For many people, living alone is the way to be. Whether you've moved out on your own or just don't have any roommates, it might surprise you to learn that you're probably spending too much money on one thing: water heating bills. While there are plenty of ways that you save money by living alone, if you're not taking your water heater into account, you're probably spending money that you might rather save. Here's why, and what you can do about it.
How Traditional Water Heaters Work
Traditional water heaters are essentially like giant kettles. They fill up with water as soon as they're set up, and whenever you drain a little water off, they add more in order to restore the water level. Then, once the heater is full, it runs a pilot light, either powered by electricity or gas, to heat up the contents of the water heater. This process is constant. If the pilot light turns off, the water will start to cool off, which will result in tepid or cold water coming through the tap.
The problem here is that your water heater is likely much, much bigger than you really need for a single-person household. Even if you take long showers, the rest of the time that you're not making use of that much water, the heater is still eating up energy and raising your electric or gas bill in the process. But that doesn't mean that you have to risk going without hot water for your long showers. In fact, the alternative may give you an even longer time to enjoy hot water.
The Alternative
Rather than downsizing to a smaller water heater, which can leave you without the hot water you need when you need it most, might be a good idea to consider switching to a tankless water heater. Tankless water heaters are designed to provide hot water on demand, whenever you turn on the tap. They heat up water as it passes through the water heater, rather than keeping an entire tank hot all the time. This means that as soon as you turn the tap off and water stops flowing, the water heater is no longer expending energy.
As an added perk, since there's no tank, there's no way for you to drain all of the hot water while taking a long shower. You can even spend more time in the shower with a tankless water heater if you really want to.
How to Choose
When it comes to picking out a new water heater, you'll want to get some guidance from a professional. Not all water heaters, even the tankless variety, are created equally. By inquiring with a plumber, you can find a water heater that meets your needs while bringing down your heating bill costs. In addition, you can ensure that you're getting a water heater that will last for a long time.
For more information about using a tankless water heater, contact a local plumber.
Share25 September 2020
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