When it comes to home renovation, circuit design and safety are always our top priorities.
Especially for high-power appliances, such as electric water heaters, we not only need to configure a separate circuit for them, but also need to use thicker 4 square wires to ensure the absolute safety of household electricity.
However, after ensuring that it is safe to use, many families will face another question: how to save as much as possible on electricity bills when using an electric water heater?
This begs a common question: Is the electric water heater turned on 24 hours to save electricity, or is it more power-saving when it is ready to use?
This problem plagues many households that use electric water heaters.
In order to answer this question, we need to conduct an in-depth analysis from many aspects, including the frequency of use of the water heater, the heat retention of the inner tank, and the season of use.
01. How often to use the water heater
First, let's take a look at the impact of the frequency of water heater usage on electricity bills. There is a common misconception that many people unilaterally believe that electric water heaters will be very power-hungry if they are plugged in all the time.
1. High-frequency use:
If the electric water heater is the main hot water supply device in the home, and there are three to four people in the family who need to take a bath every day, then the water heater will be used very frequently.
In this case, since the water heater has a built-in insulation system and a power-saving adjustment system, the power consumption of the two methods is actually basically the same, regardless of whether it is plugged in all the time or plugged in when it is in use.
Relevant data shows that the difference in the daily electricity bill between the two methods is negligible or even negligible.
2. Low-frequency use:
If your home water heater is only used two to three times a week, keeping the power on for long periods of time can incur unnecessary electricity bills. In this case, plugging in the power supply before each use and disconnecting it in time after use will be a more economical option.
02. The heat retention of the inner tank
Next, we need to consider the impact of the heat retention of the water heater liner on the electricity bill.
The thermal insulation effect of the inner tank is directly related to whether the water heater can maintain the set temperature when not in use, so as to avoid unnecessary heating and electrical energy consumption.
1. Good thermal insulation effect:
For new water heaters or water heaters with good thermal insulation, even if they are powered on for a long time, due to its intelligent adjustment module and excellent thermal insulation performance, it will only heat up when the water temperature is not up to standard, and the rest of the time it will be in a state of low power consumption.
Therefore, in this case, the electricity consumption is basically the same all the time and before the use.
2. The thermal insulation effect is general:
For water heaters that have been used for many years and are close to their service life, the thermal insulation effect of the inner tank will be greatly reduced.
At this time, if the water heater is powered on all the time, the water heater will heat up frequently because the set temperature value cannot be reached, resulting in an increase in electricity bills. Therefore, in this case, it will be relatively more economical to use the electricity bill if the electricity is turned on before use.
03. The season of use
Finally, we also need to consider the impact of the season of use on the electricity bill. Different seasons have different requirements for water temperature, which directly affects the electricity consumption and heating frequency of the water heater.
1. Summer use:
In summer, because people's temperature requirements for hot water are not high, the amount of hot water used in the inner tank of the water heater is relatively small. Therefore, whether it is powered on all the time or before use, the electricity consumption of both methods is basically the same.
2. Winter use:
Winter is the peak period for the use of water heaters, and people have higher requirements for the temperature of hot water.
In this case, if the water heater is powered on all the time, the hot water temperature can be kept constant around the set point, thus avoiding frequent heating and additional energy consumption.
Therefore, when the water heater is used frequently in winter, it may be more economical to keep the water supply on.
summary
There is no fixed answer to whether the electric water heater is always on to save electricity or to use it immediately to save electricity.
It depends on several factors such as the frequency of use of the water heater, the heat retention of the inner tank, and the season of use. In actual use, we can choose the most suitable power-on method according to our own living habits and actual conditions.
For example, when using it at high frequency or in winter, you can consider keeping the water heater powered on all the time to save on electricity bills; In low-frequency use or summer use, you can choose to power up before use to save energy.
In addition, regular maintenance and checking the insulation performance of your water heater is also an effective way to reduce your electricity bill.