Today's water heaters are well insulated and should hold their temperature over night. Turning them off only at night probably won't save enough to be noticeable on your utility bill. Will turning off the water heater during the night time save a significant amount of energy? No, not much savings at all.
This means there is no need to turn it off at night, as it will not be using energy unless you require it to. In fact, turning it off at night might even be the less energy efficient option as you will need to fire it back on every morning, which consumes more energy than just leaving it on.
WAPT spoke to four plumbing companies that all said that homeowners should turn off the water heater if the water is not running for more than 24 hours. Residents can go to the breaker box in the home and throw the breaker to the “off” position for the water heater.
It's better to leave the hot water heater on all the time, rather than turning it on and off. This is a very common energy saving myth. But in fact, you really don't need to be heating your water all the time. Your immersion heater or boiler will heat up hot water which is stored in a tank.
While it may seem logical to shut off the water heater when not in use to save energy, it may not be as beneficial as you think. First, it can be disruptive and hard on the unit to be turned on and off. When you get home, you'll be without hot water and might run into issues with turning the unit back on.
For the physical tank and parts, a hot water heater turns on and off frequently during it's operation and won't suffer any damage from the switching, with the possible exception of the controls themselves.
As a water heater heats up, the water expands Unless you have an expansion tank, a small amount of water must be allowed to backup into the water mains. If the main water valve is turned off, there is no place for the water to expand into. So, do not turn off the water and leave the water heater on.
If your hot water tank is empty and is not going to be refilled right away, you should turn off your water heater. This will prevent the tank from taking any damage from excessive heat buildup while it's empty. There are a couple of common reasons your hot water tank would be empty.
A small amount of heat escapes when the water heater is turned on, even though it's well insulated. Typically, this loss of energy is about 10 percent of your bill. If you were to turn off your water heater, you could save that 10 percent and prevent additional energy loss.
In most households, water heating accounts for 12-18% of the utility bills. This percentage shows that some water heaters waste a significant amount of energy while on a standby mode. Using a timer can reduce the standby energy loss and help you save up to 30% of your water heating costs annually.
Your water heater may be turning off because it is short-circuiting or because it has other electrical problems. Such damage may have developed from water damage, impact or wear-and-tear. This is also a problem that's better left to the professionals.
Hard water can cause sediment to build up in your water heater, leading to corrosion and shortened lifespan. We recommend installing a water softener or using a filtration system if you have hard water. This will not only extend the life of your water heater, but it will also improve the quality of your water overall.
"If you have no budget for repairs, turning off the taps at night when nobody is using them is a very effective way to stop losing water to leaks, at least in the short run."
It's safe to leave the water heater energized while showering or otherwise using hot water. The concern is probably electric shock. That's a nonissue; the electric elements are designed to not electrify the water.
Keep It Running. If possible, your hot water heater should always be connected to a power source. This will keep it running, and much less likely to have issues with freezing, if it's exceptionally cold outside.
Unplug Appliances and Electronics
Save money on your energy bill and avoid the risk of an electric fire while you're gone by unplugging any electronics not associated with home security, lighting or your refrigerator. There's no need to leave your printer or bedroom TV plugged in when no one's around to use it.
If there is an appliance or fixture in your home that is connected to your water main, then it will also have an isolation valve that allows you to shut off water directly to that fixture or area. Sinks, water heaters, toilets, etc.
When the main water line is turned off, it cuts off the water supply to your entire house, including both hot and cold water. The reason why hot water stops flowing when the main water line is turned off is because the hot water system in most homes is connected to the cold water system.
The gas can be turned off from the outside gas meter, which shuts off all gas to the house or at the water heater itself, which just turns off the gas supply to the water heater.
Water Heater Lifespan
A hot water heater's lifespan depends on many factors, including the type of water heater, the energy source, the type of water you have, and how well the unit is maintained. On average, most water heaters last between 8 and 12 years but some can last up to 20 years with regular maintenance.
Water Heater Maintenance Tips
Flush your water heater every six months or so. If you have harder water, or water that contains more minerals, you may want to flush it more often. If you leave town, change your water heater to its vacation setting. The pilot light will stay on, but the water will not be heated.
While today's water heaters are better designed than older models, they still require regular maintenance in order to prolong their lives. With regular inspection, draining, and flushing, you can expect a gas water heater to last anywhere from 8-12 years and an electric water heater to last anywhere from 10-15 years.
OVERALL COST
Savings resulting from turning down your water heater temperature are based on reducing standby losses (heat lost from water heater into surrounding area). Set too high, or at 140ºF, your water heater can waste anywhere from $36 to $61 annually in standby heat losses.
Manufacturers typically choose a temp to set water heaters between 120-140°F. To prevent scalding and save on energy costs 120 degrees is the recommended temperature, but the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) recommends setting it to at least 122 degrees to prevent the growth of harmful bacteria.
If you have several users and the hot water runs out, set the timer to run before and during bathtime. Let the timer go off afterwards. There is likely to be enough stored hot water to last all day. If your daily usage is less than the cylinder holds, just run it once a day for about half an hour.