Hot Water Heater

Those thing-a-ma-jiggers waste a lot of energy heating up your water.

Here are a few tips to minimize the energy wasted:

1. Turn it down to 120*. It is dangerous to have it any hotter than that anyway. It only takes a second to get a third degree burn from hot water. It's much safer for your children if you have any, or for anyone visiting for that matter, for your hot water tank to be turned down to this temperature. Plus, it will save you some $$ to just turn the nob slightly. Easy, right?

2. Going on vacation? There should be 'vacation' mode on your hot water tank nob. Don't forget to turn it before you leave so that it doesn't waste energy on making hot water when you are away. (just remember to turn it on when you get back - otherwise your morning shower might be a little too refreshing!)

3. Install a hot water heater timer. They have various types at home improvement stores. You can have it set to turn on from 9 p.m. to 9 a.m. for example. If you aren't going to be home, no sense in heating the water up anyway.