The standard gas water heater doesn't solve the issues.
-They cost more than electric (not a big deal)
-You have to vent through a chimney using a chimney liner. This adds additional cost, creates a failure point in the roof, adds permitting costs. I like to eliminate holes in the roof and chimneys as these are old houses and I've had leaks and several $1k+ costs to repair old chimneys.
Looking into solar, it's not a solution in MI. Way too little exposure year round.
I'm exploring 2 solutions now:
-Heat exchanger in the plenum above the furnace.
or
-Heat recovery system in (shower) drain water.
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