A water heater is a bigger concern than most people think, especially when making your home more energy efficient. Your water heater uses up to 12% of your house’s energy.
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−Sadly, people spend more time encouraging others to buy new water heaters, install solar heaters, and many more instead of using the time to explain the virtues of installing a water heater timer.
Types of Hot Water Heater Timers
Water heaters have a wide variety of devices to control them. Such devices could range from an On/Off switch to controllers, which your smartphone could access. The application mostly determines types of timers.
Most common types of water heater timers
Switch
Even though an On/Off switch is technically not a timer, it’s efficient and a manual way of reducing the energy cost of your water heater. However, since water takes time to heat, it requires more planning than the others.
Countdown Timers
The activation of this timer is quite similar to a switch, but with the advantage of automatically turning off after your desired length. This is much more efficient than a switch. However, it still needs proper planning and manual labor.
Programmable Timers
Out of all these, the programmable timer may be the most efficient. With the name itself, you could program this water heater according to your liking.
Box Timers
This type of water heater is the most common on the list and is the best in terms of style. The advantage of digital and electronic water heater timers is that they allow you to set different usage periods. The most well-known and trusted brand used is the Intermatic water heater timers.
WiFi and Z-Wave Timers
You could control your water heater timers with just the use of your phone. Of course, these water heater timers are much more expensive, but you have full control of its system everywhere you go.
Timers for Gas Water Heaters
Your water heater may use gas as its primary fuel source, but it still relies on electricity to know when to turn it on or off. This could easily be installed in just a few minutes as well.
What are its Benefits?
Under any circumstance, water heater timers save you a few bucks and offer greater savings on tanks.
You could increase the amount you save by moving the water heater inside a heated area or adding insulation.
How do you install a Water Heater Timer?
There are different types of water heaters which means that the installation varies. However, water heaters that use a standard 110 or 240-volt AC plug can be easily used by just plugging them into a wall outlet.
Other types will require disconnecting the wire and connecting them to the timer, which connects it to the water heater. This installation will only take up a few minutes of your time! After that, you’ll need a couple of screwdrivers.
How to reduce the cost of Water Heater Usage?
If you’re looking for the most efficient way to reduce energy costs, here are some ways that could help:
- Install a timer
- Take shorter showers
- Lower the thermostat of the water heater
- Insulate your water heater
- Water heater maintenance
- Replace the water heater
Final thoughts
A water heater timer may not help you save as much, but it is an efficient way to help you manage energy usage. By combining some of the abovementioned methods, you could cut up to 50% of your bill. But, of course, it’s totally up to you!
Jay
Jay is a health and wellness enthusiast with expertise in water quality and nutrition. As a knowledgeable advocate for holistic well-being, Jay successfully manages Type 2 Diabetes through informed lifestyle choices. Committed to sharing reliable and authoritative insights, Jay combines firsthand experience with a passion for enhancing health."
