Set water heater operation mode

Use this action to set the operation mode of a water heater, for example to switch it to an eco or high demand mode. The available modes and what each one does depend on the device.

Using this action from the user interface

If you prefer building automations and scripts visually, Home Assistant walks you through this action step by step. You pick what to target, tweak a few options, and save. No YAML knowledge required.

To set the operation mode from an automation or a script:

1. Go to Settings > Automations & scenes.
2. Open an existing automation or script, or select Create automation > Create new automation.
3. If you’re setting up a new automation, add a trigger in the When section. Scripts don’t need a trigger. They run when something else calls them.
4. In the Then do section, select Add action.
5. Select what you want to control. Under By target (see Targets), select the water heater you want to set.
6. From the actions shown for that target, select Set water heater operation mode.
7. Set the Operation mode you want to apply.
8. Select Save.

Options in the UI

Using this action in YAML

If you work directly in YAML, or you want to know exactly what Home Assistant does under the hood, this section has the technical reference. It lists the field names you use in YAML, their types, and which ones are required.

In YAML, refer to this action as water_heater.set_operation_mode. A basic example looks like this:

action: water_heater.set_operation_mode
target:
  entity_id: water_heater.demo
data:
  operation_mode: eco

This sets water_heater.demo to the eco operation mode.

Options in YAML

Targets of the action

This action requires a target. The target is the object of the action. You can point the action at a single entityAn entity represents a sensor, actor, or function in Home Assistant. Entities are used to monitor physical properties or to control other entities. An entity is usually part of a device or a service. [Learn more], a device, an area, a floor, or a label, and Home Assistant will run the action on every matching water_heater entity behind that target.

• Entity: one specific water_heater entity, such as water_heater.living_room.
• Device: every water_heater entity that belongs to a device.
• Area: every water_heater entity in a room or area.
• Floor: every water_heater entity on a floor.
• Label: every water_heater entity that shares a label.

You can also select different target types in one action. For example, you can add a specific entity and an area as targets in the same action to run the action on both of them at once.

Good to know

• This action only works with water heater entities.
• The action fails if the mode you provide is not one your water heater supports. Check the documentation of the integration that provides the water heater for its available modes.

Try it yourself

Ready to test this? Open Developer tools > Actions, search for this action, fill in the fields, and select Perform action. You see what happens on your actual entitiesAn entity represents a sensor, actor, or function in Home Assistant. Entities are used to monitor physical properties or to control other entities. An entity is usually part of a device or a service. [Learn more] without writing a line of YAML.

More examples

Real scenarios where this action shows up in automations and scripts. Copy any example and adapt it to your setup.

Automation: switch a water heater to eco mode in the morning

Set a water heater to a specific operation mode at a set time.

• Trigger: Time: 07:15
• Action: Set water heater operation mode
  • Target: Utility room water heater
  • Operation mode: eco

- alias: "Switch the water heater to eco mode"
  triggers:
    - trigger: time
      at: "07:15:00"
  actions:
    - action: water_heater.set_operation_mode
      target:
        entity_id: water_heater.utility_room
      data:
        operation_mode: eco

Still stuck?

The Home Assistant community is quick to help: join Discord for real-time chat, post on the community forum with the action you’re calling and what you expected to happen, or share on our subreddit /r/homeassistant.

Related actions

These actions work well alongside this one:

• Set water heater target temperature: Sets the target temperature of a water heater.

• Set water heater away mode: Turns away mode on or off for a water heater.

• Turn on water heater: Turns on a water heater.

• Turn off water heater: Turns off a water heater.