Over the past few years, you may have noticed the "Eco setting" button on new appliances such as dishwashers and washing machines. Many trustworthy homeowners often wonder if the economy setting really saves them money. Actually, the eco setting will reduce energy and water consumption but may end up costing you in the end.
Most of today's appliances that include eco settings are energy star approved. Once activated, and depending on the type of appliance, most economy modes are designed to conserve both the amount of water and electricity or gas used to power the appliance. Common types of appliances with eco settings are listed below.
- Washing machines
- Clothes dryers
- Microwaves
- Dishwashers
- Televisions
- Ranges
- HVAC systems
The downside to this well-intended idea is that the savings come at the expense of the appliance's performance to the point where it falls short of minimum standards. For example, if a dishwasher's performance is reduced to a point where it fails to clean your dishes, the likely result is that you will run them through another cycle, using more energy to complete the task than if the appliance has been in normal mode.
Often, appliance models that include friendly eco settings cost more than standard models of the same variety. If at the end of the day you wind up paying more for the appliance at checkout and run it twice as much to meet your standards, are you really saving any money? When purchasing these energy saving appliances, you must do your homework and compare energy star ratings with the overall price to make a solid determination. Read customer reviews to find out first hand if the appliance performance standards stand up when in economy mode.
Using common sense when using your standard appliances can reduce energy consumption and save you money. For instance:
- Operate your washing machine and clothes dryer with full loads.
- Reducing your thermostat setting by one degree can save you as much as ten percent of your heating cost average.
- Do not run the dishwasher with anything less than a full load.
- Hire a professional plumber to perform annual service and flushing on your water heater to maintain maximum efficiency.
Follow the tips listed above can save you as much if not more energy consumption than the eco function on higher end appliances.
For answers to your questions, contact The Pink Plumber today.
