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.