That’s very sweet of you Les, but really no need! Winter is almost upon us now, so I am going to be using the gas mostly. I could ask my local electrician (who installed my Wallbox) to quote me for a timer switch, maybe in the springtime. He is a lovely man, and I don’t think he would rip me off.
Thank you for your kind thoughts too. It’s been 7 years now.
Hi Susanna - Can I also express my sadness to hear about your husband

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Pity you don't live a little bit closer or I would popped around and installed your timer.
We all need all of the help we can get, right now !.
I think you spark would install a timer for you at a very reasonable price.
Give him a call and offer to send him some pictures of what your current switch control you have to control your emersion heater.
It is very likely to be a single square plate switched outlet ( see below ).
Some, but not all have a red indicator light warning informing you when it is in use ( but mine did not have any warning light though ).
It MAY have a thick white round flex coming out the present switch and then making its way across to the heater in the top of the hot water tank, which is also normal.
If access is safe and easy, you could also open the lid of your fuse box and send him a picture of that, to help jog his memory.
He is likely to just isolated the circuit and replace the current switch, with a suitable timer control unit similar to the one below.
You can choose either a digital type or a plain old clockwork type which are a lot easier to set what you require for timing your usage.
I will include a photo of a similar, to the one I am using right now !.
The timer is around £10 to buy and then what ever you spark charges you in labour.
With the pictures to hand, he may opt for installing it on his way home from work one day.
If it's a straight exchange, then you are talking one hour top's to install.
With the photo's you have sent him, he should be able to give you a very close estimate before he even starts the job !.
If you are on a cheaper "Off-Peak" tariff then the outlay will be returned in a very short time.
• 96 On/Off settings • On/Off/Timed switch selector • 230V AC resistive load • Conforms to IEC60730-1 KEMA-KEUR BS
www.toolstation.com