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Originally Posted by Blue Thunder
OK so the score is 5 for turning it off and 0 for leaving it on, and I think 3 for thread hijacking  . I really thought at least someone would go the other way. Have you ever gone out and watched your electric meter spin off the house when you turn on the 220V to the water heater? It takes a considerable amount of time (hours) and energy to heat the cold water in the tank. Once it is hot and not being used I would think it would take much less energy to occasionally turn on the one element. Kind of like the theory that turning your lights on and off at night when you enter a room actually uses more energy than leaving it on. I guess I'll take my bat and ball and go home now......
Thanks everyone....
BT |
You are correct, it takes less energy to maintain the heat than to bring it back every week. The unfortunate thing and being on an island compounds this, is you have to keep everything on. Otherwise you run the risk of burning out an element in the tank if you turn off the water and get some draw down. Unless you can have someone stop by and check things out while you are away, keep it off.
It costs less money to heat the water than it does to remodel the home after a water line bursts in the living area of the home. Insurance does not pay for all of it, at least the six or so that I have worked on didn't.
Another thing for folks to keep in mind that shut down the heating system. If you have a circulator pump and do not turn the electricity to this item off, you run a high risk of burning out the pump if for any reason it calls for service. It can also become airbound, which makes life fun when you want heat after turning everything back on.