“Much Cheaper”: Johannesburg Man Reveals Cost of Using Heating Bucket Instead of Geyser
- A Johannesburg electricity expert shared a viral video comparing the monthly costs of using a heating bucket versus a traditional geyser
- The content creator broke down the exact calculations showing how much South Africans could save on their electricity bills
- Mzansi flooded the comments with questions about the practicality of the bucket system, with some sharing their own experiences of switching methods
Source: Facebook
A Johannesburg electricity expert has gone viral after sharing a detailed breakdown comparing the cost of using a heating bucket instead of a geyser.
Content creator @wes.reddy.9, known for his electricity usage comparisons on social media, posted the video on 9 September 2025, which quickly gained over 3,500 reactions from South Africans looking to cut their energy bills.
The video shows the gentleman explaining the exact calculations for heating water using a 2-kilowatt element in a 20-litre bucket. He showed how heating 10 litres of water from 20 degrees to 60 degrees takes just 15 minutes and costs R1.99 per session.
The Johannesburg content creator, who regularly shares comparisons between different appliances and their electricity consumption, explained that using this method twice daily for a month would cost around R119. He claimed this represents about a quarter of the cost of running a traditional geyser for one to two people.
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Many viewers were curious about the practical aspects of using the bucket system for daily bathing routines. Some questioned whether adding a lid to prevent heat from escaping would make the process more efficient, while others wanted to know how to actually shower using this method.
Source: Facebook
Mzansi reacts to heating bucket calculations
@ncumisa.mpongwana shared her experience:
"I switched to using it and my energy budget was from R1500 to R800. Con, it's a lot of work, you need to wake up early, fill the bucket and wait 15-30 minutes depending on how much water you're heating..."
@suri.naidoo asked:
"What's the cost if you boil 3 kettles of water to bathe. That's about 4.5 L."
@thabiso.nkoane confirmed:
"True. We converted to using a 40-litre urn instead of a geyser. Takes about 30 minutes to heat and uses 3-4 units per day. Life changer."
@zeekri.marquez wondered:
"How do you shower with that?"
@atish.jeena suggested:
"Won't it help if you put a lid on it? It may heat faster by preventing the heat from escaping."
@patience.khaile asked:
"Thanks, is it the same as a water boiler?"
Geyser alternative in SA
According to experts at SA Home Loans, hot water accounts for 40% of household energy consumption, making it the most expensive commodity in homes when it comes to energy usage. They suggest several alternatives to traditional geysers, including heat pumps which can save between 60-75% of hot water costs, and solar geysers that use radiation from the sun to generate heat.
Heat pumps are considered the most efficient option as they can convert one unit of energy into four units of heat energy, compared to traditional geysers that use three units of energy to produce three units of heat. However, the initial installation cost is higher, though the long-term savings make it a worthwhile investment for many households.
View the Facebook reel below:
Other stories about rising costs
- Briefly News recently reported on a Johannesburg man who broke down the monthly electricity costs of running a fan, but his calculations had South Africans questioning whether their own usage matched his estimates.
- A Pretoria content creator explained why R21,000 salaries can no longer cover basic living expenses, revealing how dramatically costs have increased over the past 15 years compared to wage growth.
- Mzansi had mixed reactions when a local content creator compared living costs between America and South Africa, with many questioning his calculations and budget breakdowns.
Source: Briefly News
