Water heaters are pretty easy-to-use appliances with minimal maintenance and supervision. You can depend on it for almost 5 to 10 years worth of convenient hot water.
But the concern for many is its energy generating cost that may spike up the electricity bill. You can think of just shutting it down after every use to cut the cost, but constantly turning it off can only cause more damage than good.
So, how can you spot the ideal time to turn off water heaters? Continue reading to know more about water heaters including the best time to turn them off.
What Is A Water Heater?
Before getting into the best time to turn them off, it is important to first understand what a water heater is and how it works.
Most homes include common equipment like water heaters. They often resemble large metal barrels or high containers that are commonly kept in the cellar or laundry area.
How it works is that the heater’s thermostat would regulate the water temperature inside the tank. Usually, you have a range of 49 to 60 degrees Celsius to choose from when setting the heat. Most manufacturers advise maintaining the temperature of the water between 49 to 60 degrees Celsius because this temperature balances effectivity for domestic use with not being blistering hot.
When Is The Best Time To Turn Off Water Heaters?
Now that we have known how a water heater works, the next question that we have to answer is if there’s the best time to turn off water heaters.
Luckily, the answer is yes, and you can turn off your heaters safely during these times.
When You Have Spotted a Leak
It is best to turn off your water heater when you have spotted a leak. This could be due to a number of reasons, and sometimes these reasons could be serious. So stay on the safe side by turning the device immediately.
You turn it off using the valve, but in instances where the valve gets broken, you should turn off the main power supply. Seek assistance from an experienced plumber and wait until it is fixed before you turn it on.
When Going On A Long Vacation
It is common and logical thinking to turn off any home appliance when going on a long vacation. Just as with any adjustments, you can choose to lower your cooling system, set lights to automatic, and put other functions on hold. Water heaters are not an exception, it is a best time to turn if off during this time.
However, you can also choose just to adjust the water temperature down to 50 degrees or in newer water heater models, turn it to ‘VAC’ mode. It is important to take note that turning water heaters for a prolonged period of time can cause some risks.
When There’s A Main Water Supply Shut Off
It is also considered ideal to turn off water heaters during this time to prevent pressure and heat from building up. This is especially true when the tank is empty and can’t be refilled for a longer time.
Always take into thoughtful consideration that while turning it off in these ideal time is good, and can cut you some cost, turning it off for a longer amount of time can risk certain difficulties when you turn it back on.
In case you’ll encounter such problems, Atlanta’s experts and trusted plumbers are ready to fix a variety of pipe issues and emergencies. Give us a call or learn more about us at Sylmar plumbers | Emergency Plumbing company Sylmar.
