The Ultimate Guide to Water Heater Efficiency

Saving money and reducing energy usage are important considerations for most UK households. Chances are good that you turn off lights when you’re not in the room and program your home’s thermostat so that it operates minimally when you’re not home. However, your water heater could be an overlooked source of inefficiency. Our guide will help you fine-tune it to reduce your operating costs and environmental impact.

Age

If your water heater is 10 years old or older, replace it. Yes, that means incurring an additional expense but considering most cylinders don’t last longer than this and that modern cylinders are much more energy efficient, it’s a decision that can pay off quickly.

Schedule

Too many people allow their water heater’s thermostat to dictate when the appliance works. While it might be convenient, it also means your water heater will cycle on throughout the day and night when you’re not actively using hot water. Instead, invest in a timer or programmer that allows you to create a usage schedule so you’re not needlessly using energy to heat water when there’s no demand.

Insulate

Today’s unvented cylinders are very well insulated. However, you can install external jackets that upgrade your insulation game dramatically. You can (and should) also insulate the pipes that carry hot water from the water heater throughout the home. This allows you to maintain higher temps even at taps very far from the water heater and possibly lower your thermostat setting, which can save you money.

Flush and Fill

Annual maintenance is a crucial consideration when it comes to improving water heater efficiency and reducing costs. For many homes in the UK, sediment build-up is a big problem. Dissolved solids like lime within the water supply settle onto the water cylinder’s immersion heaters and line the bottom. This coating forces your heaters to work harder and longer, while also reducing the volume of water your cylinder can hold. Annual maintenance should include a flush and fill that removes this sediment, maintaining efficiency and extending your cylinder’s lifespan.

Check Your Thermostat

Another way to improve water heater efficiency and control costs is by lowering the temperature on your thermostat. We recommend setting it around 60 degrees or a little higher. This gives you protection against dangerous bacteria but also helps reduce your energy usage and related costs. If you have small children in the household, this can also help reduce the chance of scalds.

Install Aerators

A lot of water heater installers will recommend upgrading your fixtures to improve efficiency and reduce costs. That’s a great step, but it’s not always necessary. You can also install aerators in your existing taps to reduce the amount of water you use. Aerators are simply disc-shaped screens that interrupt the flow of water, giving you ample volume without the same amount of water being used.

Not sure if your water heater is operating efficiently? Contact EasyFlow. Our experienced technicians can assess your water heater’s condition and help you decide on the right plan of action.