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Editor’s Note: To view the 240+ different energy conservation tips for the home we have collected, simply access our Un-Official Guide To Home Energy Conservation.

Yesterday we wrote about the ideas we have collected to reduce non-renewable energy resources related to heating water in your home which will cost you nothing to do.

Today we complete this topic by reviewing the remaining water heating cost savings ideas we have to offer. Some of these will cost a little money to implement while others will cost a lot and, quite frankly, I’m not totally convinced that for us all of these are financially viable.

However, everyone’s situation is different. As well, everyone’s priorities are different. Some want to live 100% without consuming any non-renewable energy resource regardless of the cost whereas others will only undertake any type of energy conservation if they get financial payback in less than one year.

Here is the Un-Official Guide to Home Energy Conservation ’s listing of water heating energy conservation tips:

Coming in at #11 is the suggestion you see everywhere to replace your shower heads with low-flow shower heads (#11). For those not aware, they simply aerate (included more air) in the water as it leaves the shower head so less water is used but it still feels like you are using the same amount of water. Try it ….. you can always return it to the hardware store for a full refund in a few days if you don’t like it.

Yesterday we wrote about reducing the amount of time that one spends in the shower. Today we suggest you consider installing a timer in the shower to force those certain persons who like to ‘live in the shower’ to, well, not (#12).

Do you have any leaky faucets in the home? If yes, fix them or get someone else to fix them so they don’t leak any more and wasting hot water with each unnecessary drip (#13).

Some older hot water tanks loose heat from the heated water when it is stored inside the tank. So, if the outside of your hot water tank is warm or very warm to the touch then you might want to use an insulation wrap made specifically for hot water tanks to keep the heat inside the tank and in it’s water than allowing it to escape (#14)

Insulating your hot water pipes, especially the first several feet from the hot water heating device can also help the hot water retain it’s heat rather than allowing the heat to escape through the hot water pipe (#15).

Those of you with outdoor pools should consider using a solar blanket to help the pool water retain it’s heat as well as reducing the evaporation of the heated pool water (#16).

Speaking of pools, if you are planning to have one installed in your back yard this spring, look for a location that receives full sun (#17). If you locate your new pool in a shaded area, you will need to incure more costs and consume more non-renewable natural resources to heat and keep heated your pool water.

Front loaded washing machines are well known to use less water, which would include less hot water if you need to use hot water for a load or two of dirty clothes (#18). Unfortunately, front loading clothes washers tend to cost more than top loading washing machines. However, prices are coming down all the time on the difference between the two so check out this option is you are looking to purchase a new clothes washer.

Consider adding heat traps on top of your hot water tank (#19). According to one contestant in last month’s home energy conservation tips contest, these devices help to retain the heat from the hot water inside the tank. However, if you are going to do this please use a professional to install and test the device. This would not be something for the weekend handyman IMO.

Several people I know use a timer on their hot water tank (#20). The idea is to prevent the hot water tank from keeping the water hot during the day when no one is home which would, therefore, be a time period of several hours when there would be no need for any hot water to be used in the home. 

Are tankless water heaters all that they are cracked up to be, energy conservation wise (#21)? Frankly, I am not sure. In our case we received two separate quotes for a Rinnai tankless water heater and both would have seen financial payback for us at around 8 whole years, and possibly then some, even after government rebates. That’s why we didn’t install one. We want / need financial payback for any home energy conservation investment at around 5 years based on best available estimates. You can read about our investigation of tankless water heaters here.

And, finally, what about installing a solar water heater (#22). These are even more costly than tankless water heaters and I’m still not personally convinced of how one could even achieve financial payback in a reason able amount of time. Why? Well, they do not provide 100% of a typical home’s hot water needs. Who says so? Go to any solar hot water heater manufacturer’s web site. So there will be times when you are using some form of non-renewable resource to heat your hot water, more so in the winter than the summer.

Hopefully the above gave you some ideas to consider in your attempt to reduce your utility bills related to hot water heating each and every month.

Next time, we look at home energy conservation tips relating to reducing the use of non-renewable energy natural resources used directly or indirectly when cooking in the house.