This article is part of a collection of articles devoted to cutting utility bills, including cheaper electric and gas bills. We cover recommendations for different types of high utility bills. FYI, we explain things in terms of five our categories of energy use.

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In this article, we will look at what to do when you are stuck with a high natural gas bill, and it seems to be mainly from high idle use (“always on”). The most common reason we have found for always on gas use is heating too much water too often.

It takes a lot of energy to heat water. According to the Department of Energy, heating water alone accounts for a whopping 18% of energy bills for the typical American. The same article from the Department of Energy also covers various ways to save on the costs of heating water in your home, including the following:

Sometimes it’s necessary to replace a poorly performing hot water heater, but let’s look at all the inexpensive and quicker stuff first.

• if you have to, how to find a good new water heater
• new types of water heaters like solar or heat pumps
• hot water storage
• reducing hot water use
• lowering the hot water temperature
• insulating the hot water delivery system

Low Flow

One good possible DIY method we found is to reduce the flow of hot water in your home by installing “low flow” devices. Again, we don’t believe in sacrificing comfort if you don’t have to. People mostly use hot water for showering, washing clothes or washing stuff at the sink. When using hot water to wash, what we feel and what is effective is water flow and pressure. When washing, we are trying to rinse stuff off, so pressure works and feels good. We can reduce the flow without sacrificing the pressure. This way, you save on gas and water bill.

Low-Flow Sink Fixtures

You can save money on your gas and water use by installing low-flow fixtures. Adding low flow fixtures to your sinks usually have a small impact on your daily life but can save 25-60% of your water usage depending what you have now. The low-flow fixture or aerator, screws on to the end of the faucet and will add air to the flow. Some tips:

• Bathroom aerators should be less than 1 gallon per minute (gpm). Be sure to find ones that will fit your faucet – not all sinks are the same! Here is a sample list from Amazon.
• Kitchen sink aerators should be less than 2.2 gallons per minute (gpm). Again, look for a style and size that will fit your usage. Here is a sample list from Amazon.

Note: As always, we do not get commissions from Amazon.com or any websites we link to. We offer links, so you know what stuff looks like.

Low-Flow Showerheads

You can also save money both on energy and water by installing an efficient showerhead. Look for one that has a flow of less than 2 gpm–the lower, the more savings you’ll see. You can get one of two types: aerating and laminar flow. Laminar flow showerheads provide an individual stream of water and would be recommended in a humid climate to reduce the steam. Here is a sample list on Amazon.

If you are into DIY, here’s a good website explaining how to test and install a new showerhead. Additionally, here is a helpful video.

Cold Water Setting in Clothes Washer

You can clean clothes just as well in cold water as hot water. With cold-specific detergents, you can avoid 90% of the energy consumed by a washing machine by not heating the water. Find additional simple clothes washer and dryer suggestions here from EnergyStar.gov, a government sponsored organization for efficient devices.

Water Heater Maintenance

Have you ever done maintenance on your water heater? Some suggestions include flushing a quart of water from the tank, checking the temperature, and replacing some rods if you have hard or soft water. Here’s an infographic that helps explain.

Fix Water Leaks

Do you have any water leaks? A leak of 1 drip per second can cost $1/month. Check around the house and at your water heater to make sure everything is ship shape.

Lower the Water Heater Temperature

If you run your sink water at full hot and are afraid to touch it, then your water heater temperature might be set too high. The Department of Energy recommends setting your water heater temp to 120 degrees (Fahrenheit). Most manufacturers set the default to 140 degrees, but most of us don’t need water that hot for our showers or sink use.

Research a New Water Heater

Have an old water heater? Don’t be stuck in a cold shower ready to buy the first water heater that can be installed. Now is the right time to research to make sure you get the best solution for your home without overspending in the long run. Lots of people have written about how to find a good new water heater.

Reminder: Your first step is to reduce hot water use in easy ways so you know how much you really need in your home. See if you can do some DIY maintenance on your current water heater.

Heat Pump Water Heaters (HPWH) from GE (Geospring) and A.O. Smith (Voltex) are becoming quite common, and rebates are often available. We explained what a hot pump water heater is in an earlier article.

Do research. Use this infographic to give you and overview and use this site as a starting point about your options. Be sure you’re aware of the various fuel types you have available, the size you need for your home use, energy efficiency you desire to reduce operating costs, and of course the cost of the system over its lifetime (e.g. don’t forget routine maintenance costs).

Consumer Reports provides a very good buying guide, as does Enervee. Know that Consumer Reports tested for high energy use cases, so their findings might not apply to your situation. They also specifically tested a tankless water heater here. Here is another good reference to double check a separate resource.

Calculators you find online might be a good guide but ultimately you should speak with a contractor. Talking with them about fuel type, size, energy efficiency, and cost will ensure you pick the right water heater for your home.