How to save electricity - your geyser

Electricity saving tip No. 1:  Good Geyser Management

Geysers are gobblers of electricity! They use up to around 40% of your home's total consumption.

Of primary importance, educate your family and domestic workers on how to use hot water economically, viz when bathing, use as little water as possible.

Teach the advantages of having a shower as being more hygenic as well as saving water and electricity.

Do not wash one thing at a time under the hot tap.

Adapt your washing machine to the cold water cycle only. Hot water can damage your fabrics as well as being extremely costly.

Switch off your geyser when not in use, like at night (if you can get up early enough for the water to heat before the family arises!) Or switch off during the day if everyone is out. Plenty of hot water will remain in the tank if not much hot water is being used.

You can reduce your electricity costs by following these geyser care tips:

1) Lower the temperature from 70 degrees to 60 degrees, or even 55 degrees. 

2) Along with this, invest in a geyser blanket, which will make up for that degree reduction and your energy saving can go up to about 51%. While you are about, it insulate all the pipes leading from the geyser as well. 

3) If you need to replace your geyser or are building a home and need new geysers, insist that they are installed in an upright position. This ensures less exposure to the cold than a geyser lying horizontally, thus saving more electricity. In addition water stratifies better in a vertical tank.

Once a year or so, drain about two litres of water from the faucet at the bottom of your geyser. This is done to dispose of the sediment in the water which reduces the energy efficiency of your water heater.

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