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Water Heating

Tank, tankless and heat pump water heaters, plus Ontario's rental contracts.

Last reviewed November 2, 2026
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Quick tips

  • Wash clothes in cold water

    Most of a washer's energy goes into heating water. Switching most loads to cold can save roughly 80–90% of the energy per wash with modern detergents.

  • Set the water heater to 60 °C

    Higher settings increase standby losses and scald risk. At 60 °C the tank still controls bacteria; use anti-scald valves at taps if needed.

  • Install a low-flow showerhead

    A 5.7 L/min (1.5 gpm) showerhead uses much less hot water than older 9.5 L/min heads. That can save a household roughly 10–20% on water heating.

  • Trim a few minutes off showers

    Hot water is often the second-largest energy use in an Ontario home. Cutting each shower by two minutes saves water and heating energy every day.

  • Insulate exposed hot water pipes

    Foam pipe sleeves cost a few dollars per metre and cut heat loss from pipes in unheated basements. Start with the first 1–2 m from the tank.

  • Fix dripping hot water taps

    A tap dripping once a second wastes thousands of litres a year. If it is a hot tap, you are paying to heat that water too.