DIY Plumbing Blog | Improve Energy Efficiency

Few things are worse than the stomach-dropping feeling of opening a utility bill and finding it much higher than you expected it to be. With all of your other financial responsibilities, we understand why you want to save money wherever you can. Thanks to modern technology there are a whole host of appliances that are more energy efficient and can contribute a lot to saving you money on your utility bills. We’ll run through some of the most popular additions to your home that can save you a lot of money in the long run while being better for the environment.

Energy Efficient and Tankless Water Heaters

Conventional water heaters heat a large tank of water and hold the water at the specified temperature so that you have hot water when you need it. Unfortunately, this means that as the water in the tank cools the water heater has to kick back on to reheat the water. This process wastes a lot of energy and could be a major factor contributing to high utility bills. Many homeowners have started switching to tankless water heaters as these only heat water when you need it. When you turn on a hot water tap in your home, tankless water heaters run water through a heating element that instantly heats the water to the desired temperature which saves you on the energy waste of heating and reheating water when you don’t need it. If you’re in the market for a new water heater make sure to check out Energy Star ratings as their recommendations can save you a lot on your utility bills.

Install an Energy Efficient Dishwasher

Your dishwasher is a great appliance to focus on because you can save on water and energy which means double the potential savings on your utility bills. Consumer Reports has a list of the most efficient dishwashers so you can make an informed choice when replacing your unit. Using your dishwasher over hand washing your dishes is a great way to save water as well according to the Natural Resources Defense Council. Using an Energy Star rated dishwasher can use as little as 3 gallons per load while washing the same amount of dishes by hand could use up to 27 gallons of water. Less work for more water savings? Sometimes it’s not too good to be true.

Install Low Flow Shower Heads

Low flow shower heads have a pretty bad reputation for letting out a barely noticeable stream of water and ruining the high water pressure that we all love first thing in the morning. Modern fixtures can deliver the same amount of water pressure while using less water though so you can have the best of both worlds. According to the Department of Energy installing a low flow showerhead can achieve water savings of 25%-65% which translates to some serious savings on your utilities all while pumping out water at 80 psi.

Let Us Help You Save Money

No matter what utility saving venture you decide to go on you can count on the team at Scott English Plumbing to help. From appliances to bathroom fixtures our professionals plumbers can handle whatever you need. Contact us today!