There are a variety of reasons to use electrical timers around your home. Many timers are very easy to use and can control indoor appliances such as lighting or a water heater to save money. Outside you can use timers to control your sprinklers and other devices for convenience.
Indoor timers come in two basic types they are either hard wired to your homes electrical wires for use on larger items like a water heater or they connect to an electrical outlet or extension cord to provide control of independent items.
Hard Wired Timers should be installed by someone that knows what they are doing. If you feel competent then you can attach the timer yourself after you have turned off power to the circuit. An electrician can also install a timer and if it is for your water heater your plumber may do it.
Water heater timers can adjust the time that the heater runs. If you are out most of the day or over night you can set the timer to start the heater just before you need it. This way you have hot water but you don’t waste money heating it while you are sleeping or away. Water Heater Timers can save you from 20% to 40% on your water heating bills. You should always turn off your water heater if you will be away for more then a couple days.
Indoor timers that run individual devices are great for lighting. They can be set to turn lights on before you come home or can be set randomly to make it look like someone is home for security reasons.
If you install Timers on a few lights and maybe a radio it can give a meaningful illusion that someone is home if a thief comes to the door while you are away.
You can also set a timer to light your home just before you get home that way you are not walking into a dark space.
Outdoor timersare waterproof and may come with the device you want to control or can be setup to control things like outside holiday lighting that way you don’t have to go outside to turn the lights off. They are pretty much the same as indoor plugin timers and will either have a digital or dial control. For best weathering a dial control will last longer but a Digital Control will give you ummm better control over your devices.
Until they design a sleep mode for our homes Timers will be a useful tool to save money and provide convienence. If you find yourself constantly doing something over and over that a timer could handel then get one they are inexpensive and useful.
Cost of timers can range from about $10 to $50 or more depending on your needs.
The YouRepair Store carries a full line of inside and outside timers to help you save money and make your life a little easier.