Heating water is the second biggest energy user in your home. Daily tasks such as showering, washing dishes, and doing laundry all rely on hot water, and the energy needed to maintain a consistent supply can add up quickly.
Water heating
Quick wins
Wash Wisely
The time it takes to heat water depends on the heater type, power, and tank capacity. Considering how you use this water, and how much of it can make a big difference to your energy consumption. For example, it takes an immersion system, on average, 30-45 minutes to heat water for a shower (35-40 litres), versus 1-2 hours for a bath (60-80 litres).
Heat Smart, Save Big!
In colder months, it's cheaper and more efficient to heat water with your home heating system, as the system is already running to heat your home. This means you can take advantage of its operation without much additional expense. When it gets warmer, switch to using your immersion heater, which heats water without needing to run the whole heating system, saving energy and money!
Bonus Tip: Installing a timer on your immersion heater means it’ll turn off on its own, saving you from those "oops, I left it on" moments and helping to keep your energy bills in check
Dial it down
Almost 90 per cent of the energy used by washing machines is to heat the water. If you run your machine at a lower temperature, you will use less energy. Don’t worry, your clothes will still get clean, most washing powders are now designed to work just as well at 30°C as they do at higher temperatures. Only using the machine when you have a full load of washing is another great way to avoid wasting energy and water.
Insulate for cozy savings
By installing a lagging jacket on your hot water cylinder, you can save up to 30 per cent on your water heating costs. If the tank has a good insulating jacket, it will keep the water hot all day, without needing to be constantly reheated. Buy a quality, 80mm (3-inch) thick version and with the energy savings, it will pay for itself in a few months.
