Last week, my kid calls and tells me her gas hot water heater is leaking.(It's about 10 years old).
I told her to call a plumber, since I know next to NOTHING about gas heat of any kind.
Later, she calls back and begs me to help her pick out a new water heater..
I tell he NO! I can't. She says the plumber told her to get one at HD and he will install it..
After much begging, I relent, but tell her not to blame me, if I accidentally buy a lemon..
So, I start looking online.. I know the old heater has PVC vents, and a blower on top.
I
assume it's because of the low temp exhaust (restrictive flow HX).
So, I look for a blower on top..
Ah ha!
Rheem Performance 40 gal. Tall 6 Year 40,000 BTU Energy Star Power Vent Natural Gas Water Heater-XG40T06PV40U0 at The Home Depot
Dang!! $800, that's crazy!!
So, I keep looking.. And find this one, for $629.. It's got a blower, but still over-priced, but what do I know?
Rheem EcoSense XR90 29 gal. Tall 6 Year 60,000 BTU Natural Gas Water Heater-43V30-60 RE6 at The Home Depot
So, I send her the info on the XR90.. "Is this okay"?
She questioned the small tank.. 29 gallons? Is that enough?
I told her the reviews said yes, as much hotwater as a larger unit..
That should have been a red flag.. But I was too dumb to see it..
After we went and hauled it down to the basement and the plumber
had it in position, he stopped and said, "Hey! This isn't going to work"!
It's got
hot exhaust..
Dang, logically I should have known. That XR90 works like a tank-less..
Hence the very small tank.. Meaning HOT exhaust..
So, we have to haul it back to HD and get the $800 model..
Dang this one is even heavier!! I'm almost 70 years old!
I'm so embarrassed.. My kid will never ask me for help again..
Hey, maybe that's not such a bad thing? Maybe she learned something too?
She might want to slow down a bit, (even when the house has no DHW),
and read the fine print, in a little more detail..
Why didn't I notice the extra 20,000 BTUh and not think 'Hey, that might mean hot exhaust?'..
My lesson learned? Is, stay away from gas! It's not safe!
~~~
Now she needs two new CO alarms.. Should I help her pick them?
Maybe not..
I like these cheap models..
Floureon Battery Powered Carbon Monoxide Alarm Sensor White - Amazon.com