How to Save Hot Water at Home
5th November 2024
Hot water is one of life’s essentials and the good news is that you can reduce your household’s water heating costs with just a few simple changes.
Hot water taps are being turned on in homes around Australia all the time. From enjoying a nice, hot shower to washing dirty dishes, it’s safe to say we’d be lost without them. In fact, in Australia the average household uses about 15-30% of its total energy consumption on heating up water.
The good news is that there are simple ways to save water at home, whether it’s hot or cold. A few fixes here and there, plus some easy changes to your water habits, will help you lower your hot water usage and lower your energy bills.
Why you should save hot water
There are plenty of reasons you should consider reducing your hot water usage at home:
- Lower energy bills: Hot water production can significantly impact your household’s energy costs. By using less hot water, you can reduce energy consumption for heating.
- Water conservation: Saving hot water is a form of water conservation. Freshwater resources are limited, and reducing hot water usage helps preserve these resources for future generations.
- Extended appliance lifespan: Conserving hot water can prolong the lifespan of your water heating system and associated appliances. When these appliances operate less frequently or for shorter periods, they experience reduced wear and tear, potentially lowering maintenance costs and the need for replacements.
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How to save water at home
Unless you have the budget to invest in a lower emission water heater like solar, or a heat pump system, there are practical ways to save water at home that won’t break the bank. Some involve simple adjustments to your everyday habits, while others may require minor repairs and updates that can be done over a weekend or with the help of a professional. Let’s get the big jobs out of the way first.
For these updates and fixes around your home, you may need to enlist the help of a plumber or handyman if you’re at all unsure about how to get the job done:
- Fix leaks: If your taps or shower head are dripping, then this should be a priority, particularly if the leak is from the hot water tap.
- Check the pipes: Fix any leaks in the pipes that carry hot water, which is easier said than done if the pipes are hidden away in the walls but you can certainly check any exterior pipes.
- Insulate your hot water pipes: Insulating hot water pipes helps retain heat and prevents heat loss as water travels from your heater to the tap, reducing the need to run water to heat up.
- Invest in a water-saving showerhead: A low-flow shower head will reduce the amount of water (hot and cold) that you use when you shower, a win-win for your energy bill and the environment.
- Use efficient appliances: When replacing appliances like dishwashers and washing machines, opt for models that have high energy-efficiency ratings and use less hot water per cycle. Modern appliances are designed to be more water and energy-efficient than older models.
- Install tap aerators: Adding aerators to your taps can reduce water flow without sacrificing water pressure, thereby conserving both hot and cold water.
Then, there are some simple behavioural changes that could have a big difference on how much hot water you use each year:
- Shorter showers: In the average household, most of the hot water used is in the shower. Reduce your showers to four minutes or less, which may mean that you have to rethink things like how you wash your hair (for example, turn off the water while the conditioner’s in).
- Bye-bye, baths: If you’re in the habit of filling up the tub for a long soak each night, then you could save hot water by having a short shower instead. Depending on the size of your tub, filling up the bath generally uses more hot water than a shower.
- Use the cold cycle when washing clothes: Generally, your clothes will come out just as clean if you wash them in cold water. If you’re keen to do a wash in warm or hot water, then choose a cold rinse if your machine allows.
- Change your dishwashing routine: If you wash your dishes in a sink full of soapy water with the tap running into the other sink (to rinse dishes under warm water as you go), it’s time to rethink your routine. Instead, you could stack all your dishes in the drying rack and then pour a jug of water over the lot to rinse off the suds. This will use less hot water than having the tap running that whole time.
- Time your water use: Consider using timers or smart devices to schedule when hot water appliances, such as dishwashers or washing machines, operate during off-peak times to save energy and reduce water consumption.
The final word
By applying these water-saving tips at home, especially in the bathroom, you can significantly reduce both your household’s overall energy consumption and bills, while conserving water!
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References
- https://www.energy.gov.au/households/hot-water-systems
- https://www.sustainability.vic.gov.au/energy-efficiency-and-reducing-emissions/save-energy-in-the-home/water-heating
- https://www.yvw.com.au/help-advice/saving-water/shower-shorter-save-water#:~:text=Reduce%20Greenhouse%20gases%20%E2%80%93%20the%20energy,translates%20into%20cheaper%20household%20bills.
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