Hot water may not be an official necessity, but it’s a modern convenience that is pretty hard to live without. If you enjoy warm showers, clean dishes, and white laundry loads, hot water is important. Your water heater is probably what uses up a significant portion of your home energy after your furnace, especially during the winter. Whether you have an electric or gas water heater, there are ways you cut your hot water energy bill back a little bit or even a lot, depending on how far you’re willing to go toward conservation. Carolina Fuels, a reliable company offering air conditioning and furnace repair in Eden as well as delivery of many types of heating fuels, suggests these 10 ways to cut your hot water energy bill.

 

• • Take shorter, cooler showers. This one is hard, because a hot shower is such a luxury, especially when it’s cold outside. By shortening the length and temperature of your showers you can help your water heater use less energy. And besides saving energy, there are other reasons a shorter, cooler shower is beneficial. It’s also better for combating dry skin that so often plagues us during dry, cold winters. It also helps to prevent dry scalp issues that can lead to dandruff.
  • Replace shower heads and faucets with low flow models. A low flow shower head reduces the amount of water used during each shower. Low flow faucets can conserve a lot of water too in the kitchen and bathrooms.  
  • Do most of your laundry in cold water. When it comes to your multi-color loads, there’s really no advantage to using hot water and it could cause your colors to run. When it comes to white loads, if you use bleach, wash in hot water but rinse in cold to save some energy.
  • Set your water heater to a lower temperature. Aim for around 120 degrees and your water heater will save a lot of energy it would normally expend to heat the water to a higher temperature and preserve that temperature in the holding tank.
  • Run your dishwasher less often. Wait until you have a full load of dishes before running your dishwasher.
  • Fix leaky plumbing. Letting a faucet drip can waste an amazing amount of water, and sometimes it’s the hot water that’s leaking, meaning your hot water heater is working overtime.
  • Add insulation to your water heater. Water heater insulation can be purchased and applied on your own, but make sure you follow the directions to avoid problems. Consider having a professional apply the insulation.
  • Get a new water heater. Upgrading to a new energy-efficient water heater will save you a lot in energy costs. Especially if you purchase an on-demand or tankless water heater.
  • Get a new dishwasher. An older dishwasher will use much more water than a newer one will. Newer dishwashers also have more advanced heating elements so that it self-heats and doesn’t require as much hot water.
  • Get a new washing machine. A high-efficiency washing machine will also use less hot water when you do need to run a warm water load. 

Call Carolina Fuels for Water Heater and Furnace Repair in Eden

If you need a professional to evaluate your water heater’s condition and energy usage, Carolina Fuels can help. In addition to furnace repair in Eden, Carolina Fuels provides a wide range of energy audit services. If you currently have an electric water heater, you may find that you can save the most money by switching to a propane water heater. Call Carolina Fuels to find out how you can save energy today: (336) 623-9741.

Propane tanks come in a variety of sizes. A home or business should have a tank that is the appropriate size for the structure’s typical usage. Your propane supplier in Burlington can recommend the right size tank for you by simply asking some questions about your home or business and appliances. Here’s a general overview of the sizes of tanks and the usage they support. 

Small: 120-325 Gallons 

Designed to support a few appliances, this small tank may be all you need if your propane usage is minimal. If you need propane for your stove, clothes dryer, fireplace, water heater, or any combination of two or three of these, a small tank is probably big enough for your home. These tanks are sometimes upright and other times horizontal, depending on your storage space.  

Medium: 500 Gallons 

If you’re planning to heat a small home or run more than three household appliances on propane, you’ll probably need a medium tank that holds up to 500 gallons. Depending on the square footage of your home, this medium-sized tank won’t have to be refilled more often than normal. Your propane supplier in Burlington can give you a good idea of whether or not this tank size will be sufficient. 

Large: 1,000 Gallons 

When you need to heat a larger home and have multiple appliances running on propane, a 1,000-gallon tank will most likely work better for you. Refills should be frequent enough but not so often to become a nuisance. You’ll have the freedom to run your furnace, fireplace, range, dryer, water heater, and more all from one tank. A small business may be able to operate on this size tank.  

Extra-Large: 1,450-1,990 Gallons 

Need a commercial grade propane tank? Businesses and larger buildings may likely require an extra-large tank that holds between 1,450-1,990 gallons of propane. If you need to run several large appliances on propane, you’ll likely need an extra-large tank. This is one of the largest tanks available. If you require more propane than what an extra-large tank will hold, you may need multiple tanks.  

Other Factors Affect Propane Tank Size Recommendations 

When choosing a propane tank size, there are a few other factors to consider besides the square footage of your home and the number of appliances you have that use propane. These include:  

• Climate. The weather in the area where you live or where your business exists makes a difference in the amount of propane you will require for heating.  
• Storage space. If you have limited storage space, it may limit the size of propane tank that will fit on your property.  
• Price and budget. If you’re just starting out on propane and your budget only allows for a small tank, you can upgrade later when prices and budgets change.  

Your propane supplier in Burlington, Alamance Oil, can help you determine what size propane tank you need. Sign up for automatic deliveries so you’ll never run out. Call (336) 226-9371.  

When it comes to saving energy, the debate is always about which energy-saving improvements are actually worth the money. Can you actually save money with energy efficiency upgrades? The key is choosing items that are the lowest cost up front that can save you the most in the long run. A lot of the best investments are related to home comfort, such as heating and air conditioning. Your HVAC service in Burlington can make the best recommendations, such as these top 8, arranged from lowest to highest cost. 

1. Dishwasher Cleaner. A clean dishwasher operates much more efficiently than a dirty one. Dishwasher cleaner packets are just a few dollars. Put one in the detergent compartment and run a normal cycle while the dishwasher is empty.  
2. Weather Stripping. Like insulation, weather stripping around doors and windows prevents cold air from getting in during the heating season and hot air from getting in during the cooling season, allowing your HVAC system to operate more effectively. Weather stripping starts at around $5.  
3. Light Bulbs. Replacing your lightbulbs with fluorescent bulbs can save you energy and money. The bulbs last anywhere from 4-10 times longer and a 4 pack averages less than $10.  
4. Insulation. Purchase a roll at any home improvement store for around $15 and save hundreds each year in heating and cooling costs. 
5. Low Flow Shower Heads and Faucets. You can conserve a lot of water using low flow shower heads and faucets. Your water bill can be reduced as well as the cost of water heating. A low flow showerhead can be purchased for as little as $20. 
6. Programmable Thermostat. Starting around $50, a programmable thermostat allows you to preset different temperatures for specific times of the day. Your HVAC system won’t have to work as hard or run as often when no one is home.  
7. Ceiling Fans. By installing ceiling fans in many of the rooms in your home, you can set your thermostat to a higher temperature when the weather is hot and still feel comfortable, or avoid using your air conditioning altogether. You may find ceiling fans as low as $60. 
8. Tankless Water Heater. Also known as an on-demand water heater, this has the highest initial cost of all these items. The jury is still out on whether or not tankless water heaters are worth the money, but you can definitely save energy by not heating a tank full of water that may or may not be used. You also gain the advantage of always having hot water when you need it.  

The Next Best Energy Saver is Preventative HVAC Service in Burlington 

It’s not an upgrade, but routine maintenance for your HVAC system can save a lot of energy. A properly operating furnace and air conditioner will run more efficiently and use less fuel and electricity. You’ll also save money by avoiding expensive repairs and emergency or after-hours fees. Call Alamance Oil HVAC service in Burlington to schedule a routine maintenance appointment: (336) 226-9371.