Water heater gas usage? Seem to be using lots of gas even with no air heating running
With the weird gas prices recently, I tried turning off our forced air heating for a few days. Looking at PGE gas usage, I still see 2 therms per day on these days. I think the only other thing using gas here is the water heater. Google says an average house should use 60 therms per year to heat water (and I think that includes states with winters), but supposedly I'm using 60 therms per month for an apartment/condo? Something isn't making sense. I tried calling PGE, but couldn't get anywhere in their phone tree. Any ideas about how to figure this out? Anyone know how much gas usage is normal for water heating?
Posted Mar 15, 2023, 10:11 PM UTC
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When was the last time you purged your tank and cleaned it? Should be done about once a year to clear out the sediment at the bottom. I’ve seen photos of water heaters opened up and the bottom full of sludge. That’s usually the first thing to check.
Also water heaters on average last about ten years before needing a replacement.
60 therms per year sounds very low. Prob more like 200-300 a year?
Anyway, check the temperature setting, age, and maybe flush your water heater. (If it’s never been flushed, be gentle, because the bottom might be corroded.)
I’m curious, for a renter living in a unit with their own water heaters, is purging something I can reasonably do myself? My landlord, as is typical, is dismissive about this sort of maintenance and I’ve suspected that sediment is a major factor for my high winter energy bills.
Depending on if you have access to shut off the water to your unit, this might be tricky. Generally you turn off the water to the building or house. You then open up all of your faucets in the house. Then you turn off the water heater. Then you drain it. Once that’s done it’s a good idea to turn the water back on to stir up some of the sediment on the bottom and let that drain out. Kind of like rinsing the junk out of the bottom that didn’t drain. Once that’s done turn the water to the building or house back on. Let all the air bleed out of your faucets for a bit. Let the water heater start filling up again. Once everything seems normal again with water coming in, turn the heater back on.
It’s an involved process id say would take about two hours to see through properly. It’s worth it though if it’s never been drained and it’s old. Guarantee you’ll get some rust colored water and sediment coming out. Might be throwing the sensor off