Water heating can be expensive, but there are a number of ways to lower your costs.

• One way is to use less water.
• Repair leaky faucets immediately and use low-flow shower heads. (A family of four, each showering for five minutes a day, uses 700 gallons of water a week; you can cut that amount in half by using low-flow aerating showerheads.)
• Insulate your hot-water storage tank and pipes, and drain a quart of water from your water tank every three months to remove sediment that impedes heat transfer and lowers the efficiency of your heater (follow the manufacturer's advice).
• Lower the thermostat on your water heater to 115 degrees; water heaters sometimes come from the factory with higher temperature settings than are necessary.
• When buying a new water heater, compare EnergyGuide labels to find an energy-efficient model.