Cheaper Hot Water

Yes, you can put for hot-water system on an energy diet; master plumber and author Dave Yates will show you how. Each of the six strategies that he shares in this article—ranging from insulating your water heater and pipes to adding a thermal-expansion tank—will reduce your energy bills and your carbon footprint. Yates helps you choose the best insulation for your pipes; shows you how to find leaks and drips (even hidden ones); and explains the newest systems available, including tankless, indirect, solar and gravity-fed recirculation.