Water Heater Timer

[sherpa]

Thinking about getting a timer and put it on my water heater to save on the electric bill. Has anyone had any success using a timer on their water heater?
How much was the savings?
Was the timer hard to install?
What brand timer did you get?
Sherpa

 

[Chilly807]

I'll be watching this thread with interest.

My electrician recommended we install a timer on the HWH when we built our house 3 years ago, but we decided not to go that route. With two of us in the house we don't use a lot of hot water to begin with, although the idea behind using a timer is to prevent "on" cycles during the hours you won't need hot water (middle of the night). Better to let it cool off a bit more then heat it once just before you're likely to need it (early morning).

I'd definitely be looking for one with battery backup for the timer, since if you lose power frequently you'd always be re-setting the dam* thing.

There should be some available that will allow you to program workdays/weekends as well as time of days cycles. An over-ride function is a must too.

Sean

 

[thatguy]

The electric company at my parents installed one free of charge for my parents..

I researched this a while back trying to save money and from what I remember it wasnt really worth the effort - assuming your water heater was pretty new, hence more effecient..

Chilly807 - Why are you heating your hot water? ie: HWH LOL

Brian

 

[thatguy]

a few links i found

WATER HEATER TIMERS: I've seen a prediction that they can reduce energy use b...(Q&A)

http://michaelbluejay.com/electricity/waterheaters.html - part way down the page at the
'Tips for saving with an old-style tank heater'

 

[Scooby074]

Timers are good, but if your tank is several years old and your looking for an upgrade, look at the new GE Hybrid heaters. Basically a hot water tank with a heatpump mounted

I got a rundown on them the other day. Over $350 a year in savings. If i didnt install a brand new tank last year i'd have one.

 

[Bigfoot62]

Sherpa,

This is totally "un-scientific" because I don't have hard data to back it up. (ie: a meter on the line that goes to the water heater) We have used a timer for years. It turns the heater on for 2 hours each morning, and six hours each evening. We very seldom need additional hot water. And, if we do, we just flip the bypass switch to "on." Even being very conservative in the estimated cost savings, a timer will easily pay for itself in a year. ($5/month for a $50 timer) Plus, a heating element has a limited life. I honestly believe that using a timer makes them last longer.

For a more "official" opinion, see here:
How much money will a water heater timer save?

My first one was bought at an electrical supply house, (actually an electric motor timer). I think the cost was around $80. It lasted for nearly 20 years.
This time, I bought the "heavy duty" model at Lowes. IIRC, it was $50 + tax.

If you have even basic electrical skills/knowledge, you should be able to do this yourself. If not, or if local code will not allow, a minimum service call by a plumber should do it. It's about a 15-30 minute job.

 

[sherpa]

We have been playing with the breaker turning the water heater off and on for about a week. It is just the two of us and we don't need much hot water. We are retired and the water heater is a just 30 gallon. We have learn that we can turn the WH on for 20 minutes and have enough hot water for both our baths. I just happen to find some new water heater timers for $20 at the local habitat store and thought that may be better than turning the breaker off and on.
sherpa

 

[haroldy]

I installed a timer from home depot about 2 years ago i have it programed to come on at 11.00 pm till 6;00 am when rates are cheapest.
I dont know how much I have saved but this provides enough hot water
for 2 of us
Not difficult to install
It is an electronic timer , about $60.

 

[Oaktree]

I installed one where I lived in the 90s, I'd say it paid for itself in 6 months or so. 2 hrs in the morning, 2 hr in the evening and it was fine. Then again I was single at the time and other than showering didn't use much hot water anyway.

Have propane where we live now...we keep it turned all the way down and only turn it up when we need hot water. HWH is in the kitchen so it doesn't lose much heat to the air, and generally except in the winter the pilot alone will keep it hot enough.

 

[20 20]

Have had one for 4 yrs now it does save, not sure how much exactly. Simple installation, set the timer to your preference and walk away. Bought mine from lowes.

 

[charlz]

Timers are good, but if your tank is several years old and your looking for an upgrade, look at the new GE Hybrid heaters. Basically a hot water tank with a heatpump mounted

I got a rundown on them the other day. Over $350 a year in savings. If i didnt install a brand new tank last year i'd have one.

I wonder about installing one of those if your WH is inside your heated space? In the winter it would just be 'stealing' heat from your house? My WH is also in a closet under the stairs so not much airflow... I don't think it would be as effective.

 

[medic1050]

I've been running a tank heater for about 8 months saves about $3 a month. It cost me about $100 to install that was the timer the wire and the extra insulating jacket for the tank. I run the tank for 2 hours in the morning and 4 hours in the evening. Our electricity is charged based on time of use. Therefore I only run the tank in off peak hours. With two of us I have never wanted for hot water. One can always flip the override switch to turn the heater to regular mode.

The only time I've done that was Christmas when with all the family we had 10 people over for the weekend and I didn't think the lone tank would be enough. Weekends and holidays are also off peak so what the heck "it's Christmas Mr Scrooge."

 

[Kays Supply]

I am a little confused. One post says turn it off at night to save money. The other post says turn it off during the day to save money. All I know is that my father had lost power during a storm, and had hot enough water for 3 days to take quick showers. How much can you save if the heater doesn't turn on all night anyway?

 

[techman]

A timer will reduce energy losses due to radiated heat loss from the tank. If you lose 5 deg in the tank when the timer is off, when it turns on, you will pay for those 5 degrees at turn on time. To really save much money, you need to greatly reduce your usage. Timers only make sense if you have a lower rate at night, and you only heat the water at those lower rates. An external thermal blanket reduces the losses, is cheaper and will save more money.

As for hybrid heat pumps, like the GE, the downside is that the area where the water heater is located will get chilled by the heat pump. If you are in the south, where the temp is mild and the utilities are in the garage or other outdoor connected area, no problem. If you have a basement or utility room in a heated part of the house, then you will chill that area. In a basement it may not be a big problem if you do not use the basement for anything, but in a heated area you will find the home's heating system will need to make up for the heat given up to the water heater. A heat pump just moves heat, so from the house to the water. It has advantages in the summer as it will assist the A/C somewhat.

Nothing is for free.

Paul

 

[Scooby074]

I wonder about installing one of those if your WH is inside your heated space? In the winter it would just be 'stealing' heat from your house? My WH is also in a closet under the stairs so not much airflow... I don't think it would be as effective.

I had this discussion with the rep.

The most efficiency is having the unit installed in unconditioned space. Thats where mine is. Raising and lowering the ambient temp in such an area really makes no difference to ones heat bills. The brochure says that the unit requires a room of 700 cuft. If you dont have that, a louvered door is required. If this door backs onto conditioned space, then you will be pulling heat from the room, potentially costing you money.

Now if you have to install the heater "in your kitchen" as the rep said, it changes things. BUT overall in a year the days you heat the ambient compared to the days you cool the ambient should almost work out. Dont forget that the unit can run in traditional, resistance only mode, if your concerned about pumping cold air into a living space over the winter.

I asked about having an external condenser, but apparently its not in the cards. He did suggest that some have boxed in the unit and brought in air from outside to cool the condenser unit on top of the heater. I suppose this makes sense if you are after the ultimate in efficiency. The unit will work down to -40? or so.

my power bill right now is huge and most of it goes to hot water and the electric stove.

The electric stove i can do nothing about (resistance heater takes power) but the hot water, i can. If i didnt install a new tank last year, id have one of the heat pump units by now.

Im looking at the brochure for the GE right now. The energuide ratings for it say it should use $198/yr compared to $520 for a conventional.

 

[Oaktree]

To really save much money, you need to greatly reduce your usage. Timers only make sense if you have a lower rate at night, and you only heat the water at those lower rates. An external thermal blanket reduces the losses, is cheaper and will save more money.Paul

My rationale was to have the timer come on a hour or so before I was likely to use hot water. This way the heater wouldn't come on right after I'd taken a shower and re-heat it only to sit for 12 hours.

Obviously, this works best if you use hot water at predictable times. As I noted, I was single at the time and any hot water use would likely be either first thing in the morning or in the evening. I didn't particularly care if the water was hot at 2pm.

 

[Chooglin]

I took a diff. aproach to saving energy with my hot water tank.I installed a relay on my clothes dryer,that is connected to the hot water tank.anytime I/wife turns the dryer on,it shuts down the hot water tank.

when you have two or more sources drawing 220 at the same time,is when it hurts your electric bill the most.

We also do not use the dryer when using the stove.

 

[BigE_]

I took a diff. aproach to saving energy with my hot water tank.I installed a relay on my clothes dryer,that is connected to the hot water tank.anytime I/wife turns the dryer on,it shuts down the hot water tank.

when you have two or more sources drawing 220 at the same time,is when it hurts your electric bill the most.

We also do not use the dryer when using the stove.

Do you have any data to back that up? I'm not saying you are wrong, but it does go against anything that I have ever heard before.

 

[techman]

I took a diff. aproach to saving energy with my hot water tank.I installed a relay on my clothes dryer,that is connected to the hot water tank.anytime I/wife turns the dryer on,it shuts down the hot water tank.

when you have two or more sources drawing 220 at the same time,is when it hurts your electric bill the most.

We also do not use the dryer when using the stove.

Unless you pay demand charges, it does not matter how much you use at a time. Price per KWH is the same.

paul

 

[RPW]

Had one on the WH for years and when if finally died it didn't make a bit of difference on my electric bill. I had it set to turn on about 4am till 9am and then again at 5pm until about 10pm.