Immersion heater timer or leave on 24/7

Derekbirmingham

Thanks for the messages ps the immersion heater in photo has recently bust,its all fully isolated,i had a plumber fit a new 1 today,which brought me to think about how to run this in an economical manner and not have it on constantly ,wasting money.

Richie-from-the-Boro

Assuming non-E7 like for like new one you only need:

- cheap digital 3kW resistive fused 7 day spur timer switch

- double pole
- battery/capacitor backup
- spacer [thick wiring]
- digital readout
- flexible timer
- boost overide
- holiday off
- 7/5/3 day etc

Your hot water over a.month quantity needs to be supplied by any £25 controller. Then if washing up only maybe 2 days load, take baths occasional 3 days and bath frequently 7 day use. Economy is simple, you decide your needs.

matelodave

The very first thing I'd do is go out and buy another tank jacket (or even two) and wrap the tank so it properly insulated with no gaps - especially at the top. A really well insulated tank will still lose between 1 and 2kwh a day, your's could be losing twice that or more. Turning the stat down to 60 degrees will still sterilise the tank but will also reduce the heat loss and the more heat you can keep in the less it'll cost to reheat heat.and it will stay warmer for longer. you may even be able to dispense with the evening boost.

Depending on what sort of heating you've got would you better off on E7, if you were then you a should ideally heat the tank only during the off-peak period. However if that's not possible then get a timer and only heat the tank for a couple of hours a day (perhaps an hour in the morning before your ablutions and another hour in the evening for washing up and night time ablutions. There's no point in heating the tank all day or all night of you aren't using it.

We can get away with heating our tank for just around an hour and half once a day in the mornings and that gives enough for a couple of showers plus all the hot water we need for the rest of the day and we can still mange two more showers in the evening if needs be.

If you really want to save money, reduce the amount of hot water you use.Take shorter showers, shallower baths and fewer of them (do you really need one every day). Don't run hot water down the sink when washing or rinsing stuff and use cold water where possible (even for rinsing or washing your hands). Running off the hot tap until the water comes through hot not only wastes all the cold water but leaves an equivalent amount of valuable hot water sitting in the pipes to get cold until you do it again.
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Derekbirmingham

Thanks for your comments people.
right firstly i have just turned my immersion stat Down to 60,and also just this second fitted a timer i got off amazon for £32.
i set it to come on 4am and off 6am daily.
and if i need a bath in the evening its got a boost button.amazingly it was easy to fit and even easier to programme.sureley this set up has gotta save money.
ill see what happens thanks peeps.

Richie-from-the-Boro

Exactly what I had in mind Derek, congratulations. Peace of mind and safety is cheap.

avoidtheupsidedownbottles

First time I've seen one with a fuse in.  

Derekbirmingham

Its a fused spur timer.
LightHub 7 Day 3kW Electronic Fused Timer Spur Switch with Boost for LED Lights, Heating, Immersion Heater & Lighting https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B07MP5PSD6/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_OVXLEbYGYQ0BQ