How much of your home’s energy do you think is used every year to warm up water? According to the U.S. Department of Energy, the answer is about 18%. That is a considerable amount of gas, oil or electricity used to produce water for showers, dishwashers and other hot water needs.
So, going the extra mile to make your water heater more efficient could potentially yield substantive energy savings. At TF Complete Heating & Cooling, we help homeowners in Bristol, Middlesex or Norfolk County to get the best efficiency from their home without sacrificing comfort. One option to limit a water heater’s energy loss is the heat trap.
Traditional water heaters warm up a large tank of water. Whenever needed, the unit feeds the heated water to taps, fixtures and appliances. The tank is then replenished with cool water, which is heated, and the process continues.
The major issue with these units is “standby energy loss.” A tank of hot water cools off over time, and your water heater’s burner needs to heat it again. This wastes energy and increases your hot water-related costs.
Heat traps are a way to slow down how quickly your tank of water cools off by preventing heat from escaping. There are several variations of these heat traps.
Traditional heat trap loops, also known as goosenecks, use thermal convection to trap heat. Hot water naturally rises while cold water sinks. By incorporating a U-shaped bend in the pipeline, hot water becomes trapped at the top of the loop, allowing cold water to flow through the dip and into the tank.
Heat trap nipples are small fittings that are installed where water enters and exits the unit. Ball bearings rest in the nipple. When you aren’t using hot water, the balls seal off the opening, trapping heat inside the tank. When water needs to enter or exit the tank, the balls lift up.
In some cases, you can improve the energy efficiency and recovery time of a traditional water heater with a heat trap (or other accessories like insulation blankets). However, an older unit that is nearing the end of its lifespan may see little if any benefit from these additions.
If your water heater is approaching 10 years of service or more, the best option is probably to replace it. You can upgrade to a more efficient water heater that is also less likely to break down.
Even better, you can invest in a tankless water heater. These compact units eliminate standby energy losses altogether by only heating water when a fixture or appliance needs it. They’re up to 34% more efficient than storage tank units and capable of delivering virtually endless hot water on demand.
The team at TF Complete Heating & Cooling does more water heater upgrades than just about any other company in our part of Massachusetts. Reach out to us today to get a free estimate on a water heater replacement.
Contact us today to schedule a routine maintenance visit. If you need an emergency repair, please call our office right away at 508-507-6702, and we will get to your home as soon as we can.