
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



Would use Goetll (and Andrew) again!




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Recommended!

We appreciate the information and expertise, and we're looking forward to getting excellent service.





Sally


Thank you David for a job well done.

Johnthan, Thank you so very much for conducting the plumbing assessment of my home this morning. Your professionalism, expertise and personal demeanor were outstanding. Your patience, knowledge and customer educational skills were greatly appreciated, and I am a much better informed customer when it comes to the status, potential issues and how to resolve any water/ plumbing related issues that may arise in the future.
Again, thank you.
Abdiel Chavez, technician came out today to perform my heating system check. He was very professional and thorough in his assessment. It was a pleasure seeing him again as he was the initial technician to come to my home when I first moved here, so it was like having a visit from an old friend. Thank you Abdiel.












Damian was wonderful. He is a great asset to the Goettl team. Thank you for quick, reliable service.




...... we had an AC problem a few days later. Peter Medelez from Goettl came out and fixed it expertly and made some recommendations to ensure it won't happen again. Some things hadn't been done correctly when it was installed several years ago (by someone else), and he will be back next week to fix them. I highly recommend Goettl.
... 10/15/25 ... we had a leak in the main water line which was running into the neighbors' yard. In less than two hours of calling Goettl, Clayton Purvis arrived to fix the leak. He repaired the leak and fixed connections, and repaired something previously done incorrectly in the unknown past. He was done before we had to leave for a prior equipment. I feel confident in the quality of work, as I always am when I have to call Goettl for something.



Elvin did a professional job, very satisfied with his work.and he had the time to explain everything to me.thank you






Update: Jeremy Ortega was awesome did a great job taking care of us and our unit !! Informed of prevention and ways to keep our system healthy highly recommend!!


Parker has a lot of knowledge and doesn't hide anything, or even treat me like I may not know what I'm looking at. I really appreciate everything he has done today, his hard work, and his kind heart. I will be requesting him going forward.

We couldn’t be happier with his service and recommendations. We were very happy with the fast service and the excellent team installing our unit! They were installing the new unit the next day and they were very professional and did an excellent job!
Thank you for all for the quality and excellent service and advice!
Bruce Spears and Donna



Had Andrew come out to remove garbage disposal and repipe sink. He also swapped out 13 emergency water shut off valves in 3 bathrooms.
Andrew was professional, courteous and expedient. He did have to run out to get some supplies. He stayed until 7pm to complete the job on one trip.
May 2023 update. Technician Steve came today to do the summer rejuvenation. Friendly and professional tech. Explained the process and findings. Both systems are new, so everything checked out good. Did a god cleaning of coils and now all set for the summer season. Had them out for fall prevention service and to review the systems that are here. I just bought the house and needed to understand what was in place.
The service tech, Kevin was very knowledgeable, friendly and professional. He explained and provided photos and video of all components. He ensured keeping house clean and wore booties.
My second unit is not in the best shape, and Kevin explained each of the issues. I will follow up with service managér to determine next steps (repair or replacement).
I signed up for there service plan and am very pleased with the service and communication to date
12/21 Luis C came today to do routine maintenance on hot water heater. Professional and courteous. He did a through job and explained everything.
10/15. Juan came today and did a great job. He was professional, courteous and friendly. Was here for exterior water bid but also did a hot water heater. Took his time and explained everything.








Thanks for an excellent job.






If there was a 6th star, he’d be getting it!







Ralph also did a great job with installing water softener and garbage disposal. I believe Rudy also came by and helped.
Juan also did a great job with installing a new kitchen faucet and fixing a leak I had.













Thank you Preston










Professional, knowledgeable and efficient. Very polite and courteous
Also installed surge protectors on the the condensers






We’ve been Goettl customers for years and have always appreciated their service, but Kevin Edwards truly raised the bar. During his visit yesterday, Kevin showed outstanding attention to detail and technical expertise. He thoroughly inspected every part of our HVAC system, documenting his findings with photos and clearly explaining issues that had gone unnoticed through several previous service visits.
Kevin discovered that our HVAC system had been improperly installed when the home was built—something no other technician had identified. He explained how that flaw had created a chain of problems affecting the furnace, cooling system, and overall efficiency. Because the system uses an outdated refrigerant, repairs weren’t a viable long-term solution, and Kevin guided us toward a responsible upgrade plan.
While no homeowner wants to replace a system after only seven years, we’re grateful Kevin uncovered these hidden issues before they caused a catastrophic failure. His thoroughness, honesty, and professionalism turned a potential headache into peace of mind. Kevin is an exceptional representative of Goettl, and we recommend him without hesitation.

I want to express my complete satisfaction with the work performed by Frank Piusseaux, a technician from Goettl.
For months, several technicians tried to identify the issue with my air conditioning unit, but no one could solve it. However, from the moment Frank arrived, he showed great professionalism and dedication. He took the time to carefully investigate the cause of the problem and determined that the issue was a short circuit in the wiring between the thermostat and the unit.
Thanks to his knowledge and effort, my air conditioning system is now working perfectly.
I truly hope that Goettl recognizes the value of having such a skilled, responsible, and committed employee. Technicians like him make a real difference and deserve special recognition, even a financial incentive, for the value they bring to the company.
Thank you very much, Frank, for your excellent work!











Great service great company. Will definitely be using for future HVAC needs.


Great communication.
Explained everything in detail.
Took before and after pictures.











I called Goettl and set up an appointment.
Mike H arrived on time and with his extreme knowledge and experience, he was able to replace the tank and give my system a much needed flush. Mike was so courteous and polite and answered all my questions and gave me advice on the how and why this happened and how to avoid this in the future.
Thank you Goettl and thank you Mike!







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.


Jerry also noticed our water pressure was low after flushing toilet then trying to wash hands in bathroom sink which were so he suggested a new pressure regulator as we have had a new better water conditioning system installed. We now have the best water pressure even when using a shower and kitchen sink faucet at the same time. Also Jerry is a master plumber and we appreciate his knowledge and experience. Will definitely call Goettl again when a plumber is needed.
Ralph & Kathy Lesmeister



Darean Guerra today. He arrived on time and took the time to explain what he was going to do. He was very knowledgeable which helped me trust what he was doing. He left his work area clean. I am very pleased with his work.




Now we have a new flange, installed correctly, and ready for the new toilet!








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

I definitely recommend Goettl for all your needs.

Nick was helpful, friendly and professional in scheduling the appointment around my commitments.
I have used Goettl for nearly 20 years for my plumbing and HVAC needs. I recommend them as reliable, professional and easy to work with.


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.


Jeremy Canchola serviced our mini-split today with the usual Goettl efficiency and professionalism.
Highly recommended!


Hopefully, we will get Jack for our next service call.







Robert, Tyler, Adrian & Luis, Thank you all so much.
