About turning off the gas heater completely every day

michelleIL · #1 09/29/04, 12:26 AM

I was wondering, I'm not too savvy...I did go over and turn the thermostat down on my water heater...if I set it to vacation setting instead of turning it off, will that save me money too, and then when I want a shower turn it back up? Or is vacation setting really another word for off?
Thanks!
Michelle

mikell · #2 09/29/04, 07:25 AM

It may use more gas heating back up than letting it idle.

mikell

OD · #3 09/29/04, 08:00 AM

I think "vacation" setting means that the pilot light stays on, but the burner doesn't light. Mikell is right about it using more gas to heat up again each time. The best way that I know of to save gas is to put a cover on the water heater to add extra insulation, so the water stays hot longer when you aren't using any.

Cyngbaeld · #4 09/29/04, 11:12 AM

You can adjust the thermostat so that the temp is not much above what you like to take a shower at. The hotter the water is that is sitting in the tank, the more heat is lost in between uses.

Jack in VA · #5 09/29/04, 12:37 PM

My 50 gal. electric WH runs maybe 2 hours a week in the summer. I turn it on right before I use the DW , which is only maybe twice a week. Uses 7 gal a wash. The rest of the tank will give me showers for 3 or 4 days.(I live alone)
Last month I used 348 kwh with elec. stove and 2 window A/C units.