Reduce your water heater’s energy consumption
Install low-flow showerheads and faucets
Due to changes in federal regulations, fixtures from before 1992 can use more than twice as much water as new ones and may also have less force behind the water coming out of them. For not much money, a professional can install updated fixtures that can significantly reduce your use of hot water. You might be surprised at how much of a difference this can make.
Have insulation added around the hot water storage tank
Insulation can help keep heat in and help lower your energy consumption. However, it is important to not to cover the thermostat. Also, with natural gas or oil hot water heaters, there are a number of other provisos. So consider contacting a professional and getting an estimate. Getting it installed professionally makes more sense than doing something that can be potentially dangerous for you and a potential expensive little disaster for your home somewhere down the line.
Learn to cut the water off
If you are the type of person who leaves the water running while you brush teeth, well, get in the habit of turning the water off. Also, turn your shower off before stepping out. Don’t be one of those people who steps out while the shower is still running. When your shower is over, turn it off. Then get out. Also, learn to turn it off properly. Do not leave it dripping. If you can’t get it to turn off properly, consider getting a professional to check the gaskets and fix any leaks.
Insulate the pipes as well
In addition to insulating the storage tank, the pipes running to the water heater may also need to be insulated in order to maximize heat retention. This is a small thing that often gets overlooked.
Get a professional audit done
Hire someone to check for leaks, check out your appliances, look at your hot water heater and generally look around and see what is going on in your home which might be driving up consumption of hot water or the energy to produce it. A professional can give you some tips, tricks and hard numbers for things you might personally overlook. They can also hook you up with the products and services that will provide a comprehensive package to address this issue more effectively than any do-it-yourself, homegrown answers typically can manage to do.