Making Water heating decisions When Crude Oil Prices Increase...

Water heating systems use energy from various sources to heat water. It's a fact that energy is based mainly or more loosely on world crude oil prices. Propane also known as LPG is more or less like oil. The majority of electricity generating plants around the world make use either oil, natural gas or LPG

Which water heater is better? - The propane or natural gas tankless? For general information to help in assessing propane versus natural gas tankless hot water heaters.

Water heating and Brent crude oil price

Everyone knows that crude oil prices have gone up drastically over the past 2 years as follows (shown as approximate numbers) ...

Q4, 2004 average Brent crude oil prices = $43 per barrel

Q1, 2005 average Brent crude oil prices = $46 per barrel

Q2, 2005 average Brent crude oil price = $54 per barrel

Q3 (actual for July, August and to date September 9th) 2005 average Brent crude oil prices = $65 per barrel

If we analyze this data further and If we change these figures into percentages - it is clear that crude oil is now priced almost 50% higher than in the last quota of 2005. The consequences are that you will be paying close to this amount on this high percentage increase to heat the same amount of water.

Take a look at this table

Energy factors impact showing annual cost of gas for different flows and different Energy factors before massive crude oil price increases

Water per day in gallons you want to heat	50	60	70
Annual cost 100% Energy factor before 50% increase in crude oil prices	$ 70.29	$ 84.35	$ 98.41
Energy factors
0.45	$ 156.21	$ 187.45	$218.69
0.5	$ 140.59	$ 168.70	$196.82
0.55	$ 127.81	$ 153.37	$178.93
0.6	$ 117.16	$ 140.59	$164.02
0.65	$ 108.14	$ 129.77	$151.40
0.7	$ 100.42	$ 120.50	$140.59
0.75	$ 93.72	$ 112.47	$131.21
0.8	$ 87.87	$ 105.44	$123.01
0.85	$ 82.70	$ 99.24	$115.78

The table shows that energy factor makes a big difference to the amount of money you pay out annually just to heat different quantities

If you have a low energy factor water heater and you are faced with 50% energy price increases you are seriously being hit twice. Just by viewing the table above, you can see that perhaps its time for you to buy a new water heater for your home

Here's an example of what you could save by upgrading from a low energy factor water heater

Water Heating Before

It costs you $127.81 to heat 50 gallons of water per day with 55% energy factor . After the huge oil price rise you will be paying up to around $191.72

Water Heating After

Let say you upgrade to a new heater that has a 70% energy factor. Heating 50 gallons of water per day before the oil price increase would cost $100.42. After the 50% increase in crude this will become $150.63

Water Heating Big Saving...

The annual saving will be $127.81 - $100.42 = $27.39 if the oil price had not gone up .Unfortunately because of high crude oil prices (and these are still going to increase) your saving by upgrading your water heater will become $191.72-150.63 = $41.09 . This saving when ramped up for larger water heating quantities becomes significant and the savings can easily justify the buying of a very efficient (high energy factor) water heater.

You can read a wide range ofwater usage articles. They discuss the use of water in the house and home ... topics covered include filters, heaters, softeners and water in the garden.