Comments on: In-House Water Heater Control: Strange Ways to Save Money

By: Brad

Brad — Thu, 08 Nov 2012 20:06:45 +0000

BAD IDEA GUYS!

Legionnaires’ Disease. DO NOT DO THIS.

CONSULT A PLUMBER BEFORE ATTEMPTING THIS!

By: Chris

Chris — Fri, 25 Jun 2010 14:19:18 +0000

Sounds interesting. I may give that a shot. I would like to turn the temperature down on my water heater but I have read that you have to keep it at 140 degrees to get your dishes sanitary in the dishwasher if the dishwasher does not have a heater.

By: sewingirl

sewingirl — Fri, 25 Jun 2010 02:18:29 +0000

My FIL used to have a timer on the hot water heater, on at 5AM, off at 8PM. You knew that if you waited too long in the evening, the shower could get cool, but no one ever remembers completely running out of hot water. But they were a farm family, and did all of the laundry and dishes, etc. during the day.

By: Neil

Neil — Thu, 17 Jun 2010 11:26:59 +0000

I think the timer option is the best “fit and forget” solution to saving money on water heating. I cannot imagine not having one!

By: Bben

Bben — Thu, 17 Jun 2010 10:35:25 +0000

I have used a timer on my electric water heater for years. It turns on at 5AM, in time for a morning shower, and off at 8AM. The tank is well insulated and I have had hot (just not as hot) water available for a quick shower as late as 9PM. Whenever I go off for more than a day I shut it off at the breaker as well as heat or AC. I feel that I save at least $30 – $40 a month with the timer alone. I am a bachelor and live alone so I don’t need as much hot water as a family with children. But even having a timer with 2 on/off cycles would save quite a bit.

By: Cara (aka Temberton)

Cara (aka Temberton) — Thu, 17 Jun 2010 03:38:56 +0000

Wow! I’m just thinking of all the money we could have saved over the 6 years we’ve lived here. Our electric bill is killing us, even though we have a new (as of 2004) energy efficient heat pump. Yeah, we had to replace the heat pump the year we moved in. Isn’t that the way it ALWAYS goes?

By: Saving Lady

Saving Lady — Wed, 16 Jun 2010 18:44:18 +0000

I have to say that this is going to the extreme to save money, but if it works, why not. As a real estate broker, I concur with Joan regarding the permit. Where I live, this action would certainly require a permit, and with the housing market in such bad shape, the lack of a permit could prove to be a deal killer if you wanted to sell your home.

By: Monkey Mama

Monkey Mama — Wed, 16 Jun 2010 16:16:13 +0000

P.S. I have to add that has nothing to do with your comfort level, either. IT’s just cutting costs when not using it. We LOVE our hot water. We probably just don’t love it very much when it is 100 degrees outside…

By: Monkey Mama

Monkey Mama — Wed, 16 Jun 2010 16:14:39 +0000

For gas water heaters, we have an energy efficient one circa 2001 (when our house was built). I have marked the levels we like it in summer and winter, and we just put it half way between in the spring and fall. (As far as how “hot” it is). Our gas bill will run $8/month in the summer (+ gas stove and everything).

I certainly don’t see the point of an “on demand water heater.” You can manage costs a lot by turning on/off, up/down.

By: Joan

Joan — Wed, 16 Jun 2010 15:54:17 +0000

We have gas water heaters here, so I’m not familiar with electric ones, but I’m surprised there is not a switch on the heater itself. I guess that circuit is dedicated for the water heater only. If you sell your house, you may need to disclose that non-licensed electrical work was done if it was not checked off by a pro. (There may be home owners insurance consequences, too.) Did your town/county require a permit?