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Should I Turn Off the Boiler Tank for My Instant Hot Water Tap at Night?

Published in Instant Hot Water Taps 3 mins read

No, it is generally more energy-efficient to keep the boiler tank of your instant hot water tap running overnight rather than turning it off.

Understanding Instant Hot Water Taps

Instant hot water taps, often referred to as boiling water taps, are designed to provide immediate hot or boiling water directly from a dedicated fixture. Unlike traditional hot water systems that heat water centrally and store it in a large cylinder, these taps typically have a compact, under-sink boiler tank that continuously maintains a small reservoir of water at a high temperature.

The Energy Efficiency Perspective

The primary reason it's more efficient to leave your instant hot water tap's boiler tank on is related to the physics of heating and maintaining temperature.

  • Maintaining Warmth vs. Reheating: The energy required to simply maintain the water's warmth within the insulated boiler tank is significantly less than the energy needed to reheat the entire tank of water from a cool or ambient temperature each morning.
  • Power Consumption: When you turn the boiler tank off, the water inside cools down completely. To bring it back to its optimal hot or boiling temperature, the heating element must work at full capacity, drawing a substantial surge of power. By contrast, keeping it running involves a much lower, intermittent power draw to compensate for minor heat loss and maintain the set temperature.
Action Energy Consumption Rationale
Leaving Boiler Tank On Lower, continuous power to maintain warmth Requires less energy to simply hold the temperature than to raise it from cold.
Turning Boiler Tank Off High power surge to reheat water from a cool temperature Significant energy expenditure to bring the water back to the desired hot state.

Practical Implications

Keeping your instant hot water tap's boiler tank on offers several benefits beyond just energy efficiency:

  • Convenience: Your hot water is always ready instantly, without any waiting period. This is especially useful for morning routines, quick hot drinks, or sudden cooking needs.
  • Reduced Stress on Appliance: Constant cycles of cooling down and reheating can put more stress on the heating elements and internal components of the appliance over time, potentially impacting its longevity. Maintaining a consistent temperature can be gentler on the system.
  • Consistent Performance: You avoid the waiting time and varying water temperatures that might occur as the tank reheats from cold.

In summary, for most instant hot water tap users, leaving the boiler tank powered on overnight is the most practical and energy-conscious choice.