From Guest Blogger Jove Arthur: Top 3 Tips for Making Your House Water Efficient

One of the most common ways to create an energy efficient house is by sealing it so that air can neither come in or out. This way, heaters or air conditioner won’t work as hard to either warm or cool the house and energy consumption is minimized. Proper insulation will make your home more energy efficient.

However, sealing a house is not the only way to lessen your home energy expenditures. Some people fail to see the important role water conservation plays when it comes to saving energy. Regular maintenance of water systems can help you avoid spending too much on water and energy bills. Here are some great ways you can do so that your house can conserve water.

1) Remove Sediment in Water Heaters

Ideally, you need to clean the tank of your water heater at least twice a year. If the mineral content of the water in the area you live in is high, you should drain the sediment more often. You don’t need to hire professional service as you can perform this yourself. Regular removal of sediment will increase the efficiency of your water heater. Sediment consists of minerals and other debris that come with the water you store in the tank. Minerals are separated from water when heated. Debris is then left at the bottom of the tank and will eventually build up every time you use the heater.

The mineral deposits left behind will then serve as insulators for the tank. This will make it harder for the heating element to heat up the water in the tank completely. This means you have to keep the fire or electric elements of your burner on for longer periods of time for the water to be heated. Once you remove the sediment layer at the bottom of the tank, you won’t have to worry about this problem.

To remove sediment, just attach a short standard garden hose to the drain valve installed on the exterior of the water heater tank’s jacket. Once you open the valve, point the free end of the hose to a floor drain or a large bucket and let about five gallons of water flow out. This will drain the water at the bottom of the tank together with the sediment in it. Doing this will increase the energy efficiency of your water heater and help in extending its life.

2) Install Faucet Aerators

 A faucet aerator is usually attached to the tip of modern indoor water faucets. Without an aerator installed, about three to five gallons of water per minute flows out of regular faucets and most of that water is wasted. Faucets that have aerators reduce the rate of water flow from about half up to one gallon per minute in bathrooms and between one and two gallons per minute at the kitchen sink. 

3) Insulate Water Pipes

When you insulate your pipes, heat will be maintained so hot water reaches the faucets at a faster rate. This also reduces the amount of water needed in order for hot water to reach distant faucets. The water left in the pipes remain hot for longer periods so there’s a big chance that the next time you turn on the faucet the water will still be hot. This will reduce the need to reactivate the thermostat and heating elements in order to reheat the water inside the tank.

It’s not only the hot water pipes that you need to insulate. It’s better if you insulate both the cold water pipes and the water service entry pipe from a municipal supply as well. This will minimize the transfer of heat up the pipe from the tank of the water heater. Moreover, water that passes through these pipes is cold especially during winter and spring. If it becomes humid, there’s a big chance of condensation forming outside the pipes which will not only cause rusting but will also cause drips to carpets and furniture. Foam can be used to cover these pipes to avoid any condensation from forming.

In the past, insulating water pipes took a lot of time and effort. A large roll of fiberglass material is required for insulation and you need patience because you have to measure and cut these yourself. Unfortunately, this is still not enough as the material used is too thin so it isn’t doing enough for your pipes.

Good thing closed cell foams may now be used for pipe insulation. You can purchase these at any DIY centers or plumbing supply stores. They provide better insulation and are much easier to install than the fiberglass rolls. They can be easily cut according to the shape and size so you can attach them to the pipes.

About the Author: Jove Arthur writes for different home improvement and construction websites. He believes that each one of us can make a contribution in protecting our environment. He is working at Door Emporium, which delivers stylish exterior wood doors, including mahogany doors and knotty alder doors.