
What Standby Energy Loss Means for Tank Water Heaters
It is very easy to take hot water in your home for granted, and this is very unfortunate. You have to remember that you use hot water for many different tasks and chores around your home. Washing the dishes, doing the laundry, your hot shower to wake you up in the morning—hot water, one and all! And okay, maybe you don’t take the availability of hot water for granted. But are you taking its price for granted?
No, we don’t mean you’re undervaluing the amount that you pay for hot water. Just that you may be used to paying a certain amount while not realizing that it may be more than you should be paying. Take into account standby energy loss, for instance. This can really reduce the overall energy efficiency of your tank water heater—and you may not even know what that phrase means! We’ll take a look at standby energy loss today, and ways in which to curtail it.
Well, My Water Heater Is Pretty New, So…
…if it has a tank, it suffers standby energy loss. Standby energy loss happens when the heat from the water in your water heater’s tank transfers through that tank and out into the cooler air surrounding it. Because of advancements and design and manufacturing, modern water heater tanks are better insulated than ever and are able to mitigate more heat transfer than ever. This does not mean, however, that there is no chance of standby energy loss occurring.
Does this mean that you’re paying an arm and a leg to heat water, and that you’re just throwing money out the window? No, of course not. If that were the case, nobody would use these systems. It is something to be aware of though. Why? Because if you’re serious about maximizing the efficiency with which you heat water, there is an alternative that you should consider.
Tankless Water Heaters Solve the Problem at Its Core
What’s the most effective means by which to stop heat transfer from your hot water tank? By removing the need for a tank entirely, that’s how! And a tankless water heater allows you to do just that. These systems do not require that you maintain a reservoir of heated water for use.
Instead, the tankless water heater heats water in an on-demand fashion. Water is heated as it passes through the system, when it’s called for, so that there is no need to store it for later use. These systems do boost efficiency when compared to tank models, but it’s important to recognize that they also come at a higher cost. Much higher, to be honest. But, if you plan to be in your home for some time, it makes a lot of sense to make the investment now and to enjoy the benefits over the many years to come in the system’s long lifespan.
And, if you want to keep using your tank water heater, be sure to insulate your pipes and the tank itself. You can buy insulating sleeves for pipes, and even jackets for water heaters!
Schedule your plumbing services today with Goettl Air Conditioning & Plumbing.
Testimonials
What Our Customers Say About Us

A short history. A few years ago, we had four seasons put in a new furnace. After checking around and getting tons of estimates, there was as much as a $10,000 difference between all of the estimates. Four seasons came in at the best price. Unfortunately, I ordered an 80,000 BTU furnace and when the guy was done, I looked at the furnace and saw that it was a 60,000 BTU. I showed the guy the invoice and basically his response was ‘ Oh crap’ so I talk to the manager and he assured me that 60,000 BTU would heat my home sufficiently since it was a high-efficiency unit.
I was ready to have them tear it out and put the right one in, when the manager guaranteed the furnace and gave me the price for the 60 KBTU with a substantial discount. I did the regular maintenance and service service with four seasons.
When Goettl took over, I’m not sure if they just change the name, or bought four seasons, but everything changed after that. First I was informed of a membership called Sadie which is basically a yearly/monthly fee that allows us to get a lot of benefits. Free service calls, free, free preventative maintenance and discounts on non-covered items.
The first thing that I noticed was Josh came in to do a service, check the pressure and saw that the original installation guy did not convert my furnace to propane. Apparently none of the other service people ever checked the pressure. He had to return with the correct parts and changed out the valve. He also helped me out with a bathroom heating duct that was ripped. The price was great and he said he felt bad that we had such issues with the previous company.
A few months later (last Saturday) we stopped getting heat. I called Goettl let them know, and they were at my house within two hours. When it’s freezing outside or going to be subzero it’s really important when they respond so quickly.
Chris was the technician and he found the problem, however, the plumbing supply company was not open till Monday morning. Two days with sub, freezing temperatures scaring me a bit. Chris said that he would check with Dispatch and see if they had a couple of space heaters. When he was leaving, he noticed we had a bunch of firewood on the front and he offered to help bring firewood in. I told him no problem we had it, he said he was happy to help us. Make sure we had enough firewood to get through two days.
These two offers, were above and beyond in something you really wouldn’t expect from your HVAC people. Unfortunately, they didn’t have any space heaters at Dispatch, so we went to Home Depot and got some radiator heaters and then yes 24 hours a day kept a fire going.
Chris showed up Monday about 11 AM with the parts and it took him about 2 1/2 to 3 hours to fix all of the problems. I’m not savvy with all of the HVAC terms, but something about condensate water bill backed up through the system blah blah blah… we now have heat. lol.
Getting the Sadie member membership/club was the best thing we decided to do. They call us regularly to schedule our summer and winter maintenance. They are responsive. And they are very polite every time I call them.
I really would recommend you contacting them and get on that membership before you actually need them. Thank you, Josh and chris and unfortunately, I cannot remember the name of the female technician that came out and changed our filters but she was awesome also!

My wife and I are upgrading our home with the new water purity package and cannot wait to try our new water.Thank you Joseph or the service you provided and information you shared.I highly recommend joseph and goettl!

He left the work site clean and was very neat,I am completely impressed with Goettl
Technicians !!








I look forward towards the next project. Thanks!




Outstanding Plumbing Service –
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Above and Beyond — 10-Star Service
Martin Alamaguer Morones did an absolutely exceptional job repairing our attic. From start to finish, his professionalism, skill, and attention to detail were outstanding. He clearly explained what needed to be done, worked efficiently, and delivered results that exceeded our expectations.
The quality of Martin’s workmanship is top-tier, and it’s obvious he takes great pride in his work. He was punctual, respectful of our home, and left everything clean and in perfect condition. The repairs were done right the first time, giving us complete peace of mind.
If we could give Martin 10 stars, he would absolutely deserve them. We highly recommend him to anyone looking for reliable, honest, and high-quality repair work. We wouldn’t hesitate to hire him again.
As always…..Thank you Goettl for EXCELLENT CONTINUOUS SERVICE!








By the end of the day, I had hot water and Mark left no sign of a mess behind.
I was surprised at such fast service and impressed by everyone I interacted with.
Great company!



Gilbert was very knowledgeable and explained what he had done for us and about insulation. If you had a scale to 10, Gilbert would earn that 10! Thanks.





His help was very much appreciated.
Sincerely,
Shawn











Tai Fernandez-Estabillo, service rep is excellent. I deal with a lot of contractors in my student housing operation and he is at the top of his field. Proud to know him. Thanks for the professional service Tai.



Husam, Raymond, Johnny, Joe, Marcus; Very professional and great communication skills. Great service all around!





Mike was so very thorough and explained each thing that he was taking care of, that I asked him if I could request him for our next service.
I wasn’t sure if I was going to renew my membership with GOETTL, but after such a great experience with Mike, I’m definitely renewing..





Daniel came out to perform my yearly maintenance review he did a great job. He was very informative. Provided recommendations and very knowledgeable. Very polite and professional. I would recommend him for services






Goettl is not cheap, although their service visit is very inexpensive, their quotes are almost always considerably higher. The service from an employee like Gilbert, however, is the sole reason why I would even consider entertaining a higher cost.

you Goettl!













Recommend Highly!

He certainly understands what Customer Service is all about!
Joey was on time, well-mannered, and very professional. He took care of our problem, took time to explain all aspects of the project in detail, and left the work area nice and clean.
We will definitely utilize Goettl’s services in the future, as needed and have nothing but the highest praise for Joey Martin!









Thermostat. Stopped working on Monday night 10/20 /2025. GOETTL Tech. Kevin Andrew text to notify me of his ETA. Was very punctual. Explain what the problem was, he checked it out , went up to attic and found the problem. Explain to me the issues that was causing the A/C Thermostat to turn off. Went into detail explaining to me what was causing the A/C Thermostat to turn off. He was very professionalc and ourteous.
Thank you Kevin... Blessings

Explained everything clearly and was very respectful..
Thanks for a job well done Frank.











As usual we are very satisfied with Goettl











I had such a good experience with Goettl the last time, that I decided to use them again for HVAC. Kevin was the technician assigned to my job. He was very professional and provided me with a thorough and accurate diagnosis. He patiently explained everything to me and walked me through the recommended repairs and even shared alternative solutions. I have the information I need and feel comfortable moving forward. I’m in good hands. I will be requesting him as my technician for all future calls.

Like most people, I typically search for the cheapest service I can find, and I end up having other plumbers come out to check out issues with my tankless water heater, who run their mouths, upsell parts (that don't seem to be causing the problem), and generally don't really know enough about tankless water heaters. This time, I decided to go with an experienced company with a good reputation, and I am glad that I did - Goettl's prices are very reasonable and worth the service they provide.
Juan, was very knowledgeable, patient, and persistent. Even better, he was careful and humble enough to acknowledge that he didn't know everything and checked with the manufacturer at every step. Juan spent a great deal of time helping me diagnose the problem (which always seems impossible to ascertain quickly with machines like tankless water heaters), and went above and beyond to ensure that my guests and I had hot water tonight.
Juan never got frustrated; he handled everything carefully and made sure to clean up after himself when he was done. If I can have Juan take care of all of my plumbing or AC issues in the future, I will. And if you're reading reviews to decide whether to call Goettl for your issue, I would encourage you to trust their service and experience. My experience with Juan was definitely memorable.
We now have hot water again. Can I get a "hell yeah"?








We had a concerning plumbing issue, and Geo was able to diagnose the problem with impressive speed and accuracy. What I really appreciated was that he took the time to clearly explain what was wrong, showed me what he was looking at, and gave me honest, practical advice on the best solution.
He had the issue resolved in no time at all. The whole experience was seamless, from the quick scheduling to the efficient and high-quality work. It’s so refreshing to find a technician who is not only a master of his craft but also a genuinely kind and trustworthy person.
A huge thank you to Geo and the entire team at Goettl. You have a customer for life! If you need a plumber, ask for Geo—you’ll be in the best hands

We had a concerning plumbing issue, and Geo was able to diagnose the problem with impressive speed and accuracy. What I really appreciated was that he took the time to clearly explain what was wrong, showed me what he was looking at, and gave me honest, practical advice on the best solution.
He had the issue resolved in no time at all. The whole experience was seamless, from the quick scheduling to the efficient and high-quality work. It’s so refreshing to find a technician who is not only a master of his craft but also a genuinely kind and trustworthy person.
A huge thank you to Geo and the entire team at Goettl. You have a customer for life! If you need a plumber, ask for Geo—you’ll be in the best hands






Call Goettl and was able to get us on the schedule due to a cancellation they had.
Jef Eusepi our tech was fantastic.
He explained everything and showed us pictures of what he was doing and fixing.
Would definitely recommend this Company and Jef.









I have seen Goettl vans all over town and so I called them.
Got appointment right away and the Technician, Jef Eusepi, took care of our problem.









Thank you,
Greg Sanches





















This past week our service technician was Andrew Morgan and he is such a friendly, knowledgeable, and skilled technician. He spent time making sure the job was done correctly and he explained it in terms that I could understand. Not only is our unit functioning even better than before, I also gained knowledge of how the system works.













I highly recommend Goettl as this is the second time l've used them in less than a year. (2 seperate issues)... and I highly recommend them..anytime and anyday.
They have exceeded to top any expectations I could have ever had with any company.








The company is installing a tankless heater and the customer service is outstanding.
I recommend Geottl to all!


They made sure my carpet was covered and when they were all through they cleaned up perfectly
I would recommend your company to anyone looking to put in a new air conditioner.
Thank you so much for all you did for me.
Sincerely, June Jones

And I would highly recommend the company and the quality technicians like Jarod.
Jarod is the go to if you want excellent
Customer service and communication for any AC related issues. He is very knowledgeable, personable and trustworthy. I am grateful and satisfied.






They listened to my issue, were very through, checked for leaks, etc. I’ve lived in Lakeway for 30 years, used MANY local plumbers - but Goettl will definitely get all my business moving forward. HIGHLY recommend!
Ty, Wil & Adrian!

Everyone from the Goettl sales representative Christian, Tech / Advisor Josias recommended a HVAC A/C and Heating system replacement. Technicians team Veronica and her partner.


