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hot water needs
Hot Water Needs
A home's hot water supply often gets
taken for granted. Unless of course, something happens
one day and you realize that hot shower is no longer
available. In order to maintain a sufficient hot water
supply, you need to take the time to consider your
system. By doing so, you will also learn ways to cut
your energy cost.
Traditional water heaters use a storage
tank to hold heated water until it is needed. They
typically run off of natural gas, but electric and
propane heaters are also common. In addition, tank less
water heaters are available. They operate by routing
water to where it needs to be instead of storing it.
When installing a hot water system, it
is important to take into account your family's needs.
Size does matter when it comes to hot water. Not only
should you consider the amount of bathrooms, but also
dishwashers and washing machines. Seriously consider
your family's lifestyle.
Generally, the size of your heater
depends on the amount of bathrooms in your home, the
size of your bathtubs, and the amount of people that
will be using water. 30 to 40 gallon heaters will
typically supply a one bathroom home. As the amount of
bathrooms increase, the size of your heater needs to
increase.
Keep in mind that electric water
heaters require more time to heat, and will therefore
need a larger tank to store the water, as opposed to gas
heaters. For this reason, homes that would require a 50
gallon gas heater will need an larger electric one.
If you are noticing that there isn't
enough hot water during your showers and such, you may
need to upgrade to a larger tank, or install a second
water heater to provide more storage space.
In addition, there are some easy tips
to conserving energy and saving on cost. Below are a few
suggestions:
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Do your best to adjust the
thermostat to the lowest temperature. Generally,
60°C is a comfortable temperature for the entire
family.
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Make sure to replace washers on
leaking tabs so that water is not being wasted.
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Replace shower heads with "shower
saver" heads. They use less water then traditional
shower heads.
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Run full loads on washers and
dishwashers.
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