Turning off electric hot water heater when not home?

[jakemacd]

When I was living alone, I would turn the temperature of the water down in my water heater so that when I took my morning shower, I just had to turn on the hot water faucet. I didn't add any cold water. I could take nice "hot" leisurely shower (up to ten minutes) and the water would stay very comfortable. Also, when washing my hands or shaving, just the hot water faucet would be used. The dishesfrom my electric dish washer came out nice and clean.
The rate of heat transfer increases with the temperature differential. Even is your tank is insulated well, you are going to lose more heat (energy) faster from a tank sitting at 150F in a cold basement 45F then if your tank is set at 115 or 120. I realize that if there are a lot of people taking a series of showers in your home, this method would not be as practical. Also, mine was a natural gas fired heater which I understand recovers faster than electric. Hey, live alone or just the two of you? Give it a try.

[Tango Charlie]

Originally Posted by fshagan

It takes a certain amount of energy to raise the water a degree ... 2.42 watts per gallon. If you have to raise it 10 degrees, it doesn't matter if the heater comes on ten times to raise it one degree, or if it comes on once to raise it ten degrees. You use the same energy to recover the 10 degrees of heat you lost.

Here's another aspect to consider; with a timer installed and set to fire up the WH during lower electric rates, there's an advantage for ya. Instead of 6,7,or 8 of those one degree cycles at daytime rates, you're getting all 10 during the reduced rate.

[dremd]

I have a switch in my pool house; works great. It is only occupied 2~3 days a month.
I just upgraded it from a 2.5 gallon with all of the insulation gone to a new 6 Gallon should work even better (but with increased recoverytime). (both units 1650 watts)

[Binger]

Originally Posted by jakemacd

When I was living alone, I would turn the temperature of the water down in my water heater so that when I took my morning shower, I just had to turn on the hot water faucet. I didn't add any cold water. I could take nice "hot" leisurely shower (up to ten minutes) and the water would stay very comfortable. Also, when washing my hands or shaving, just the hot water faucet would be used. The dishesfrom my electric dish washer came out nice and clean.
The rate of heat transfer increases with the temperature differential. Even is your tank is insulated well, you are going to lose more heat (energy) faster from a tank sitting at 150F in a cold basement 45F then if your tank is set at 115 or 120. I realize that if there are a lot of people taking a series of showers in your home, this method would not be as practical. Also, mine was a natural gas fired heater which I understand recovers faster than electric. Hey, live alone or just the two of you? Give it a try.

what did you have the tempset at? 120? 115? or lower?

[Cd]

Hey guys, my dad recently tried flipping the breaker for the "hot" water heater, and it works like a charm !

I live in an apartment and the water heater is gas.

Is there anything that I can do to make the water heater operate only when I need it ?
Since it is gas, I cant just flip a breaker.

( Actually, the trick would be getting to the thing, since my apartments have it behind a locked door on my porch. )

Thanks !

[newhavenpatriot]

What if you turned off your hot water heater and installed very small hot water heaters for each bathroom and the kitchen of your house, and then just heated up the water when you needed it? Water in a tea kettle doesn't take that long to boil, so I figure you could get water up to a decently hot temperature in a minute or so, depending on how much hot water you needed. I hear the Chinese do this, rather than wasting tons of energy with one huge hot water heater that's always on.

[Cd]

Originally Posted by newhavenpatriot

What if you turned off your hot water heater and installed very small hot water heaters for each bathroom and the kitchen of your house, and then just heated up the water when you needed it? Water in a tea kettle doesn't take that long to boil, so I figure you could get water up to a decently hot temperature in a minute or so, depending on how much hot water you needed. I hear the Chinese do this, rather than wasting tons of energy with one huge hot water heater that's always on.

That's a great idea - really !
, but it reminds me of this image. The guy that rigged this up didn't put much effort into it !

I censored the image so as not to offend anyone.

[newhavenpatriot]

Haha! Bonus points for putting the coffee machine(?) where it can fall in and electrocute someone if the water's on!