Problem: A standard water heater keeps multiple gallons of water heated all the time whether they're needed or not, which is inefficient and contributes to higher utility bills.
Solution: A water heater timer lets you set specific on and off times for water heater operation, thus cutting down on utility bills.
*This project only works on electric water heaters.
- Turn off the breaker that controls the power to the water heater.
- Select a location near the water heater for mounting the casing (and timer).
- Remove the timer from the casing, and remove the knockouts on the casing. Then secure the casing with the fasteners provided.
- Place connectors in the knockout holes on the bottom of the casing.
- Use a circuit tester to be certain the power to the water heater is shut off.
- Remove the power cable coming from the main electrical panel to the water heater, and re-route it through one of the connectors into one side of the water heater timer.
- Run a new cable (same gauge as the existing cable) from the timer to the water heater. Be sure to leave enough slack for making the connections.
- Replace the timer in the casing.
- Strip 1/2" of insulation from the tip of each wire inside the casing. Connect the ground wire to the ground plug on the timer, and attach the wires to the appropriate terminals.
- Set the timer to turn off and on at different times as directed by the manufacturer's instructions.
- Turn the power back on at the circuit breaker box.
)
