One Thing - Part 2 - Reduce Your Water Heater Consumption

This week on One Thing we get ourselves into hot water and look at what you can do to reduce your hot water heater's energy consumption.

Category:

Education

Tags:

• Water
• Heater
• insulation
• natural
• gas
• green
• house
• efficiency
• how
• to

[Cybelle2006]

Very poor video to show a newbie how to insulate. You could have done a better job with lighting, and close-ups and taken a longer time to show and explain specifics. You could have done it in multiple parts of 10 minutes each if needed. You don't show how to re-secure pipes after insulating either. Very poor video!!

[drgreglebreton]

If anyone is wondering - you don't disconnect any pipes while insulating.

[rkellyforums]

How do you "unplug" your Natural Gas water heater? You said you unplug it when you go on vacation. Are you talking about unplugging the electric powered vent blower?

Sounds like your not sure of difference between a electric and natural gas water heater. Could be confusing to people watching your vids. Thanks.

[drgreglebreton]

If you unplug the electrical cord from your gas water heater, the electrical gas control valves will not operate and your gas water heater will not turn on while you are away on vacation. Sorry for confusing you.

[Splungers]

There are no electrical cords leading to the water heater in this video. It is also illegal to to use a jacket on a gas heater. It could slip and block inlet air to the gas burner,creating real hazards.The setting knob on this heater should have a "vacation" setting, causing only the pilot light to burn.

[drgreglebreton]

Splungers, the information you have posted here is incorrect. There is an electrical cable is visible around the 2 minute point of the video coming out of the top of the unit. This powers both the blower and the electrical ignition system. There is no pilot light on these newer units. Should a these blankets slip and starve the unit of ventilation the draft switch goes off and the unit shuts down. These units are very safe. Please check with your gas company if you have any questions.

[jeffpicks]

Turn down the water temp and provide a perfect place for Legionella to breed. Google it if you don't believe me. Also, you like a hot shower? Turn the temperature down and use MORE hot water from the tank, and less cold on the shower valve... aren't you right back to where you started?

[toddroyleggat]

great video, thank you

[604carpenter]

Sorry to burst your bubbles but most hot water tanks, already comes with insulation. What you did is only some what effective if the tank was in a crawl space where its very cold.

[genosfly]

Some of the things he said were good like turning off heater while on vacation.

But water heater blankets are no good. Water heater manufactures void warranties when you put them on. If you have a small leak they can hold in the moisture and rust your tank out fast. I'm not sure if they a fire proof as well.

Get a tankless heater and not the cheapest one you can find.

[jazzybest]

Nice tips - thanks

[Jeffveron]

best thing to do w/ a gas water heater is to weld a metal, fire-brick insulated fire-box to the bottom of it and make a woodburning hot water heater. Mine works pretty good for a family of 5. be sure to properly vent the exhaust from the top and keep an area clear for atleast a few feet around it. Unfortunately, there are laws governing this usa in the rural and city areas. Good luck!