Your hot water heater is one of your home’s biggest energy users. Whether you have a tankless water heater or a more traditional model, it takes a lot of energy to heat up the water for your kitchen and bathrooms. Heat itself is an energy source – one that you can harness even after you are finished using the hot water. Here we will discuss how you can make the most of the heat energy coming from your hot water heater.
Drain Water Heat Recovery Systems
Drain water heat recovery systems are designed to capture heat from the water that flows through your drain. If you think about it, you only get the benefit of hot water for a matter of seconds before it goes down the drain. With a recovery system, you can still take advantage of the heat that is leftover in the water.
The process relies on a series of heat exchangers, much like the ones in refrigerators that turn hot air into cold air. The heat energy is stripped from the outgoing water and used to heat more water in the future. Rather than relying on electricity or gas to heat up the water, you can use the hot water your heater has already taken the time to warm up. The system itself is a bit of an investment upfront, but the long-term savings ensure that the plumbing pays for itself.
If you are interested in getting a drain water heat recovery system or other plumbing upgrades for your home, contact Abbott’s Plumbing to schedule a free consultation with one of our local plumbing experts.
Reduce Your Water Waste as a Whole
Utilizing the heat from your waste water will save you money, but so will reducing your water usage as a whole. Here are some tips to help you save money on your water bill:
• Don’t leave the water running between tasks. Running water while you brush your teeth or soak your dishes will cost you a ton of money over time. Shut off the water in between tasks, and only run it when you actively need it.
• Time your showers. If you start paying attention to how much time you spend in the shower, you can shave a few minutes off each day to conserve water. One great way to do this is by listening to music in the shower and limiting the number of songs you hear while you are in there. You could also set a timer to go off when you have spent longer than 10 or 15 minutes in the shower, depending on how long it normally takes you.
• Use cold water when washing laundry. Most fabrics do well with cold water washes, and using less hot water will help you save energy.
• Wash dishes when the dishwasher is full. Instead of washing your dishes every night, try washing them only when the dishwasher has a full load. All you have to do is lightly rinse the dishes before they go in the dishwasher, which will protect the integrity of the washer as well.
• Upgrade to low-flow fixtures. Your shower head, toilet, faucets, and more can all be converted to more energy efficient units.
• Invest in plumbing repairs as needed. A small leak in your plumbing can costs hundreds of dollars in wasted water before it gets repaired. By completing the repairs as soon as you know you need them, you will effectively save yourself money and help the environment.
As long as you remain conscientious about your water usage, you should start to see tremendous savings on your utility bills.
6149 Washington Blvd
Elkridge, MD 21075
