Track your geyser activity

There are tips and technology to increase savings

As the inflation rate hits a 13 year high, jumping from 6.5% in May to a staggering 7.4% in June, and the cost of electricity sky rockets, South Africans are seeking ways to cut costs.  The first place to cut back is on heaters during the colder months but as the temperature increases, your geyser is the next obvious high electricity culprit.

Monitoring your daily usage and having a better understanding of how often you need hot water will help you plan better, and there are simple tips to follow that not only save on electricity spend, but that could also mitigate the risk of a burst geyser.

Thobani Dlodlo, Tracker’s Sales and Marketing executive, says turning your geyser on at set times or adjusting the temperature goes a long way when trying to save money. This can also now be done with a smart geyser control app. “Using technology allows you to save up to 40% on your electricity bill as you can literally view and change the heating schedule and water temperature straight from your smartphone. There are however other best practices that can be followed easily, you just need to work out what’s doable for you and your family.”

To cut costs and to extend the longevity of your geyser at the same time, follow these five tips:
1. Correct the thermostat setting of your geyser: Keeping the temperature of the geyser at a desired level by cutting power supply once the temperature has been achieved is an easy way to save. 

2. Install a timer: Consider having a geyser timer installed so that you have hot water when required instead of heating water throughout the day unnecessarily. Timers are programmable so they can be adjusted to heat once a day or at set intervals to meet your family’s needs.

3. Choose the right size geyser: An over-sized geyser means heating extra water that is not required. Choose the geyser based on the size of your family and the consumption habits so that electricity is not wasted.

4. Install an energy efficient geyser: These geysers are becoming more popular among South African home owners, because they fix the problem of high electricity bills. One of the main reasons why South Africans invest in Solar Geysers is because conventional geysers use great amounts of power. 

5. Regular maintenance is key: Check your geyser’s temperature, check the drip tray, look into insulating the geyser if possible and make sure the pressure valve doesn’t leak. These are simple steps to ensure you won’t have a disaster on your hands and high plumbing bills to pay.

Whether you embrace technology or simply adopt new habits, electricity consumption linked to your geyser can be managed and should not be a drain on your finances. These tips are easy to follow with long term benefits.