If you are currently experiencing a rise in your energy bills in your home for which you cannot account, the problem may rest in one of the household appliances. Two appliances to consider—at least during the summer, when the heater isn’t a possible source—are the air conditioner and the water heater. Both will put in work during the summer, and both consume large amounts of energy even under the best situations. Should either develop malfunctions or suffer from excessive wear, it can mean a leap in your bills. In this post, we are going to look at how your water heater (whether a gas-powered or electric-powered model) might end up raising your bills—and what you should do about it.
An aging water heater
The #1 cause for a water heater to become expensive to run is that it has aged past the point where it can do its job efficiently. A standard storage tank water heater can often last over 15 years if it receives excellent care. But as it approaches 20 year, it will start to decline a drain more power. Although repairs and routine maintenance will slow down this process, it cannot effectively reverse it once problems such as corrosion set in. It is best to have the system replaced with a new and more efficient one. If you are on the fence about replacing a heater, have a professional technician come in to look over the system and then give you advice.
Repair problems
For a younger water heater, there are a number of malfunctions that can result in energy waste. Perhaps the most common is sediment build-up along the bottom of the tank. This insulates the water in the tank from the heat source and makes the water heater need to work harder to raise the water’s temperature. Regular maintenance will help catch the problem and flush the tank. Repair technicians can also arrange for tank flushing whenever it is necessary.
If you have any suspicions about your water heater’s performance, don’t try to investigate it on your own: call on the professionals at Malek Heating & Cooling. We offer excellent water heater services in Wilmette, IL, including repair, replacement, and maintenance.