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The cost of utilities is continually on the rise in most developed countries, especially urban centres and metropolitan cities. Indeed, this is primarily because of rapid population growth and an increasing need for more energy sources and power, which is putting further strain on the network. Thankfully, there are many nifty and easy ways you can save money on your gas hot water bill. Indeed, minimising your use of gas hot water can save you a lot of cash as well, since it’s often the second-largest energy expense in the home. Here are our top 6 tips that can be easily implemented around the home.

#1 Decrease the thermostat

When they are shipped out from the manufacturer, the heater is set at a pre-determined temperature. Slightly lowering this temperature (by 5-10 degrees) might not necessarily make a significant difference to the warmth of your showers. Lowering the temperature via the thermostat has several positive effects – it will lower your utilities bill, while also reducing the mineral build-up and scalding that can occur in the heater and your pipes. This also leads to lower costs in terms of maintenance and upkeep.

#2 Repair leaky faucets

While a leaky faucet might only seem like a minor nuisance, it can be a costly one if left untreated for a long time. The amount of liquid lost could be costly, especially if heated. Please make sure you check outdoor faucets as well since they are more likely to be leaking then indoor taps. Once you find a leaky faucet, make sure you repair it instantly (if you can), otherwise hire a professional plumber to handle it for you. Wasting hundreds of litres in gas hot water every week will take its toll on your finances.

#3 Install a timer

A conventional gas hot water heater is continuously operating, which weighs heavily on your electricity bill. Installing a timer on the unit, however, can do wonders to save you money. You can set the timer, so the heater turns off at a specific time at night. This will help your unit conserve energy and save costs while adding years to the lifetime of the unit. We recommend asking a professional plumber in your local area to handle this for you since this will ensure that you get the most reliable gas hot water usage during the day.

#4 Replace old appliances

Old appliances tend to be way less energy efficient compared to newer models. There are many apps you can use to help you calculate how much money you can save by conserving energy. For example, if your dishwasher or washing machine (which use a lot of gas hot water) is somewhat outdated, it might be worth upgrading to a new model. When you’re doing your research, keep a keen eye on the relevant “energy stars” and how much liquid is used in each cycle.

#5 Install heat traps

Heat traps allow cold liquids to flow into the system without letting the gas hot water escape in the process. Most contemporary models have these mechanisms built-in, so it shouldn’t be something you need to worry about. However, if your unit is much older (but still in excellent condition), it is undoubtedly worth installing heat traps since they will conserve heat and minimise further strain/energy needed to power the unit.

#6 Install a new hot gas water heater

At the end of the day, if none of the above tips has worked for you, it might be time to get a new heater for your home or apartment. These units are only meant to last a certain number of years, and if you have moved into an old property, there is a good chance the unit has just run its course.

It can be pleasantly surprised to know that there are lots of professionals out there that can be hired outside of regular hours. These types of professionals are usually on call because there can sometimes be some issues in life that pop up at random times and some things simply cannot wait until morning. The only thing is that these kinds of services will often cost a lot of money and this is because team members will have to get paid penalty rates for working late at night.

And then there are those who may be worried that the problem isn’t big enough to warrant someone coming at night. So for those out there who don’t want to waste anyone’s time if they don’t have to, here is how to know if it is okay to call a plumber in Sydney or if you should simply wait for the next day.

It may be better to wait until morning instead of calling emergency plumbers in Sydney when you really believe that the issue is not going to get worse overnight

One example of a time when it may be better to wait until morning instead of calling emergency plumbers in Sydney is when you believe that the issue is not going to get worse overnight. For example, someone may have a blocked toilet but this toilet is not going to be any more blocked by the morning and more often than not, people will have another toilet in the household that they are easily able to use. Furthermore, most people are able to simply shut off their water supply until the morning when the professional can come.

And when people are in the position where they can wait, it can sometimes be a good idea to do so as the service at hand is often going to cost a lot less when it is conducted during regular hours. Having said all of this, sometimes it is simply better to be safe than sorry and so if people are ever unsure then they should simply chat with a professional even if it is after 5pm.

You can know that it is okay to call emergency plumbers in Sydney instead of waiting for the next day when the person at hand cannot stop the issue

You can know that it is okay to call emergency plumbers in Sydney instead of waiting for the next day when the issue cannot be solved by the person at hand. For example, there are many people out there that will do the right thing when they notice that issue which is turned their water supply off straight away. Even when they do this, however, they may still find that there is leaking water coming out of a burst pipe and this may be causing damage to their property or perhaps even the property of their neighbours.

And when something like this is the case, it can be very important that people are willing to pick up the phone and call those who are able to help them at the moment. If people do not do this, they may find that the issue becomes a lot worse and in the morning, they will wake up to find that they really regret not doing something sooner. Hopefully, this post has helped clarify for some people when it is okay to ring outside of usual hours and when it may be best to wait till morning.