Using a water heater timer can be the solution to your increasing electric bills. Water heaters are the most energy-consuming appliances found within your home. A typical family will be spending up to $400 annually in utility bills only because of the high electricity consumption of water heaters.

Usually, a typical water heater keeps gallons of water hot all the time, 24 hours a day, regardless of whether it is used or not. This is the reason behind high utility bills. In order to save money, you can consider installing a water-heater timer.

What is a Water Heater Timer?

A water heater timer is an attachment to your water heater. With it, you can direct your water heater to operate only at the specific times you will be needing hot water.

How does this contribute 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 work?

Water heater timers have manual buttons that lets you set specific times to turn on/off your heater during the day. For some water heater timers, you can choose up to 24 on/off settings for each day so you can modify and fine tune your schedule.

If however, your schedule varies daily, there are more sophisticated water heater timers that come with a programmable function. A digital water heater timer is most effective and flexible, as it offers seven-day programming. You can set a different water heating schedule during Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays and a different one for Tuesdays and Thursdays, whatever suits you best. You are in charge of setting the schedules.

If your schedule only varies during weekends and weekdays, you can get less expensive timers that offer weekday and weekend schedule.

Digital timers also have a built-in backup that saves your schedule even when there is a power outage. Through this, you do not have to reset your schedule every time a power outage occurs. Water heater timers require minimal, if not zero maintenance.

How can I further lessen my utility bills?

Most utility companies offer a demand management program, where different rates are applied depending on the demand for electricity. During on peak hours (times when demand is high), higher rates are charged. On the other hand, lower rates are charged during off peak hours (when demand is low). If you can set your water heater timer to operate during off peak hours, you can further cut back on electricity costs.

Overall, if you want to cut back on your utility costs, consider buying a water heater timer. It is relatively cheap, cost-efficient, and very easy to use. Most water heater timers pay for itself during the first two to three months of its use. This shows how efficient water heater timers are in reducing electricity costs.

Tags: Technology

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