We've written before about ways to save energy during the hot summer months here in Olathe, but there's another quick, easy, no-cost trick that can help lower your energy bill during the summer, and that's lowering the temperature setting on your water heater!

According to Kansas City Power and Light, roughly 18% of the total energy consumed in homes in and around Kansas City and Olathe is used to heat water. Why? Because your water heater, whether it's gas or electric, not only heats the water that is currently in the tank, but also keeps the water at that temperature whether you're using it or not. That means your water heater is using energy all day and all night, just so that you can take a piping hot shower at any time.

Now, obviously having a nice, warm shower at our disposal whenever we want it is a luxury few of us would choose to do without, but the fact is that most of us also aren't likely to take scalding hot showers in June, July, or August. As the mercury rises outside, we're a lot more likely to opt for a cooler and more refreshing shower after a day in the hot sun. That being the case, there's no need to keep your water heater set at the same temperature during the summer months as you would in the dead of winter, when hot water is a much more desirable commodity.

How much can you save? Well, that ultimately depends on your water heater, the size of your tank, and the amount of hot water you typically consume in a day, but many experts agree that lowering your water heater's temperature setting a mere 10 degrees can save you 5% in energy costs, and those savings add up as the warm weather drags on.

How do you do it? That's relatively straightforward, as well. Every water heater comes equipped with a dial that sets the temperature—some water heaters actually have two! To adjust the temperature, you simply adjust the dial. However, before you do that, you can get a feel for your current water temperature by filling a glass with hot water directly from the tap that's farthest from the water heater, then using a thermometer to measure the temperature of the water in the glass. After you've made your adjustments, wait 24 hours so that the water that's currently in the tank cycles through and then retest the temperature using the same method. That should let you know about how much you've reduced your temperature settings.

Here at Davenport Service Company, we know that not everyone feels comfortable fiddling with the temperature of their water heater and might prefer to have an Olathe water heater service professional do the job for them. We're happy to be of service, and we can also fix up your old water heater or install a new one if yours isn't cutting the mustard.

Whatever your Olathe water heater service needs may be, whether you want a new water heater or just need help turning down the heat on your current one for the summer, don't hesitate to give us a call at 913-441-2222 today!