Your water heater is one of the hardest-working appliances in your home, quietly providing hot water for showers, laundry, dishes, and more every day. Because it operates behind the scenes, it’s easy to overlook how much energy it uses—until it’s time for a replacement. ​ Water heating is typically the second-largest energy use in most homes, behind heating and cooling. If your current water heater is older or becoming less efficient, replacing it with a qualifying energy-eff