The water heater can account for up to 25% of total costs, making it the second largest consumer of electricity in the home.
Although electric heating is recognised as the main source of energy consumed in the home, there is another appliance that, unnoticed by many, accounts for a large proportion of the monthly electricity bill: the water heater. According to the French Ecological Transition Agency (Ademe) and the European Energy Commission, the water heater can account for between 15% and 25% of a household’s electricity consumption. In many cases, its use can be more expensive than that of household appliances such as ovens, washing machines or refrigerators.
With electricity prices rising across Europe, understanding the impact of the water heater and optimising its use can significantly reduce a household’s energy costs.
How much electricity does it really use?
The exact consumption of a water heater depends on several factors, such as the capacity of the appliance, energy efficiency and the number of people in the household. On average, a 200-litre water heater consumes around 3200 kWh per year, which means a significant cost on the electricity bill. To put this in perspective, other frequently used appliances consume considerably less: a fridge-freezer consumes 350-500 kWh per year, an oven about 200 kWh, while a washing machine and a dishwasher usually do not exceed 300 kWh.
There are several reasons why a heater can increase consumption in a household, such as the set temperature. Setting the temperature of the heater too high not only increases consumption, but also runs the risk of scalding and limescale build-up. This lime scale reduces the efficiency of the appliance over time, so more energy will be needed to heat the water. In addition, the number of people living in the household and their habits have a significant impact on the amount of hot water consumed.
How to reduce consumption
To optimise the use of the water heater and reduce energy consumption, experts suggest adjusting the temperature properly between 50 ºC and 55 ºC, installing a timer or a programmer so that the heater does not run for 24 hours a day, opting for more efficient and more modern models that can save money in the long run, and optimising hot water use by changing consumption habits , such as taking shorter showers and using diffusers on the tap.
The water heater is one of the most electricity-intensive appliances in the home, second only to the heating system. Its continuous operation and high energy consumption make it one of the most important contributors to the electricity bill.
Fortunately, by adopting more efficient usage habits, proper maintenance and adjusting the configuration, it is possible to reduce its impact on electricity consumption without sacrificing comfort. Optimising the use of the water heater not only saves money but also contributes to more responsible and sustainable energy consumption.
