Upgrading Your Existing Water Heater

Even if you aren’t going to buy a new water heater, you can save a lot of energy and money with your existing system by following a few simple suggestions.

• Conserve Water: Your biggest opportunity for savings is to use less hot water. In addition to saving energy (and money), cutting down on hot water use helps conserve dwindling water supplies, which in some parts of the country is a critical problem. A family of four each showering five minutes a day can use about 700 gallons per week—a three-year drinking water supply for one person! Water-conserving showerheads and faucet aerators can cut hot water use in half. That family of four can save 14,000 gallons of water a year and the energy required to heat it.

• Insulate Your Existing Water Heater: Installing an insulating jacket on your existing water heater is one of the most effective do-it-yourself energy-saving projects, especially if your water heater is in an unheated basement or space. The insulating jacket will reduce standby heat loss—heat lost through the walls of the tank—by 25–40%, saving 4–9% on your water heating bills. Water heater insulation jackets are widely available for around $10. Some newer water heaters come with fairly high insulation levels, reducing (though not eliminating) the economic advantages of adding additional insulation. In fact, some manufacturers recommend against installing insulating jackets on their energy-efficient models. Always follow directions carefully when installing an insulation jacket. Leave the thermostat(s) accessible. With conventional gas- and oil-fired water heaters, you need to be careful not to restrict the air inlet(s) at the bottom or the draft hood at the top.

• Insulate Hot Water Pipes: Insulating your hot water pipes will reduce losses as the hot water is flowing to your faucet and, more importantly, it will reduce standby losses when the tap is turned off and then back on within an hour or so. A great deal of energy and water is wasted waiting for the hot water to reach the tap. Even when pipes are insulated, the water in the pipes will eventually cool, but it stays warmer much longer than it would if the pipes weren’t insulated.

• Lower the Water Heater Temperature: Keep your water heater thermostat set at the lowest temperature that provides you with sufficient hot water. For most households, 120°F water is fine (about midway between the “low” and “medium” setting). Each 10°F reduction in water temperature will generally save 3–5% on your water heating costs. When you are going away on vacation, you can turn the thermostat down to the lowest possible setting, or turn the water heater off altogether for additional savings. With a gas water heater, make sure you know how to relight the pilot if you’re going to turn it off while away.

Water Heater Efficiency Saves

The energy efficiency of a storage water heater is indicated by its energy factor (EF), an overall efficiency based on the use of 64 gallons of hot water per day. The first national appliance efficiency standards for water heaters took effect in 1990. New standards, which took effect in January 2004, increased the minimum efficiency levels of water heaters.

The most efficient gas-fired storage water heaters have energy factors ranging from 0.60 to 0.65, corresponding to estimated gas use below 250 therms/year. Condensing water heaters have energy factors as high as 0.86. The most efficient electric storage water heaters have energy factors ranging between 0.93 and 0.95, resulting in estimated annual energy use below 4,725 kWh/year. There is little difference between the most efficient electric resistance storage water heaters and the minimum efficiency standard. Fortunately, heat pump water heaters using less than half as much electricity as conventional electric resistance water heaters are becoming commercially available. If you use electricity for water heating, consider installing a heat pump water heater. Otherwise, look for the most efficient electric resistance unit in your size range.

With demand water heaters, the manufacturers provide different specifications: the energy input (Btu/hour for gas, kilowatts [kW] for electric); the temperature rise achievable at the rated flow; the flow rate at the listed temperature rise; and so on. In comparing different models, be aware that you aren’t always looking at direct comparisons, especially with temperature rise and flow rate. For example, while one model might list the flow rate at a 100°F temperature rise, another might list the flow rate at 70°. Until there are industry-standard ratings for temperature rise and flow rates, it will be difficult to compare the performance of products from different companies. Some companies are beginning to publish energy factor ratings for these products and this information should make for easier comparisons.

Types of Water Heaters

Water Heating

Next to heating or cooling, water heating is typically the largest energy user in the home. As homes have become more and more energy efficient during the past 20 years, the fraction of energy used for water heating has steadily increased. This article takes a look at the high-efficiency water heaters available and how you can reduce water heating costs with your present water heater.

TYPES OF WATER HEATERS
Storage water heaters are by far the most common type of water heater in the U.S. today. Ranging in size from 20 to 80 gallons (or larger) and fueled by electricity, natural gas, propane, or oil, storage water heaters heat water in an insulated tank. When you turn on the hot water tap, hot water is pulled out of the top of the water heater and cold water flows into the bottom (through a "dip tube" from the top) to replace it. Because heat is lost through the flue and the walls of the storage tank (this is called standby heat loss), energy is consumed even when no hot water is being used. New energy-efficient storage water heaters contain higher levels of insulation around the tank and one-way valves where pipes connect to the tank, substantially reducing standby heat loss.


Demand (or instantaneous) “Tankless” water heaters eliminate the storage tank by heating water directly when there is a call for hot water. These units are growing in popularity in the U.S. The energy consumption of these units is generally lower since standby losses from the storage tank are eliminated. Demand water heaters with enough capacity to meet household needs are gas- or propane-fired. They have three significant drawbacks for some applications: Large simultaneous uses (two showers and the clothes washer, for example) may challenge their capacity, particularly in winter, when the inlet water is coldest. They will not turn on unless the hot water flow is ½ - 3/4 gallon/minutes. Retrofit installation can be very expensive. Finally, because the efficiency tests were not developed with these designs being considered, it is not known if the "EF" accurately estimates energy consumption.


Heat pump water heaters are more efficient than electric resistance models because the electricity is used for moving heat from one place to another rather than for generating the heat directly. The heat source is the outside air or air in the basement where the unit is located. Refrigerant fluid and compressors are used to transfer heat into an insulated storage tank. Heat pump water heaters are available with built-in water tanks called integral units, or as add-ons to existing hot water tanks. A heat pump water heater uses one-third to one-half as much electricity as a conventional electric resistance water heater. In warm climates they may do even better, but there are few sources for these products.

Indirect water heaters use the home’s boiler or furnace as the heat source. In boiler systems, hot water from the boiler is circulated through a heat exchanger in a separate insulated tank. In the less common furnace-based systems, water in a heat exchanger coil circulates through the furnace to be heated, then through the water storage tank. Since hot water is stored in an insulated storage tank, the boiler or furnace does not have to turn on and off as frequently, improving its fuel economy. Indirect water heaters, when used in combination with new, high-efficiency boilers or furnaces, are usually the least expensive way to provide hot water. These systems can be purchased in an integrated form, incorporating the boiler or furnace and water heater with controls, or as separate components. Gas, oil, and propane-fired systems are available.

Solar water heaters use energy from the sun to heat water. Solar water heaters are designed to serve as preheaters for conventional storage or demand water heaters. While the initial cost of a solar water heater is high, it can save a lot of money over the long term. Solar water heaters are much less common than they were during the 1970s and early 1980s when they were supported by tax credits, but the units available today tend to be considerably less expensive and more reliable. At today’s prices, solar water heaters compete very well with electric and propane water heaters on a life-cycle cost basis, though they are still usually more expensive than natural gas.

How To Heat and Cool Your Home Efficiently

How to Heat & Cool Your Home Efficiently

As much as half of the energy used in your home goes to heating and cooling. So making smart decisions about your home's heating, ventilating, and air conditioning (HVAC) system can have a big effect on your utility bills — and your comfort. Take these steps to increase the efficiency of your heating and cooling system.

Change your air filter regularly

Check your filter every month, especially during heavy use months (winter and summer). If the filter looks dirty after a month, change it. At a minimum, change the filter every 3 months. A dirty filter will slow down air flow and make the system work harder to keep you warm or cool — wasting energy. A clean filter will also prevent dust and dirt from building up in the system — leading to expensive maintenance and/or early system failure.

Tune up your HVAC equipment yearly

Just as a tune-up for your car can improve your gas mileage, a yearly tune-up of your heating and cooling system can improve efficiency and comfort.

Install a programmable thermostat

A programmable thermostat is ideal for people who are away from home during set periods of time throughout the week. Through proper use of pre-programmed settings, a programmable thermostat can save you about $180 every year in energy costs.

Seal your heating and cooling ducts

Ducts that move air to-and-from a forced air furnace, central air conditioner, or heat pump are often big energy wasters. Sealing and insulating ducts can improve the efficiency of your heating and cooling system by as much as 20 percent — and sometimes much more.

Focus first on sealing ducts that run through the attic, crawlspace, unheated basement, or garage. Use duct sealant (mastic) or metal-backed (foil) tape to seal the seams and connections of ducts. After sealing the ducts in those spaces, wrap them in insulation to keep them from getting hot in the summer or cold in the winter. Next, look to seal any other ducts that you can access in the heated or cooled part of the house.

Alot of work? No, just contact Joe Mumford Plumbing for professional assistance.

What is a HVAC Spring Tune Up

What is a HVAC Spring Tune Up

With spring just around the corner, now is the time to schedule a tune up for your air conditioning system. Don’t wait until it gets hot to find out that your air conditioning system is not working up to capacity or not working at all. By then, every air conditioning technician in the area will be working overtime and you might end up waiting days before they can make it out to your home. Schedule your HVAC service now and your system will be ready to go when summer temperatures hit.

Regular residential HVAC maintenance is important to keep your air conditioning system in peak operating condition. Like any mechanical system, wear and tear takes a toll on your air conditioning system. Your system worked hard all last summer keeping your home and family comfortable and a spring tune up will help keep it great shape again this summer.

Your HVAC technician will do a thorough scheduled maintenance service including inspecting your entire system, lubricating bearings, cleaning the coil and condenser, replace the air filter, check and adjust refrigerant levels as needed, and measure the supply and return temperature differential.

A good air conditioning technician will also be able to identify any issues or problems that your system may have and correct them before the system fails completely and leaves you sweltering in the summer heat.

Spring is also an ideal time for a full system efficiency analysis to get the most out of your air conditioning system. Your technician can recommend a package of improvements designed to increase your air conditioning system’s efficiency. The result will be increased indoor comfort and lower electric bills.

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