[RKDinOKC]

I have my water heater set on vacation mode. It keeps it at only 60°. Found that using any water causes the burners to turn on and it is designed so the water leaving the tank is the first to get heated. It takes the same time for hot water to get to my shower as it does with the tank set hotter. I don't use enough water for it to start getting cooler. Only take body temp showers anyway.

Discovered it when doing some research on putting a clock controller on the heater. Wanted to find out how long I would have to pre-heat before getting hot water when I wanted to use it. Discovered the hot water coming just as quickly when in Vacation mode and tossed the idea of putting a $17 controller on the tank. Don't really care about hot water anywhere else, my dishwasher does it's own water heating. Found my clothes washer does just as good on cottons on warm with the vacation mode as it did hot.

Yep, my AC is the most expensive thing I got energy wise. 20 to 25 kWh a day difference from winter and these 90° summer days. With this SmartHours pricing even though it's more electricity it my electric bills are about the same.