Money saving tip for your energy bill I heard on the radio.

[Cindy S.]

Someone called in and said they put their hot water heater on a timer.

I'm going to try it. I figure we can knock off 16 hours of electricity per day and always have hot water when we want it.

[shayera]

How do you do that?????

Details if you want to share them! :)

[Cindy S.]

How do you do that?????

Details if you want to share them! :)


I really don't know. I'm just going to get a timer and plug it into the outlet and the water heater into the timer. If that's how they work.

I figure I can have the water heater come on about 2 hrs. before we get up in the morning and shut off when we leave. Then have it come on about 2 hrs. before we get home and have it shut off about 2 hrs. before bed time.

[shayera]

My house was built in the late 60's. I just went into my closet that has the heat and air.
I have Missouri Natural Gas.

Couldn't find a plug in to save my life. All the lines connecting the 2 are buried in the back behind them.

I wish there was a way you could just go and flip the gas on and off. I would never have it on except to do laundry, and with 2, that's not a lot, and run the dishwasher.

[Cindy S.]

My house was built in the late 60's. I just went into my closet that has the heat and air.
I have Missouri Natural Gas.

Couldn't find a plug in to save my life. All the lines connecting the 2 are buried in the back behind them.

I wish there was a way you could just go and flip the gas on and off. I would never have it on except to do laundry, and with 2, that's not a lot, and run the dishwasher.

Check your fuse box. Maybe you can flip the circuit breaker?

You could also dial the thermostat way down on the water heater.

[HisAlways]

Check your fuse box. Maybe you can flip the circuit breaker?

You could also dial the thermostat way down on the water heater.
That's a good idea in the summer months. I also have a gas hot water heater.

[shayera]

My husband reminded me we like to take warm, semi- almost hot showers so we can dial it way down.

Oops! Forgot about it being tied to the shower.

I can do warmer showers, but never cold.

[Kerusso02]

My parents have their water heater on a timer, set to turn on a couple of hours before they get up and then on again a couple of hours before they go to bed. It has saved them quite a bit.

[Purplelinny]

I find it hard to believe that hot water heaters in the US do not have a timer as standard. In the UK, if you don't have an instant water heater, you would have your immersion heater (water heater) on a timer. The tank would be insulated as standard also.

We have a gas powered instant water heater, and are grateful for that!

Here's more.
http://www.doe.gov/waterheating.htm

[LoudRam]

For a 220v electric hwh, Intermatic makes a good timer. They're not that hard to install. The only reason I don't have one is I work rotating shift. Other than that it's a great idea. If anyone needs advice on how to hook it up, let me know. I'm an electrician.

http://www.intermatic.com/Default.asp?action=div&did=5