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Hot Water Heater Timer Recommendations for Energy Savings
- Water heater timers: how to choose and use a water heater timer to save energy
- Guide to inspection of electric water heaters
- Timers for electric water heaters
- Timers for tankless electric water heaters
- How long should the "off" time be on an electric water heater for a timer to save energy
- Comparing savings from water heater timers with other options
- Questions & Answers about how to install, set, use, and troubleshoot electric water heater timer controls
- References
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InspectAPedia tolerates no conflicts of interest. We have no relationship with advertisers, products, or services discussed at this website.
Guide to water heater timers for energy savings: this article explains how discuss the use of timers to control electric water heaters and tankless electric water heaters. This article contains links to in-depth articles on inspecting, testing, and repairing problems residential hot water heaters of all types, including their parts, controls, and alternative sources for hot water as well as tips for improving hot water temperature, hot water pressure, and hot water quantity.
Green links show where you are. © Copyright 2013 InspectAPedia.com, All Rights Reserved. Author Daniel Friedman.
Guide to Using Timers on Residential Hot Water Heaters
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The sketch above shows the basic components of an electric water heater and is provided courtesy of Carson Dunlop Associates.
This article contains links to in-depth articles on inspecting, testing, and repairing problems residential hot water heaters of all types, including their parts, controls, and alternative sources for hot water as well as tips for improving hot water temperature, hot water pressure, and hot water quantity.
Also see Energy Efficient Water Heating, a US Department of Energy, a PDF file that provides tips on lowering your water heating bill.
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The link to the original Q&A article in PDF form immediately below is followed by an expanded/updated online version of this article.
The question-and-answer article below paraphrases, quotes-from, updates, and comments an original article from Solar Age Magazine and written by Steven Bliss.
Water Heater Timers
Question:
Does it make sense to put a timer on an electric hot water tank to turn it off for most of the day if no one will be home?
How about using a timer on a tankless electric water heater if gas is not available? -- Bill Geary, Belfair WA
Answer:
Efficiency of Timers on Conventional Electric Water Heaters
According to Princeton Energy engineer Gautam Dutt, the idea of using a timer on an electric water heater will work fairly well if your daily hot water consumption is less than one water-tank load, or if the hot water heater will be shut off for several days at a time, such as over a long weekend.
For shorter time periods or for higher hot water consumption rates, in the 1980's Dutt thought that it would be more practical to insulate the water tank.
However modern hot water tanks come from the manufacturer with good insulation, and in some cases insulating a hot water heater tank may fail to follow the manufacturer's instructions, could void its warranty, or could make the water heater unsafe (if for example you covered the pressure-temperature relief valve). --DF
In the 1980's a typical stock electric water heater was about 73-percent efficient, including tank losses. If you included hot water delivery piping losses, the efficiency of the water heating system drops to about 60 percent. This is a good incentive to add insulation on your hot water piping, and it may help you decide on using a water heater timer too.
At WATER HEATER EFFICIENCY we provide a comparison of the efficiency of different types of water heaters.
What is the Energy Efficiency of Electric Tankless Water Heaters?
 Dutt said that tankless electric hot water heaters work best if the hot water demands are low, and if points of hot water use are clustered in the building (as opposed to having the tankless water heater deliver hot water through long pipe runs to distant points of use from the heater itself).
Obviously this is easier to achieve in new construction than in a hot water heating retrofit.
We add that because tankless water heaters have zero or very low stand-by losses, there would be typically be no gain achieved by installing a timer on an electric tankless water heater. -- DF
Drawbacks of electric tankless hot water heating systems are that they draw high electrical current (amperage) and supply low hot water flow rates. This means that from a modest-sized tankless electric hot water heater system you can't shower and wash dishes at the same time, and low hot water-demand appliances are in order as well.
Consumer Reports points out that a tankless water heater may be efficient but not necessarily economical to operate. What they mean is that it is certainly efficient to avoid heating water when no one is using it. But if water usage is high, a high-BTU tankless water heater may consume more total energy than a large but more conventional oil or gas fired hot water tank and burner.
See TANKLESS WATER HEATERS and Should I Convert to a Tankless Heater? for more about these systems.
Sketch (above) of a point of use tankless water heater courtesy of Carson Dunlop Associates. Our OPINION is that readers looking for plenty of hot water heated efficiently should also consider the heater we describe at Indirect-fired Water Heaters.
Readers should also see ALTERNATIVE HOT WATER SOURCES to distinguish among these types of hot water producing systems and see Electric Shower Heaters for a discussion of point of use heaters at shower heads.
If your hot water is not working, check the water heater timer: Some electric water heaters are installed with a timer (photographs above) that saves electricity costs by turning off the heater during periods when no one will be using hot water. If a timer is installed for your heater, it might be in its "off" position. Instructions for setting the water heater timer are inside the timer cover.
WATER HEATER PROPERTIES discusses water heater types and their efficiencies; there we also note that using a water heater at a high duty cycle (such as heating a home) will shorten its life.
Also see Energy Efficient Water Heating, US Department of Energy, a PDF file that provides tips on lowering your water heating bill. |
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Technical Reviewers & References
Related Topics, found near the top of this page suggest articles closely related to this one.
- Steve Bliss's Building Advisor at buildingadvisor.com helps homeowners & contractors plan & complete successful building & remodeling projects: buying land, site work, building design, cost estimating, materials & components, & project management through complete construction. Email: info@buildingadvisor.com
Steven Bliss served as editorial director and co-publisher of The Journal of Light Construction for 16 years and previously as building technology editor for Progressive Builder and Solar Age magazines. He worked in the building trades as a carpenter and design/build contractor for more than ten years and holds a masters degree from the Harvard Graduate School of Education.
Excerpts from his recent book, Best Practices Guide to Residential Construction, Wiley (November 18, 2005) ISBN-10: 0471648361, ISBN-13: 978-0471648369, appear throughout this website, with permission and courtesy of Wiley & Sons. Best Practices Guide is available from the publisher, J. Wiley & Sons, and also at Amazon.com
- Mark Cramer Inspection Services Mark Cramer, Tampa Florida, Mr. Cramer is a past president of ASHI, the American Society of Home Inspectors and is a Florida home inspector and home inspection educator. Mr. Cramer serves on the ASHI Home Inspection Standards. Contact Mark Cramer at: 727-595-4211 mark@BestTampaInspector.com
- John Cranor is an ASHI member and a home inspector (The House Whisperer) is located in Glen Allen, VA 23060. He is also a contributor to InspectApedia.com in several technical areas such as plumbing and appliances (dryer vents). Contact Mr. Cranor at 804-747-7747 or by Email: johncranor@verizon.net
 Carson, Dunlop & Associates Ltd., 120 Carlton Street Suite 407, Toronto ON M5A 4K2. (416) 964-9415 1-800-268-7070 info@carsondunlop.com. The firm provides professional home inspection services & home inspection education & publications. Alan Carson is a past president of ASHI, the American Society of Home Inspectors. Thanks to Alan Carson and Bob Dunlop, for permission for InspectAPedia to use text excerpts from The Home Reference Book & illustrations from The Illustrated Home. Carson Dunlop Associates' provides:
- Commercial Building Inspection Courses - protocol ASTM Standard E 2018-08 for Property Condition Assessments
- Home Inspection Education Courses including home study & live classes at eleven colleges & universities.
- Home Inspection Education Home Study Courses - ASHI@Home Training 10-course program.
Special Offer: Carson Dunlop Associates offers InspectAPedia readers in the U.S.A. a 5% discount on these courses: Enter INSPECTAHITP in the order payment page "Promo/Redemption" space. InspectAPedia.com editor Daniel Friedman is a contributing author.
- The Home Reference Book, a reference & inspection report product for building owners & inspectors.
Special Offer: For a 10% discount on any number of copies of the Home Reference Book purchased as a single order. Enter INSPECTAHRB in the order payment page "Promo/Redemption" space. InspectAPedia.com editor Daniel Friedman is a contributing author.
- The Home Reference eBook, an electronic version for PCs, the iPad, iPhone, & Android smart phones.
Special Offer: For a 5% discount on any number of copies of the Home Reference eBook purchased as a single order. Enter inspectaehrb in the order payment page "Promo/Redemption" space.
- The Illustrated Home illustrates construction details and building components, a reference for owners & inspectors.
Special Offer: For a 5% discount on any number of copies of the Illustrated Home purchased as a single order Enter INSPECTAILL in the order payment page "Promo/Redemption" space.
- The Horizon Software System manages business operations,scheduling, & inspection report writing using Carson Dunlop's knowledge base & color images. The Horizon system runs on always-available cloud-based software for office computers, laptops, tablets, iPad, Android, & other smartphones.
- American Council for an Energy Efficient Economy, American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy,
529 14th Street N.W., Suite 600,
Washington, D.C. 20045-1000, (202) 507-4000
E-mail: aceeeinfo@aceee.org
E-mail: ACEEE_Publications@aceee.org - www.aceee.org/ - original source for comments in this article|:: http://www.aceee.org/Consumerguide/waterheating.htm
- GAMA data base of water heater efficiencies: http://www.gamapower.org/water.php
- Energy Efficient Water Heating, US Department of Energy, provides tips on lowering your water heating bill
Books & Articles on Building & Environmental Inspection, Testing, Diagnosis, & Repair
 The Home Reference Book - the Encyclopedia of Homes, Carson Dunlop & Associates, Toronto, Ontario, 25th Ed., 2012, is a bound volume of more than 450 illustrated pages that assist home inspectors and home owners in the inspection and detection of problems on buildings. The text is intended as a reference guide to help building owners operate and maintain their home effectively. Field inspection worksheets are included at the back of the volume. Special Offer: For a 10% discount on any number of copies of the Home Reference Book purchased as a single order. Enter INSPECTAHRB in the order payment page "Promo/Redemption" space. InspectAPedia.com editor Daniel Friedman is a contributing author.
Or choose the The Home Reference eBook for PCs, Macs, Kindle, iPad, iPhone, or Android Smart Phones. Special Offer: For a 5% discount on any number of copies of the Home Reference eBook purchased as a single order. Enter INSPECTAEHRB in the order payment page "Promo/Redemption" space.
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- Carbon Monoxide Gas Toxicity, exposure limits, poisoning symptoms, and inspecting buildings for CO hazards
- National Fuel Gas Code (Z223.1) $16.00 and National Fuel Gas Code Handbook (Z223.2) $47.00 American Gas Association (A.G.A.), 1515 Wilson Boulevard, Arlington, VA 22209 also available from National Fire Protection Association, Batterymarch Park, Quincy, MA 02269. Fundamentals of Gas Appliance Venting and Ventilation, 1985, American Gas Association Laboratories, Engineering Services Department. American Gas Association, 1515 Wilson Boulevard, Arlington, VA 22209. Catalog #XHO585. Reprinted 1989.
- "Solar Water Heaters", U.S. Department of Energy article on solar domestic water heaters to generate domestic hot water in buildings, explains how solar water heaters work. Solar heat for swimming pools is also discussed.
- Passive Solar Design Handbook Volume I, the Passive Solar Handbook Introduction to Passive Solar Concepts, in a version used by the U.S. Air Force - online version available at this link and from the USAF also at wbdg.org/ccb/AF/AFH/pshbk_v1.pdf
- Passive Solar Design Handbook Volume II, the Passive Solar Handbook Comprehensive Planning Guide, in a version used by the U.S. Air Force - online version available at this link and from the USAF also at wbdg.org/ccb/AF/AFH/pshbk_v2.pdf [This is a large PDF file that can take a while to load]
- Passive Solar Handbook Volume III, the Passive Solar Handbook Programming Guide, in a version used by the U.S. Air Force - online version available at this link and from the USAF also at wbdg.org/ccb/AF/AFH/pshbk_v3.pdf
- The Passive Solar Design and Construction Handbook, Steven Winter Associates (Author), Michael J. Crosbie (Editor), Wiley & Sons, ISBN 978-047118382 or 0471183083 is available at Amazon.com and via the The Passive Solar Design and Construction Handbook, Steven Winter Associates (Author), Michael J. Crosbie (Editor), Wiley & Sons, ISBN 978-047118382 or 0471183083 is available at Amazon.com and via the InspectAPedia Bookstore
- "Passive Solar Home Design", U.S. Department of Energy, describes using a home's windows, walls, and floors to collect and store solar energy for winter heating and also rejecting solar heat in warm weather.
- "Solar Water Heaters", U.S. Department of Energy article on solar domestic water heaters to generate domestic hot water in buildings, explains how solar water heaters work. Solar heat for swimming pools is also discussed.
- "Heat Exchangers for Solar Water Heating Systems", U.S. DOE describes the types of solar water heater heat exchange methods between the sun and the building's hot water supply
- "Heat-Transfer Fluids for Solar Water Heating Systems", U.S. DOE, describes the types of fluids selected to transfer heat between the solar collector and the hot water in storage tanks in a building. These include air, water, water with glycol antifreeze mixtures (needed when using solar hot water systems in freezing climates), hydrocarbon oils, and refrigerants or silicones for heat transfer.
- "Solar Water Heating System Maintenance and Repair", U.S. DOE
- "Solar Water Heating System Freeze Protection", U.S. DOE,using antifreeze mixture in solar water heaters (or other freeze-resistant heat transfer fluids), as well as piping to permit draining the solar collector and piping system.
- "Scaling and Corrosion in Solar Water Heating Systems", U.S. DOE
- www.energysavers.gov/your_home/water_heating/index.cfm/mytopic=12850 is the base U.S. DOE website for these articles
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