Economy 7 advice - will a Hortsmann timer save money?

Hayleye21

Hello everyone,

Thanks for reading!

I have just electricity being supplied into my flat and so am on an E7 tariff. It's a one bedroom flat and just me living here. Currently my water tank automatically switches on during the E7 period - does anyone know if having a Hortsmann timer will save any money on the electricity bills? So, rather than having the water on during the entire E7 period I'd just have it coming on for an hour or so just before the E7 tariff ends.

I shower every morning and wash up every evening but other than that no hot water is being used (my washing machine heats cold water). My tank is really well insulated.

If anyone can help it would be greatly appreciated.

Thank you!

AndyPK

I think those timers are fixed hours so no wont save you.
The boost function is handy though if u find yourself without hot water.

A standard immerission timer may save u money though. But not masses.

Wywth

Hayleye21 wrote: »

Hello everyone,

Thanks for reading!

I have just electricity being supplied into my flat and so am on an E7 tariff. It's a one bedroom flat and just me living here. Currently my water tank automatically switches on during the E7 period - does anyone know if having a Hortsmann timer will save any money on the electricity bills? So, rather than having the water on during the entire E7 period I'd just have it coming on for an hour or so just before the E7 tariff ends.

I shower every morning and wash up every evening but other than that no hot water is being used (my washing machine heats cold water). My tank is really well insulated.

If anyone can help it would be greatly appreciated.

Thank you!

If you have the thermostat correctly set, then your immersion shouldn't be heating up for 7 continuous hours at it will cut out when the desired temperature is reached. It may come on again in the 7 hour period, but if you don't use any hot water during trhat time and the tank is well insulated as you say, then it might not.

In conclusion, a timer may save you some money but not much especially with the low cost of cheap rate electricity anyway.

The Horstmann is quite expensive and, I think, is designed for those on E7 but where the immersion heater is not on a low rate only circuit.
All timers require power to operate which they won't get 17 hours a day on a low rate only circuit. Some timers have a battery backup - but that is for the odd, occasional powercut, not regular cuts lasting 2/3 of every day.

chanz4

don't forget you will need your meter changed also

Wywth

chanz4 wrote: »

don't forget you will need your meter changed also

:huh:
Why?

Hayleye21

Wywth wrote: »

If you have the thermostat correctly set, then your immersion shouldn't be heating up for 7 continuous hours at it will cut out when the desired temperature is reached. It may come on again in the 7 hour period, but if you don't use any hot water during trhat time and the tank is well insulated as you say, then it might not.

Someone else mentioned that it should cut out when it gets to temperature but the red light always seems to be on during the E7 period (of course I can't check throughout the night but have checked after getting in late and early morning and its always on). My water is also scolding hot so maybe the thermostat isn't working? The element was only replaced last year though.

Thanks for your help.

Naf

Hayleye21 wrote: »

Someone else mentioned that it should cut out when it gets to temperature but the red light always seems to be on during the E7 period (of course I can't check throughout the night but have checked after getting in late and early morning and its always on). My water is also scolding hot so maybe the thermostat isn't working? The element was only replaced last year though.

Thanks for your help.

The light probably means the whole unit is powered up from the mains, not necessarily that its actually heating.

Richie-from-the-Boro

Hayleye21 wrote: »

Someone else mentioned that it should cut out when it gets to temperature but the red light always seems to be on during the E7 period (of course I can't check throughout the night but have checked after getting in late and early morning and its always on). My water is also scolding hot so maybe the thermostat isn't working? The element was only replaced last year though.

Thanks for your help.

It's supposed to be hot, the thermostat should be set at not less than 55°C as this could cause legionnaires disease. The water cylinder should have two elements one at the top and the other at the bottom like this :



As for the light & switch you mention that could simply be an on / off for the power to the heating element, nothing whatsoever to sdo with the cycling of the thermostat. I'm not convinced you even have a PartL insulated cylinder installed with the correct 60mm of sprayon insulation.