Living Like Ed - (Page 31) heat—your clothing. This too eliminates wear and tear on your Use the Dryer’s clothes, prolonging their lives and Moisture Sensor saving on wardrobe expenses, as COST: free well as your utility bills. Lastly, clean the dryer’s lint filter before every load. A clogged lint filter—just like a clogged air filter for your home—will make the dryer expend extra effort and take more time to do the same amount of work. Water Heaters Besides washing your clothes in cold water, there are other ways to save on your water heating bill. Your water heater has a thermostat inside. That’s why a hot water heater works. The natural gas comes on when the temperature drops below a certain point. I find on my hot water heater tank, I can adjust the thermostat. I have set mine to medium, on the center position, and I get water that is 110 or 115 degrees Fahrenheit. By switching from the hottest to the medium setting, you get water that’s plenty hot enough for a shower or to do dishes, and you’re still saving energy. As an added safety benefit to lowering the temperature of your hot water, you remove the possibility of scalds from too-hot water in the bath or shower, or when you run water in the sink. Another way you can save here is by putting a blanket around your water heater, if you have an older Wrap the Water model that doesn’t have thick, thick Heater insulation like the newer heaters. A COST: $5 or less hot water heater blanket costs only $5, and many municipalities give them away for free. Check with your water provider by phone or online. A blanket keeps the hot water hotter longer, so your heater doesn’t have to work so hard. (You’ll find more info on water heater technology in Chapter 4, “Energy.”) 31 1: home washing, you’ll save nearly 5,000 gallons of water a year—and you’ll use a third of the energy
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