Generally speaking, a gas water heater should not be turned off unless you are leaving the house for an extended period of time. Even then the better choice for gas water heaters is to just turn the temperature down. In fact, many water heaters have a “vacation” setting on the temperature control.
Generally, it's best to keep your water tank full and heated throughout the year. You can turn off your water heater when it is done safely, but only do this when you have a problem or if the tank won't be heated anytime soon. Turning off your water heater to save on energy bills is not usually recommended.
No, unless you're going on vacation for a month or longer, you shouldn't turn off your water heater. Here's why: You won't see significant energy savings. You'll create more problems by turning your water heater off/on repeatedly.
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.
You can usually turn off the gas with a switch nearby the water heater. There is usually a simple valve that needs to be turned off. However, depending on the situation, you may also want to cut the gas supply to your house to prevent carbon monoxide gases in your house.
How Much Gas Does a Hot Water Heater Use? Most gas hot water heaters use between 20-50 therms of gas per month. A therm is a unit of measurement for natural gas and is equivalent to 100,000 BTUs. So, if you have a gas hot water heater, it's likely using around 2,000-5,000 BTUs per hour.
Although this is an area of concern for many people, the reality is that boilers are built so that the gas supply to the pilot light is shut off if the flame goes out. Whilst the cause of pilot light failure needs to be investigated, extinguished pilot lights aren't going to cause a gas leak.
That should be plenty hot enough for most uses in your home. Now, some water heater temperature controls come with settings that read “A-B-C” as opposed to numbers. Generally, A means 120 degrees, B means 130 degrees, and C means 140 degrees. Refer to your water heater's manual to confirm these settings.
Your gas water heater is one of the most efficient appliances on the market. It heats the water in a storage tank and is cheaper than electricity. If you don't mind paying a little extra up-front, then this appliance will reward you with cheaper monthly electric bills.
Here's the catch: Modern water heaters are well-insulated meaning there is very little heat loss. Although electrical rates vary, the experts say turning off the water heater at night will likely save about two dollars a month.
According to our energy service advisors, your water heater accounts for 14-20% of your electric bill. Try out these tips from PEC to save more throughout the year. A basic water heater will run three to five hours a day to keep its tank heated 24/7.
If your hot water heater doesn't have a vacation setting, simply manually adjust your temperature to resemble Vacation Mode by lowering the temperature to 50 degrees Fahrenheit, or the lowest setting your thermostat allows. You may also choose to turn your hot water heater off completely.
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.
How often should you drain your water heater? It's generally a good idea to drain your water heater at least once a year, according to both BobVila.com and The Family Handyman. If you live in an area with hard water, though, Angie's List says you may need to drain it more frequently.
Gas water heaters cost less to operate than electric water heaters—about 33% less.
Gas water heaters are much less expensive to operate long term. Overall, you'll likely spend less money running a gas water heater than using an electric water heater. Still, because the costs of both natural gas and electricity vary by region, you should compare the price of each before making your final decision.
Lifespan. The average lifespan of a tank gas water heater is about 8 to 12 years. Tankless electric water heaters have a longer lifespan and can last an average of 15 to 20 years or more.
Here is what temperature each letter stands for: Hot- 120 degrees. A- 130 degrees. B- 140 degrees. C- 150 degrees.
The EPA recommendation is to always leave your water heater set to 120 degrees. This is both so that the unit loses less energy and also to prevent possible scalding.
It controls the temperature of the water from your hot water taps. The recommended setting for this control is 60°C/140°F. (Storing hot water at temperatures of less than 55°C is not advisable due to potential for Legionnaires disease).
The pilot light is commonly seen in water heaters, fireplaces, and older or low-cost furnaces. Your unit's pilot light is always burning when the unit is on. If the pilot light goes out, the gas will stop flowing and your unit will shut off.
The pilot light, however, is an actual old-fashioned flame inside your furnace. This flame is supplied by your gas line and should always be lit.
Deciding to Turn it Off or Keep it On
Your furnace only uses a small amount of gas to power the pilot light. Turning the pilot light off, only saves a few dollars each month. If you don't mind spending a few cents a day, don't mess with it.