Researchers at
New Mexico State University studying the
energy consumption of gas and electric water heaters have
concluded that by
using softened water, consumers
can cut
water heating costs by about 23%.
Six gas and six electric water heaters that had been in
actual household use for five to fifteen years in the
Las Cruses, New Mexico area were measured for energy
consumption rates. The results revealed the following:
- Gas heaters operating on hard water only used an
average of 29.57% more BTUs on average than did
those operated on softened water.
- Electric heaters operating on hard water only used an average of
21.68% more BTU's on average than did those operated on softened
water.
The study, sponsored by the Water Quality Research Council, computed
the efficiency levels for water heaters before and after removing scale
build-up. This build-up of elements causing scale was found to be the
major contributor to high energy usage by water heaters operating on
hard water. Scale cleaning provided a 14.5% reduction in energy consumption
for the electric water heaters tested and a 5.02% reduction for gas
heaters tested.
Copies of the complete research report are available for $6.95 from
WQA. A consumer bulletin providing highlights of the study can be
obtained for customers at 10 cents a copy. For both, write to:
Water Quality Association
4151 Naperville Road
Lisle, IL 60532
