Category: Saving Water

Do not make the mistake of assuming you know what type of fuel to enhance your lawn mower. If you use the wrong type, you can do harm to your mower’s engine, and sometimes, you could invalidate your guarantee. The mower’s owners manual must outline the specific recommendations to your model, but generally speaking, mowers utilize high quality unleaded gas or a fuel-oil mix.

It Depends on the Engine

Most four-stroke engines need new unleaded gasoline with an octane rating of 87 or greater. It’s possible to use gas with ethanol, but over 10 percent ethanol is generally not recommended. Mowers with lookup engines utilize that same type of gas, but with the accession of a high-quality two-cycle motor oil. The proportions vary with manufacturer, but in Briggs & Stratton two-stroke mowers, for instance, the proportions are 50 parts gas to 1 part oil. Another important point to notice: If you’re going to be saving your mower for over 30 days, add a fuel stabilizer to a full tank of gas. This will keep the gas from breaking down and damaging the mower’s engine and carburetor.

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Your hot water heater may account for up to 18 percent of your national energy bill. This can really boil your bank accounts. To get hot water available at your beck and call, conventional water heating system burn gasoline or power regularly. Even though there is no escaping the electricity costs of running a water heater, there are a number of ways in which you can take the edge off your water heating expenses.

Insulate Your Water Storage Tank

Though most new water tanks comprise built-in insulating material, many old versions don’t. According to the U.S. Department of Energy, insulating your hot water tank can help improve energy efficient by up to 45 percent by decreasing standby heat loss. With a correctly insulated tank, you may wind up saving up to 9 percent per month in water heating costs. Water tank insulation is offered within an easy-to-install precut jacket. Consult with your unit’s owner’s manual prior to installation.

Insulate Your Pipes

Anything you can do to decrease residual heat reduction from any active component of your water heating system will allow you to save money. Insulating your water storage tank is a good start, but you will also benefit from insulating the right pipes. The U.S. Department of Energy advocates insulating the first six feet of the cold and hot water pipes connected to your water heating system. This can help ensure your water heater isn’t working more difficult than it needs to for your desired water temperature.

Remove Sediment

Over the years, sediment from your home’s incoming water supply may develop and settle on the bottom of your water heater. If enough sediment accumulates, it can decrease the total energy efficiency of gas-powered heaters by behaving as an insulating layer between the heat source and the water. It’s a fantastic idea to drain at least a quart of water from your water tank every few months. This can help flush out the accumulated sediment and keep your system running as efficiently as possible. When draining your water tank, make sure to turn off the power or gas supply and to carefully follow manufacturer guidelines.

Consider On-Demand Water Heaters

Depending on the age and condition of your current water heater, you may be best served by purchasing a brand new, energy-efficient system. Contemplate an on-demand water heater for your home. These systems bypass the need for a storage tank entirely by heat water straight, as required. On-demand systems can save you up to 30 percent in energy price per month. To increase your savings even further, make sure your on-demand system is Energy Star-certified. These licensed heaters have been energy-efficient and can save you money in energy costs throughout their operational life span.

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Water heaters produce it feasible to take a hot shower, clean your hands in warm water, and many more tasks — just by turning on the hot water tap. But hot water heat tanks utilize a substantial amount of energy, which will make them costly to operate. Understanding how much the hot water heater affects an electric bill might help you do it to reduce water heating costs.

Electricity Consumption

Water heating systems would be the second largest user of electricity in the house, accounting for an average of 18 percent of electricity prices, explains the U.S. Department of Energy. Water heaters are rated by energy factor (EF); the higher the EF, the more efficient the heater. EF is a rating of the amount of hot water produced daily per unit of fuel. For electrical heaters, EF ranges from 0.75 to 0.95. The total amount of electricity used by an electric water heater is dependent upon the magnitude of the water heater tank, the amount of water used, the temperature setting of the water heater, and also if the tank is insulated.

Calculating Energy Usage

An typical water heater runs three hours daily. An 50-gallon, 5,500-watt water heater having a .90 EF and an electricity rate of $.16 per kilowatt hour will cost $781 to operate each year. Most water heaters incorporate a label listing the annual operating price.

Reducing Water Heater Electricity Usage

To reduce the amount of electricity used by the water heater, you can lower its thermostat to 120 degrees Fahrenheit, install an insulation blanket around the tank (with an “r”-value evaluation recommended by the producer), update to an Energy Star-rated unit, or make the change to an immediate water heating program.

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