have anybody here use a timer on their electric water heater, I dont see how they would save money. I think a heater would use less enegy maitaining heat that heating all at once, when it cooled down.
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BOB thinks I,m an idiot
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There are IMHO only one situations where a timer, controller, might be cost effective. That being if the water heater tank were totally or relatively uninsulated. A timer which would limit the operation to the period directly prior to its use would provide some savings.
If you use a considerable amount of hot water regularly and the tank is well insulated the savings accrued by installation of a control timer are likely to be minimal. Payback in perhaps twenty years or so if professionally installed. A bit sooner if you DIY.
Some savings can be had by simply turning off the water heater if you go on vacation or know you will not be needing hot water for a considerable time. For this task simply deactivating the circuit breaker will suffice. If the circuit breaker is inconvenient a simple switch can be installed. The switch being a lot less expensive than the timer.
There is an advantage for utilities to have a peak load switch. Since water heaters are pretty good at storing energy, switching off during peak load saves them money, even though they need to "pay back" most of the energy later.
If ignorance is bliss why aren't more people
happy?
They will save money, just like a setback thermostat on a GFA or pure resistive heating system. But they don't save much with a modern superinsulated water heater. So it depends on the age and quality of the heater.
The theory that it takes more energy to reheat than to maintain temp is bogus -- provably wrong with thermodynamics.
happy?
I installed one years ago in an apartment (where I lived alone). I set it up to come on for 2 hours in the very early am. It leaft me with hot water fr my am shower, and luke-warm water for the rest of the day.
It saved me $30 a month. I had to remember to flip it on if I wanted
an afternoon shower, etc. I finally decided it wasn't worth it - especially if there's anyone else there with you...