Hot water tank advice please

[pitstopbunny]

What is the more economical solution....
1. turn the hot water tank on for an hour a day
2. to leave it on all the time.
I need water to run a bowl for my washing up & to have a bath once a day.
Many thanks!

[boxtops]

When we had a tank (rather than our current combi boiler) we would leave it on all the time. We were told that it was cheaper to do that, than to have to heat the water from cold again each time we switched it on.

[Hymie]

Whoever advised boxtops is wrong.

[boxtops]

OK hymie - our electricity bills were not high though, and it meant we had hot water on tap, any time we needed it.

[Hymie]

The most economical way of supplying the hot water you want is to use a kettle for washing up and switch the immersion heater on for the minimum time required to heat the tank to the required temperature. Just before you start to draw off the bath water – switch off the immersion heater.

[buildersmate]

Here, here - someone who knows what they are talking about.

The question was not ' how do I ensure I have hot water on tap at any time of day / night', it was ' how do I minimise my energy usage whilst getting the hot water I need at specific times'. Since the loss of energy is directly proportional to the temperature difference between the hot water temperature and the ambient temperature around it, times the length of time the temperature difference is held for, less energy is lost if one minimises this temperature difference until just before the hot water is actually required.

[rsvp]

thanks for confirming what I've been doing for years - kettle for washing up - shower to shoer under and wash hair and the big tank heated up when I want a lot of hot water.

[pitstopbunny]

so put my tank on say half hour before I want a bath?

[Hymie]

I think it would be more like an hour.

This is the downside to saving money - you have to plan when you're going to have a bath.

[gingejbee]

I know someone who uses water exactly as you want to. As has been said above - they use a fast-boil (3kw) kettle for smaller quantities and switch the immersion element on for about 45 mins when a bathful is required.

[Hymie]

For information – powering a 3kW immersion heater for an hour will cost about 45p. So as a very rough guide, using electricity to heat water for a bath, costs around 50p per bath.

[Im a BusyBee]

we heat our water by immersion on economy 7 electric, costs literally a few pennies a day n also have an instant electric shower for if/when we run out of hot water. Also set washing machines to come on AFTER immersion has had time to heat during the night to save wear and tear as much as possible. I dont feel i could do cheaper!