Efficient Water Heaters Save Money, Water

(NewsUSA) – Among showers, laundry and dishwasher loads, the
average American home consumes a lot of hot water. After heating and cooling costs, water heating
has proven to be the largest part of most families' utility bills.

According to the U.S. Department of Energy, water heaters consume as much as 25 percent
of a home's energy supply. Of course, that means that improving water heating efficiency can
drastically affect utility bills.

Consumers now face choices beyond traditional gas and electric water heaters. Water
heaters come in different shapes and perform various functions. However, two types of heaters seem
to perform most efficiently -; tankless and high-efficiency condensing water heaters.

How should you choose your new water heater? First, consider how much hot water you use. Do
you run many hot water appliances simultaneously? Does your family use a large volume of water
throughout the day?

Tankless water heaters best suit applications with periodic demand, like in apartments
with one or two residents or in vacation homes. Using too many hot water appliances at the same
time can overtax tankless water heaters. For example, running the clothes washer and the shower at
the same time could use up all of the tankless unit's hot water.

For families who require large volumes of hot water, high-efficiency storage-type models best
meet household demands.

"High-efficiency models were designed for the homeowner who needs more hot water and
wants to save money on their water heating bill in the process," said David Chisholm, the water
heater brand manager of A. O. Smith, makers of the Vertex high-efficiency model.

Here are two tips for Americans looking to save money on water heating bills:

-Lower your water heater temperature. Keeping the water temperature at 120 degrees Fahrenheit
is usually sufficient for most households. Lowering the temperature 10 degrees F typically saves 3
to 5 percent on water heating bills.

-If you're going on vacation, turn your water heater to the lowest possible setting or
turn it off. If you choose to turn off a gas water heater, make sure that you know how to restart
its pilot light.

For more information on water heaters, visit www.hotwater.com.