A programmable water heater is good for the environment and your wallet. A traditional water heater wastes costly energy because the tank is designed to always keep the stored water at a certain temperature. Even if there is no demand for hot water, the heating element in a traditional tank still uses up energy you pay for by turning on and off throughout the day to keep the water at the set temperature. The cycling process wastes electricity and gas and is more wear on the unit.

A water heater than you can program has a timer installed that allows you to set the times of the day when you want hot water. You can program the tank to stop heating water at times when hot water isn’t needed, such as when you’re away at work or sleeping at night, reducing the waste of energy. Utility companies also charge more for gas and electricity at the times of the day when the energy is in more demand, known as the “peak” times. You can use the timer on a programmable water heater to stop the unit from using energy during the more costly peak times, saving you money on your utility bills.