Your geyser is one of the biggest electricity users in your home. By making small adjustments to its temperature and schedule, you can cut your monthly electricity bill and reduce pressure on South Africa’s power grid—all without sacrificing comfort.
1. Find the Sweet Spot: Set Your Temperature to 55 °C
Most South African households keep geysers set between 60–65 °C. That extra heat costs you money and wastes energy. Research shows that 55 °C is the sweet spot for savings:
- Lower energy use: Heating water to 55 °C uses up to 20 % less electricity than 65 °C.
- Plenty of hot water: For showers and washing, 55 °C still provides all the hot water you need.
- Safer for your geyser: Lower temperatures reduce wear on the element and tank, extending lifespan.
Pro tip: If your home has a large family or a high demand for hot water, you can set it to 58 °C. Anything above 60 °C is almost always wasted energy.
2. Use Smart Scheduling to Cut Waste and Save
Even though South Africa doesn’t have dynamic electricity pricing for households, a smart geyser schedule still reduces your bill by cutting down on unnecessary reheating.
When a geyser is left on all day, the water cools slowly in the tank. The element switches on multiple times to “top up” the temperature, even if no one is using hot water. This constant reheating can account for 20–30 % of your geyser’s total energy use.
By setting your geyser to heat only when you actually need hot water, you:
- Eliminate idle reheating cycles, using less electricity overall.
- Match heating to usage, so the water doesn’t sit cooling in the tank all day.
- Combine with a lower temperature (55 °C) to maximise savings — the tank loses less heat at lower temperatures, so reheating is reduced even further.
A geyser set at 55 °C on a smart schedule can save up to 40 % compared to a 65 °C always‑on geyser.
3. Avoid Morning and Evening Peaks to Help the Grid
Heating water during the morning (05:00–09:00) and evening (17:00–21:00) peaks doesn’t change your electricity tariff, but it does make a big difference to the country. Geysers are one of the biggest contributors to peak demand, so shifting when they heat helps take pressure off the grid and lowers the risk of load‑shedding for everyone.
- Morning: Heat between 03:00–05:00 so your tank is ready for early showers before the peak hits.
- Evening: Heat between 13:00–16:30 or after 21:00 for evening use.
- Avoid reheating: If your household doesn’t use much water during the day, one heating cycle might be enough.
4. Match Your Schedule to Your Household’s Routine
No two homes use hot water the same way. Adjust your geyser schedule to match when your family showers and does dishes:
- Early risers: Start heating a little earlier in the morning (02:30–04:30).
- Evening showers: Push the evening cycle later to 20:30–22:00.
- Low-use homes: Experiment with one heating cycle per day and see if it covers your needs.
5. Combine Scheduling with Temperature Control
The biggest savings come from using both features together. A geyser set at 55 °C with a smart schedule can cut water heating costs by up to 40 % compared to a 65 °C always-on geyser.
6. Let Your Smart Geyser Do the Work
With a smart geyser controller, you can automate these settings and track your savings in real time. Many apps also let you override the schedule for a quick “boost” when you need extra hot water.
Start today:
Lower your geyser to 55 °C and set a smart schedule that avoids peak times and idle reheating. These simple changes will save you money, protect your appliance, and help reduce load‑shedding for everyone.