Waterheatertimer.org
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Is a water heater timer right for me?

Try a water heater timer free.

Gas

Electric

Gas water heater identified by flue pipe on top of tank and gas valve near bottom of tank.

Electric water heater identified by 1 or 2 panels attached to side of heater

See both types of gas valves

Gas

1. Manually rotate dial until 'vacation' setting is at top
Identify your gas valve

2. Vacation setting maintains 50° water temperature and keeps pilot light lit.

3. To resume heating water, rotate dial to120° thermostatic setting.
Don't overheat water

4. Reduce consumption and use manual timer for 2 months > check difference on gas bill

Electric

1. Electric hot water heater can be turned off using the 30 Amp circuit breaker.
2. For two months, turn off the breaker while sleeping and while at work. Be stingy. Reduce consumption.
3. Check difference on electric bill.

For 2 months ..
.. Turn off the 30 Amp circuit breaker while sleeping and while at work
... Check difference on electric bill

Don't use circuit breaker as a switch month after month or it will wear out > circuit breakers can be replaced > best long term solution is a timer

Show the timers

Plan ahead:

> A shower uses 6-8 gallons hot water > a bath uses 13-15 gallons hot water.
> For shower, turn on electric water heater for 15-25 minutes. For gas, it takes 10-11 minutes.
> For bath, turn on electric water heater for 45-60 minutes. For gas, it takes about 20-35 minutes.

> Typical recovery time for electric heater is 21 gallons per hour. For gas, 41 gallons per hour. Gas delivers more BTU's per hour than electric.

> Your water heater turns on-and-off 24 hours a day keeping water hot. A timer stops the constant on-off of water heater and lets you control expenses.
> A timer prolongs life of heater and works on any - old or new - gas or electric water heater
>When heater is finally replaced, the timer is not affected and continues working with no change.

Read more: Is a timer right for me?

Can you schedule hot water use?

Let’s be frank.
> A Water Heater Timer is a good idea.
> It is a new idea for most.
> It requires changing how we think about hot water.

Everyone shops for lowest cost energy. People turn off extra lights and program their heat/AC units to save energy. And everyone agrees that a timer is a good idea. But barriers exist.

People expect always-ready hot water. We resist the idea of planning for hot water and prefer old habits to new ones. American homes have one (or more) water heaters that run full-time keeping water hot-n-ready. Some homes have circulation pumps for immediate hot water at each faucet.

A staggering amount of energy is spent delivering the ideal of plenty.

Times have changed. We can't sustain the same energy consumption as before. More homes and businesses are built each day. The demand for energy is growing, coal and gas vary in price, the electric grid needs overhaul, hydrocarbons are harder to pull from the ground, so prices will go up.

As a result, we have to change.

But change is slow, in ordinary times.

For example, programmable thermostats for your gas and electric heat-AC came on the market in the late 1970s. Yet programmable thermostats did not become standard until the mid-to-late 1990’s. In the past, it took 15 years for a good idea to take root.

Change is faster today.

A Water Heater Timer lets you control energy costs, and protect yourself for the future.

*A fully heated 40 gallon tank gives you 2 baths and a shower at one time. Is that enough for your family each day? see family chart for setting timer (technical)

E-mail: info@waterheatertimer.org