Choice

• Install the appropriate size of heater for your home. Carefully consider the type of heater to buy, whether electric, gas, or other. Gas heaters are more efficient, but safety considerations such as venting and the pilot flame need to be considered.
  
  

Water Temperature

• Set the temperature adjuster on your water tank to a setting below 120 degrees Fahrenheit. If hotter than 120 degrees, bath water has the potential to burn a child. Keeping it at this setting protects your family and reduces energy use.
  
  

Gas Water Heaters

• Install carbon monoxide detectors if you have a gas water heater. Newer models are engineered to prevent the pilot light from having contact with vapors that can ignite. The gas models featuring this characteristic hold 30, 40 or 50 gallons.
  
  

Venting

• Gas water heaters should have direct venting systems. These closed systems bring in required ventilation air and remove toxic fumes.
  
  

Maintenance

• Have a licensed professional inspect and clean your water heater annually. When a water heater's interior is kept clean, sediment is not allowed to accumulate. Such accumulation could cause the tank to fail early in its life. Annual maintenance also keeps the water heater running efficiently.