One of the highest electrical costs is heating water for your water heater. One way to help cut costs is to shut your water heater off during the day while you are gone. You can also purchase a timer for it.
If you live in a cold climate and your water heater is in the garage, you can purchase a specially made water heater blanket. Check your manufacturer specifications to make sure you get the right size, but this will help insulate your water heater to keep it from reducing temperatures more than desired. While doing a little research on water heater blankets, I found an interesting and informative article at The Dollar Stretcher that you may want to read.
When replacing your water heater, you may want to consider a tankless water heater. From what I've read about them so far, they only use energy when you actually want hot water. And they will produce hot water continuously on demand. And, of course, the added convenience of not requiring space for a tank, and not having to worry about a water leak causing damage to your home is a big plus!
According to the Home Safety Council, hot water burns like fire. You should set your home water heater at 120 degrees Fahrenheit to prevent burns. An article in the Washington Post states that studies have shown that tap water at 140 degrees can burn skin in just seconds. At 120 degrees, burning can take up to five minutes. I’ve heard the argument that the water needs to be hot enough to kill bacteria. However, 120 degrees is sufficient for that as well. You can read the full article here. So, dialing down the temperature of your hot water heater saves money and increases safety in your home.
