Use a Water Heater Timer and Save Big Bucks!

Using a water heater timer could be the answer to your prayers. If you have been experiencing a surge in your electricity bills, start considering getting a water heater timer now. Water heaters are the highest energy-consuming devices found in your home. You could be spending up to $400 per year in electricity costs just because of water heaters!

An average water heater heats gallons of water every time, regardless of whether you use it or not. When you’re asleep or out of your home, your water heater heats water and continues to do so until you use it. This is the reason why you get high utility bills. In order for you to cut back on these costs, you can get a water heater timer.

What is a Water Heater Timer?

A water heater timer is a device attached to your water heater that allows you to control when you want to turn on/off your water heater at different times of the day.

How is this considered a factor in saving energy?

Usually, hot water is only used for about two hours in the morning and two hours at night. This hot water can be used for showers, laundry, and doing the dishes. Instead of heating water over and over again during the course of the day, you can actually control when and how often your water heater functions. By doing so, you can save up to 12% of energy.

How does a water heater timer function?

Water heater timers come with manual buttons that allow you to set your water heater on/off anytime during the day. Some water heater timers even offer up to 24 on/off settings for each day so you can tweak and polish your water heating schedule.

If you are the type that does not follow any everyday routine schedule, there are more advanced water heater timers available that come with a programmable function. If your schedule varies everyday, you can use a digital water heater timer, which offers seven-day programming. This means you can set a different schedule for your water heater for each of the seven days in the week.

For those with schedules varying only in the weekend, there are less expensive water heater timers available that come with a weekday and weekend schedule.

In case of a power outage, you do not have to worry about resetting your programmed schedule over and over again. All digital timers have a built-in backup in the form of battery or integral that saves your schedule. Water heater timers, being electronics with no moving parts, are also very easy to maintain.

How can I further lessen my electricity bills?

You can inquire with your utility company about time-of-use rates. This usually varies according to their demand system. During on peak hours, higher rates are charged and during off peak hours, lower rates are charged. If you are able to set your water heater timer to heat water during off peak hours, then this contributes to further reducing the amount of your utility bills.

If you’re really concerned with the growing amount you are spending on utility costs, consider having a water heater timer. It is cost-efficient, cheap, and very easy to use. It is also a very good investment, since a water heater timer is able to pay for itself in the first two to three months of use, showing you how effective it is in cutting back energy and consequently, electricity costs.