Leaving the gas water heater on pilot [View all]

[Kaleva]

Living here by myself, washing clothes in cold water only, taking a shower everyday and washing the few dishes I have every couple of days; I've found that I can leave the gas water heater on pilot only most of the time. The pilot flame provides enough heat to maintain water temperature. Before taking a shower or washing the dishes, I'll turn the control to "on" and after I'm done, turn the control back to pilot after the main burner has shut down on it's own.

I do not know how much gas I'm saving as I've been doing this for only two weeks and it being chilly, the gas furnace is in use. I'll have a better idea come summer when I can look at the bill.