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+--- Thread: Gas Hot Water Heater and Vacation Setting (/showthread.php?tid=88874)
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Gas Hot Water Heater and Vacation Setting - decocritter - 12-03-2009
How long does it take a hot water heater to heat up enough for showers etc. from vacation mode?
Does it make any sense as far as saving money if you are gone for a long weekend. I am sure it does if you are gone longer.
I house sit a lot and this is a question that comes up.
Re: Gas Hot Water Heater and Vacation Setting - davester - 12-03-2009
Gas water heaters have a 1 hour recovery rating of between about 40 and 150 gallons, meaning they can raise the temperature of that amount of water by 90 degrees fahrenheit in 1 hour. Water heaters typically contain around 50 gallons of water, so it would generally take much less than an hour to heat cold water to operating temperature. On vacation mode they wouldn't need to go the full 90 degrees since the water stays warm, so it probably takes even less time. So, yes it would definitely save energy and money without much inconvenience (unless you jump in the shower having forgotten to turn it back up again).
Re: Gas Hot Water Heater and Vacation Setting - Plumbking - 12-03-2009
davester wrote::agree:
Gas water heaters have a 1 hour recovery rating of between about 40 and 150 gallons, meaning they can raise the temperature of that amount of water by 90 degrees fahrenheit in 1 hour. Water heaters typically contain around 50 gallons of water, so it would generally take much less than an hour to heat cold water to operating temperature. On vacation mode they wouldn't need to go the full 90 degrees since the water stays warm, so it probably takes even less time. So, yes it would definitely save energy and money without much inconvenience (unless you jump in the shower having forgotten to turn it back up again).
Re: Gas Hot Water Heater and Vacation Setting - decocritter - 12-03-2009
I wonder why hot water heaters don't have timers on them, in this day and age. People are gone 10-12 hours during the day, and sleep 7-8 hours.
It seems like keeping water hot when not needed is a big waste of energy.
Re: Gas Hot Water Heater and Vacation Setting - davester - 12-03-2009
They do sell water heater timers for electric water heaters, primarily to shift the heating periods to off-peak periods, when electricity costs less. Gas timers would be more difficult and costly to implement and gas doesn't have peak/off-peak periods. The problem with doing daily timing is that once heated up, it does take quite a while for the water to cool down because the tank is insulated, so the energy savings wouldn't be that significant unless you're going away for more than a day or so.
Re: Gas Hot Water Heater and Vacation Setting - vitus - 12-03-2009
I can't speak to electric heaters, but during the summer months, the only gas appliance I have is the water heater. For my family of 3, the cost of the gas is less than $10 a month for normal usage. I just leave it alone, it's not worth the bother.
Re: Gas Hot Water Heater and Vacation Setting - decocritter - 12-03-2009
Our gas heaters in summer and fall run us a minimum of $35 because of deregulation, the piper Atlanta Gas Light charges a piping fee based on your highest month of usage, throughout the whole year. About $18 -$40 a month for me. $6.00 customer service fee. The gas provider charges About $15 of gas for the water heater. There is a weird formula they use, but the customer loses.
If you go crazy in winter with the furnace, you will pay for it the rest of the year in the piping fee. You will also pay a higher piping fee based on monthly usage of gas. Atlanta Gas light does not revisit these fees often to lower them, but they raise them often.. My budget bill for the year is around $60 unless I am home a lot during winter.
De regulation basically doubled our gas bills, while the consumer has had to really conserve. You have to pay a marketer and the piper. My gas bill used to run $12 -20 for most of the year but winter.
An electric water heater, especially an on demand would make more sense now. But there is talk to deregulate electricity and it will shoot up.
Re: Gas Hot Water Heater and Vacation Setting - decocritter - 12-03-2009
The person I house sit/check for, vacations a lot, has 3 water heaters and frequently takes long weekends away. They have become "green" aware and want to cut back. There gas bill is a minimum of $75 and most often way and as much as $400 in winter.
My other neighbor in a smaller condo than me, that travels a lot, spends about what I spend, but her winter bills are never above $85 because she is on an inside hallway. But I see no point in her hot water heater being on full time.
Re: Gas Hot Water Heater and Vacation Setting - Black - 12-03-2009
My water heater, at least the one on the first floor, contributes to the apartment heat in the daytime, at least in winter-- I don't consider it lost energy.
Re: Gas Hot Water Heater and Vacation Setting - M>B> - 12-03-2009
One word...
On demand water heater or Instantaneous water heater!
Well, more than one word.
Such as...
I have had the same on demand heater for 25 years without a hitch. (not that brand^^^)