How many kWh do you use on average per month?

[Geoff.D]

Any good tips and products for geyser insulation

Dont forget to insulate ALL the pipes to and from the geyser as far you are able to, right up to where the pipes enter the walls. And make sure all bends are insulated properly with no gaps in the insulation. Makes a huge difference in heat loss and gest the hot water to the taps sooner, which in turn should also save water.

 

[hj2k_x]

It actually cools down significantly.

Mine which is fully insulated in a geyser blanket will dip to as low as 30-degrees on average when there is no showering or bathing in the mornings.

Geyser goes on at 6:30 and off again at 08:00.

This is exactly where the power is saved because without the timer now it would be turned on an off by the thermostat all day to maintain its 65-degree setting.

So if you time it correctly according to your usage time it’s easy to find the savings.

Also you are guaranteed of your costs as it can’t run for longer than you’ve set it to so your maximum usage is preset.

For the two sessions of 1 1/2 hours per day mine rarely ever maxes out the load of 3.12kW * 3 = 9,36

If I just leave it on all day every day it will often peak to 12+ kW.

So to say it doesn’t save you money is really a misnomer as you are guaranteed a saving through the sheer fact the time it runs is limited. You may just fine on the very odd day here and there you have slightly cooler water, but it’s never cold.

I've had both our geysers down to 30 minutes per 24 hours for at least a week now. Baths and showers and taps still piping hot. What sorcery is this?

 

[Sinbad]

It actually cools down significantly.

Mine which is fully insulated in a geyser blanket will dip to as low as 30-degrees on average when there is no showering or bathing in the mornings.

Geyser goes on at 6:30 and off again at 08:00.

This is exactly where the power is saved because without the timer now it would be turned on an off by the thermostat all day to maintain its 65-degree setting.

So if you time it correctly according to your usage time it’s easy to find the savings.

Also you are guaranteed of your costs as it can’t run for longer than you’ve set it to so your maximum usage is preset.

For the two sessions of 1 1/2 hours per day mine rarely ever maxes out the load of 3.12kW * 3 = 9,36

If I just leave it on all day every day it will often peak to 12+ kW.

So to say it doesn’t save you money is really a misnomer as you are guaranteed a saving through the sheer fact the time it runs is limited. You may just fine on the very odd day here and there you have slightly cooler water, but it’s never cold.

Sounds like you have a hot water leak somewhere. There's no way your geyser should drop that fast.
The maximum allowable heat loss for a 150lt capacity geyser (most common geyser size) is 1,377kW per 24 hours at a stored water temperature setting at 65 degrees C and no water is drawn off during the 24 hour period. This translates to a temperature loss of between 8 to 10 degrees C over the 24 hour period. (kwikot site)

 

[Mzezman]

I've had both our geysers down to 30 minutes per 24 hours for at least a week now. Baths and showers and taps still piping hot. What sorcery is this?

Definitely the Sytherin type of sorcery... teach me your ways Tom Riddle

 

[Snyper564]

Dont forget to insulate ALL the pipes to and from the geyser as far you are able to, right up to where the pipes enter the walls. And make sure all bends are insulated properly with no gaps in the insulation. Makes a huge difference in heat loss and gest the hot water to the taps sooner, which in turn should also save water.

Yup this is next in my list to do.

Which insulation did you use?

From what I gather Geyser blankets are pretty useless if Geyser is cool to the touch new etc. But insulating the pipes should be done. Is this correct?

 

[hj2k_x]

Yup this is next in my list to do.

Which insulation did you use?

From what I gather Geyser blankets are pretty useless if Geyser is cool to the touch new etc. But insulating the pipes should be done. Is this correct?

I read the same about geysers and it also makes sense. Surely all new geysers are coming properly insulated these days, and are cool to the touch?

 

[Snyper564]

I read the same about geysers and it also makes sense. Surely all new geysers are coming properly insulated these days, and are cool to the touch?

That would be my thinking, leave the geyser and insulate the pipes. Essentially a massive heat sink in the roof

 

[Lupus]

Around 160kWh in summer and 220kWh in winter because then the geyser needs more help from Eksdom. That was when I still lived with the wife and two teenage daughters.

This is at my house where my wife and kids are. Solar geyser and gas stove.

At my flat where I live, I couldn't care less how much I'm using.

The electricity meter is broken since I've moved in and I've given up on the agent sorting it out. This month I'm buying two heaters because the ****ing flat never gets sun so it's always freezing inside.

I miss when my meter was broken, 4 months of 2018 was lovely.

 

[Geoff.D]

Yup this is next in my list to do.

Which insulation did you use?

From what I gather Geyser blankets are pretty useless if Geyser is cool to the touch new etc. But insulating the pipes should be done. Is this correct?

Personally, I think the Isotherm product is the best you can get. Just a lot of work cutting it into strips suitable for wrapping around pipes. The net best is that foam preformed stuff ( I don't know what it is called) made for various pipe diameters, with a zipper-type of sealing mechanism.

 

[Snyper564]

Personally, I think the Isotherm product is the best you can get. Just a lot of work cutting it into strips suitable for wrapping around pipes. The net best is that foam preformed stuff ( I don't know what it is called) made for various pipe diameters, with a zipper-type of sealing mechanism.

Which isotherm?

The normal ceiling one just cut to size?

 

[SauRoNZA]

Sounds like you have a hot water leak somewhere. There's no way your geyser should drop that fast.
The maximum allowable heat loss for a 150lt capacity geyser (most common geyser size) is 1,377kW per 24 hours at a stored water temperature setting at 65 degrees C and no water is drawn off during the 24 hour period. This translates to a temperature loss of between 8 to 10 degrees C over the 24 hour period. (kwikot site)

Yes but obviously some water is used in between which means cold water being added and cooling it down further.

I’m not about to tell everyone not to shower for 24H to compare, but in general usage it’s pretty normal for a 250L geyser and family of 4.

But also not sure I mentioned it, the probe isn’t inside the geyser at present but just making contact with the thermostat so not as accurate as it was historically, but memory serves that it’s about in line.

 

[SauRoNZA]

Which isotherm?

The normal ceiling one just cut to size?

It’s not much different to it, but it’s sold as a geyser blanket in a matching size.

The ceiling ones are too narrow to go around the whole geyser in one fitting.

About R350 from Builders as I recall.

****

Actually even cheaper.

Isotherm Geyser Blanket (2400 x 1500 x 50mm)

Buy Isotherm Geyser Blanket (2400 x 1500 x 50mm) Online or Locate Your Nearest Builders Warehouse Store. ✓ Secure shopping ✓ 100% Contactless ✓ Reliable Delivery ✓ Many ways to pay!

www.builders.co.za

Enough to fit the geyser and the plumbing around it.

 

[Snyper564]

It’s not much different to it, but it’s sold as a geyser blanket in a matching size.

The ceiling ones are too narrow to go around the whole geyser in one fitting.

About R350 from Builders as I recall.

****

Actually even cheaper.

Isotherm Geyser Blanket (2400 x 1500 x 50mm)

Buy Isotherm Geyser Blanket (2400 x 1500 x 50mm) Online or Locate Your Nearest Builders Warehouse Store. ✓ Secure shopping ✓ 100% Contactless ✓ Reliable Delivery ✓ Many ways to pay!

www.builders.co.za

Enough to fit the geyser and the plumbing around it.

Sorry I'm specifically referring to the pipe insulation in this case. But thanks that was the geyser blanket I was eyeing.

 

[Friday13th]

My household used just over 420kW in the last 30 days. I expect the number to rise in winter when heaters start getting used.
We cook with a combination of gas and electric hotplates. Total of 5 people at the moment: 3 adults and 2 primary school children.

 

[SauRoNZA]

Sorry I'm specifically referring to the pipe insulation in this case. But thanks that was the geyser blanket I was eyeing.

Yes you cut off what’s left after fitting and use it on the pipes.

 

[Snyper564]

Yes you cut off what’s left after fitting and use it on the pipes.

Ah ok, cool thanks! So I guess if you need more for the pipes just use the ceiling one?

 

[SauRoNZA]

Ah ok, cool thanks! So I guess if you need more for the pipes just use the ceiling one?

Yeah it appears to be the same stuff, it’s just not as narrow.

 

[Harmonic]

1350kWh a month. That's mainly used by three geysers and two boreholes, one for irrigation and one for drinking water. Don't have municipal water. 25 odd outside lights but they've all been fitted with 2W leds. Gas for cooking but we still use the electric oven often.