We turn off the breaker to the hot water heater. In the summer, we rarely turn it on. The water is always warm. We shower in that warm water. The temperature is perfect for showering in the summer and we wash the dishes by hand in the same warm water.
We turn the breaker on for exactly 15 minutes before using the dishwasher. They are spotless! It's plenty hot! Wash your clothes in the washing machine with warm or cold water. Our clothes look perfectly clean. Try it, you'll be boasting about your lower utility bill!
Source: My inspiration in turning the hot water heater breaker came from talking to our utility company representative. She attended a seminar on electricity conservation. She said she saved a big by doing this.
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Lower your hot water heater's temperature to 120 degrees to save on gas or electricity. If you have a dishwashing machine be sure to consult the manual for it's minimum water temperature requirement.
