11-12-13, 07:53 AM | #41 |
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I've had an early GE HPWH for a couple years now. It claimed to have a very well insulated glass tank. (I'm thinking like a thermos) When I installed it, I could not feel any warmth on the outside of the tank. From another project I had a bunch of left over fiberglass batts. I built a small box around the tank and filled it with some of the fiberglass. Now if I stick my hand in against the tank it feels hot. I don't really care how much the extra insulation is helping because it was free salvage, but I know it is helping some.
By the way, it usually only runs once a day in the middle of the night with out and added controller. |
11-12-13, 08:10 AM | #42 |
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You didn't happen to measure power usage with a kill a watt before and after, did ya?
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11-12-13, 01:12 PM | #43 |
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11-12-13, 07:19 PM | #44 | |
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Quote:
When you are designing and/or building your own system, what matters to you the most must be decided by YOU. Sweat equity and/or bartering can level the field from an economic viewpoint IF IT MAKES SENSE TO YOU. Or you can order one of these for this much $$$$ and have it at your door in a jiffy. Lots of members' setups don't make economic sense when you look at them from afar. Heck, some of them don't make economic sense at all. That's why we need experts on the forum: to paint some reality into the dream. With a little guidance, a severely lacking design can be changed into a really slick end product. Last edited by jeff5may; 11-12-13 at 07:20 PM.. Reason: words |
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11-12-13, 08:39 PM | #45 | ||
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Quote:
Quote:
Best, -AC
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11-13-13, 08:21 PM | #46 |
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I wasn't trying to sound like a smart aleck, it's just that the "modern" way of thinking that everything somehow relates to a tangible cash value just disturbs me. Thoroughly.
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11-14-13, 09:15 AM | #47 |
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Maybe slightly off topic. I bought the GE heat pump water heater form Lowes in the summer of 2012. A month ago it quit. We called the 800 number for repairs and after three weeks Lowes called us back and said they are going to refund our full purchase price. Sounds like GE is acknowledging major flaws in their product. I respect GE and Lowes for doing the right thing.
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11-14-13, 09:36 AM | #48 |
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What have you done for hot water in the past 3 weeks?
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11-14-13, 10:47 AM | #49 | ||
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Quote:
If you DIY, you know how it works, and if your creation goes south, you know how to fix it. Quote:
Full purchase price? You can get the full kit of equipment and a used donor A/C unit and a good used water heater for that price. It all starts with learning how to braze copper tubing... Best, -AC
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11-14-13, 01:19 PM | #50 |
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(What have you done for hot water in the past 3 weeks?)
The GE unit has a conventional electric backup. So i've been burning watts for the last 3 weeks. As a side note when the refrigerant drained out' it and the lubricant went out through the cpvc drain pipes. Several elbows and 1 section of cpvc have become brittle and broke. I guess the oil degraded the plastic. Just one more thing to chase down and replace.
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