Can you guess which appliance, other than your heating and air conditioning system, typically uses the most energy? It's your water heater. Water heaters account for a large part of your utility bill. Here are several ways in which you can make your water heater more efficient and economical.

• If you have a leaking hot water faucet, get it fixed. A leaking faucet that drips once a second will waste 7.4 gallons per day or 230 gallons per month. That means 230 gallons of water that you paid to heat went down the drain. Many times a small washer that costs only a few cents can solve this problem.
• Turn down the temperature on your water heater. You can check the temperature of your hot water by cutting on a hot water faucet nearest your water heater and placing a cup under the stream of water. Place a thermometer in the cup and watch it until the temperature stabilizes. If the temperature is above 125 degrees, you need to adjust the temperature setting.
• On a gas water heater, you can simply turn the temperature setting down to 120-125 degrees or between "medium" and "warm." The thermostat is at the water heater on the water heater gas valve.
• If you have an electric water heater, you need to have the power cut off at the breaker before attempting to lower the temperature. Once the power is off, remove the two small panels at the top and bottom of the water heater to expose the temperature controls. You will find an adjustment screw with an arrow pointing to the temperature settings. Adjust the arrow on the upper thermostat to point to 130 to 135 degrees or above "medium." The lower element needs to be set at 120-125 degrees or between "warm" and "medium." When reinstalling the outside panels, be sure to put the insulation back in place. This is important because the insulation ensures that the thermostat is reading the temperature of the water tank and not the surrounding air. Finish by turning the breaker back on.
• Insulate the first four feet of all pipes coming out of the water heater. Installing pipe insulation will increase the energy efficiency of the water heater by preventing loss of heat from the pipes to the surrounding air. Your local hardware store should have foam pipe insulation. You simply place it over the water lines just like wrapping it in a jacket.
• Install low flow showerheads and faucet aerators. It stands to reason the more hot water you use, the more water your water heater has to heat. Showering and bathing account for 27 percent of a typical home's water usage. Low-flow showerheads restrict the amount of water coming out by about 50 percent, thus reducing the amount of water heated. The bottom line is lower utility bills.
  
  Low-flow devices have come a long way since they were first introduced. There are many on the market today that provide low water flow and still produce a good shower. Check with your local suppliers to get the latest in these devices.
• Replace your water heater. If your water heater is seven to 10 years old, you may want to consider upgrading to a newer, higher-efficiency model. It would be prudent to do some looking around before you are forced into making a quick decision should your water heater decide to quit.

Lower Temperatures Prevent Scalds

Another important reason for lowering the temperature on your water heater has to do with safety. Water coming out of the faucet at 120 to 125 degrees will scald in about four minutes. At 140 degrees, it takes about one second to scald. By lowering the water heater temperature, you provide a safe environment in your home, especially for young children.