing machine will use approximately 55% less water and up to 50% less energy than a standard washer. An Energy Star dishwasher will be around 12% more energy efficient than a standard modem. Any Energy Star rated refrigerator will use about 40% less energy when compared to a model made up to 2001. As you can see, there are significant savings to be made by switching to Energy Star rated appliances.
Making a switch to more energy efficient appliances and saving water will have a dramatic effect on your utility bills. The savings may not be immediately apparent, but over time you will notice that you’re spending less with not loss in home comfort. A
certified local plumber can help you to improve your energy efficiency and protect your home against any potential source of water damage.
By Giovanni Longo President Flood Brothers Plumbing
Giovanni Longo is a 3rd generation master plumber who has been practicing his craft and trade in the greater Los Angeles area for well over a decade and a half. A plumbing and hydraulics-engineering innovator, Giovanni’s particular world-class expertise focuses on dealing with challenging sewer system designs as well as resolving complex commercial and residential draining issues. As a certified Flood Mitigation expert, he is also well versed in a wide variety of water damage and remediation solutio
