The U.S. Department of Energy has found that water heating makes up about 18% of the average U.S. home’s energy use; costing Americans around $400 – $600 a year.
Around 27 million U.S. households have a water heater that’s older than 10 years and, typically, its lifespan is 10 – 15 years. If you’re like most people, you won’t shop for a new water heater until your existing one fails – and it usually happens at the worst possible time (Murphy’s Law)! Do your research now and take the time to find one that best fits your needs and offers real energy savings. When purchasing a new water heater, take into consideration its efficiency, cost and size. Also think about installation, operating and maintenance costs.
To ensure you have enough hot water when you want to use it, calculate your household’s peak-hour hot water demand and use that to determine your water heater size. Right now, SDG&E has instant water heater rebates up to $250. Learn more on sdge.com/rebates.