• Install aerating, low-flow faucets and showerheads.

• Repair leaky faucets promptly; a leaky faucet wastes gallons of water

in a short period of time.

• Lower the thermostat on your water heater; water heaters

sometimes come from the factory with high temperature settings, but

a setting of 120°F provides comfortable hot water for most uses.

• Take more showers than baths. Bathing uses the most hot water

in the average household. You use 15–25 gallons of hot water for a

bath, but less than 10 gallons during a 5-minute shower.

• Insulate your electric hot-water storage tank, but be careful not to

cover the thermostat. Follow the manufacturer’s recommendations.

• Insulate your natural gas or oil hotwater storage tank, but be careful

not to cover the water heater’s top, bottom, thermostat, or burner

compartment. Follow the manufacturer’s recommendations; when in

doubt, get professional help.

• Insulate the first 6 feet of the hot and cold water pipes connected to

the water heater.

• If you are in the market for a new dishwasher or clothes washer,

consider buying an efficient, water-saving model to reduce hot water

use.

• Install heat traps on the hot and cold pipes at the water heater to

prevent heat loss. Some new water heaters have built-in heat traps.

• Drain a quart of water from your water tank every 3 months to

remove sediment that impedes heat transfer and lowers the efficiency

of your heater. The type of water tank you have determines the steps

to take, so follow the manufacturer’s advice.

• Although most water heaters last 10– 15 years, it’s best to start

shopping for a new one if yours is more than 7 yearsold. Doing some

research before your heater fails will enable you to select one that

most appropriately meets your needs.