I have an electric hot water heater and turn it off when I am away for 2 months. But what about 2 weeks, 6 days, or? What is the cut-off point (i.e. how many days) when it will take more energy to heat the water again than it does to leave it on?
Many thanks!
Sally

It is a common misconception that it takes more power to heat a tank of water than it takes to maintan a hot tank of water. The shorter the length of your absence will cut down on any savings but even if you were to be gone for only a few days you will save money buy killing the power to your electric heater. I recenty switched to a tankless water heater for my weekend retreat cabin, that saves me quite a bit over my old 80 gallon electric heater.

Let me add bit to Bobs excellent advice. The cheapest insurance you'll ever have when leaving on vacation is to shut the water off at the house shut off. If you've ever come home to a house full of water because a pipe or fitting went bad you'll know what I mean. Good luck and have a great time. Tom

My bad, Tom's so right. Always shut off your water when you will be gone even for a few days. At m lake house our asociation reports at least $1,000,000 of damag every winter from folks who do not turn off their water. One little toilet supply pipe broke for a friend of mine. 300,000 gallons of water totalled his house, insurance paid for everything except his $3000 water bill.