"How much does my water heater consume while I’m on vacation?"
A question from
MarilouMontréal February 10, 2016
As on all social media, we post questions exactly as we receive them. They are then translated.
Our answer
Recent water heaters are well insulated, which makes them much more efficient than older models. When you go away for a few days, your water heater consumes very little energy. All it has to do is maintain the temperature of the water and heat loss is minimal.
The recommended temperature setting for an electric water heater is 60 °C (140 °F). In fact, most manufacturers set their units to this temperature. Setting the thermostat lower can accelerate the development of harmful bacteria while a higher setting can lead to a risk of scalding and increased energy consumption.
Visit our Right Moves Web site for more energy-saving tips.
