How to Use Timers to Save Electricity

How Timers Work

• A timer is really just a switch and a clock. Some appliances come with timers built in, but you can also place a timer between the appliance you want to regulate and the power source. For example, you might want a lamp to turn off at night, so you would plug the lamp into a timer that was then plugged into the wall. At the time you designate, the timer will flip the switch, cutting power to the lamp automatically. More complex timers can turn devices on or off several times a day and might even have a separate setting for weekends.

Types of Appliances that Use Timers

• You could attach a timer to just about anything that draws electricity, but there are more common applications. Heating with electricity can use a lot of power, but most digital thermostats include options to reduce the temperature when you are not in the house or while you sleep. Water heaters are another example of a high-energy appliance that could be placed on a timer. Another popular use for timers is to control indoor or outdoor lighting. If you are really intent on saving energy, you could even put your refrigerator on a timer, with short periods of power to keep things cool.

Average Energy Savings

• The amount of energy you save by using a timer depends on how much you had an appliance on while you weren̵7;t using it. While your results may vary, there are some estimates of average energy savings with timers. By turning down a thermostat six to nine degrees Celsius -- 10 to 15 degrees Fahrenheit -- for eight hours a day you could save 5 to 15 percent annually on your heating bill. Installing a timer on your electric water heater can save 36 kilowatt hours per year, according to Snohomish County Public Utility District No. 1. To calculate your savings, simply multiply how many hours the device will be off by its energy rating in watts.

Ease of Timer Installation

• For appliances with built-in timers, installation is not an issue. Plug-in timers are only slightly more challenging, requiring only plugging the device into the timer and the timer into the outlet. Other timers are wired into the device and then have a thermostat-like control mounted to the wall. These timers require the assistance of an electrician or some electrical know-how. If you really want to go all-out, home automation systems can be installed, controlling everything in your home for convenience as well as energy-savings.