Lately I’m getting called to swap “dead” tanks that come back with basic troubleshooting: verify power or gas, meter the elements/thermostats, and flush sediment 10–15 minutes to restore recovery. For energy savings, a 120 F setpoint plus insulating the first 6 feet of hot and cold lines has cut bills for several customers — what quick fixes are you seeing help?
I’ve seen folks save a lot by just tweaking their temperature settings; it’s like giving your heater a little spa day — have you tried recommending a timer for off-peak hours? Makes a surprising difference.
I’ve had luck improving efficiency by reducing tank size for smaller households — less hot water means less energy used. Have you noticed a difference with different tank sizes in your work, @marthom?