Most of us have at least once in our lives left the water heater on for a day (or more). Either due to carelessness, or because the water heater may not have an “on/off” indicator light or it may be damaged or in an inconspicuous place.

Many questions may concern you and stress you when you leave the water heater on. You will surely be thinking about what will be the next electricity bill that you will face or whether your water heater could explode from long hours of operation.

We are here to give you an answer to the main question that concerns you: What if I forget the water heater on?

What if I forget the water heater is on?
First of all, you should know that if you forget your water heater is on, it’s not the end of the world. Most likely there will be no problem. But remember not to make it a habit. The energy waste is great, while you also increase the chances due to its continuous use, that it will suffer some damage and then the intervention of a plumber or an electrician will be necessary. So it would be good to be careful/- or.

How does the electric water heater work?
The electric water heater has a built-in thermostat which is set to a specific temperature. If the water heats up, it will command the electric resistance to turn off and turn it back on as soon as the water temperature drops, even if we haven’t consumed any water.

Therefore, if you leave your water heater permanently on, you will definitely waste energy. The higher you set the temperature of the thermostat, the greater the loss of energy you will have if you forget to turn it on.

So to reduce energy losses, you could program the time of day you want the water to be heated by installing an automation system.

Change water heater resistance
If you have noticed that while you forget your water heater is on quite often, the water continues to be cold and not at the desired temperature, then there are two possible scenarios:

1. The thermostat has been de-adjusted and has dropped to low temperatures, which requires you to adjust it to the ideal temperature, according to the instructions for use.

2. There is a problem with the resistors, the solution of which lies in their immediate replacement.

Such a problem is not recommended to be solved by yourself, because the possibility of causing a more serious damage is high. So you need to immediately call an expert to help you effectively with your problem.

Inflated electricity bills myth or reality?
The majority of people believe that if they forget the water heater is on they will be in for an unpleasant surprise on their next electricity bill. But what is the truth really? If you have left the water heater on for a whole day without wasting much hot water, then the charge you will have will be almost negligible.

The electric water heater initially heats the water and consumes a lot of electricity. When it reaches the appropriate temperature, the thermostat will stop heating it and simply maintain it with much less electricity consumption.

Is there a risk of explosion from the continuous operation of the water heater?
Many times we have heard the phrase “turn off the water heater because there is a risk of it exploding”. It is true that in older types of water heater such a risk did exist.

However, with the development of technology and the creation of new water heaters there is no longer such a fear, especially if you have installed it in recent years. In any case, of course, it would be good to ask the opinion of an expert.