Extra H20 heater

[AC_Hacker]

Originally Posted by jeff5may

...The tankless "under-counter" units are the most efficient, but generally will only supply one faucet. They are meant to be run using the cold water supply for a source. They depend on a flow-meter (not a thermostat) to energize the heating element. They generally will not provide much more than 1 GPM of hot water, and exit water temp is very much a function of flow rate.

If I'm not mistaken Daox has been using a demand electric that will fit under the sink (I still think he should put it there... most used faucet, etc.), and it DOES HAVE a thermostatic heat control rather than flow rate control.

He's been using it for a year and a half, as I remember and seems pretty happy with it.

Maybe he'll chime in here...

-AC

[WyrTwister]

We have so much " lime " in our water , I am told the tank-less WH's stop up pretty quickly ?

Current plumbing codes require a fresh air vent high and low , in a WH closet . I can not do that . Not enough space . Thus , I plan to install an electric WH .

The gas WH will probably be abandoned in place , short term .

The plan is to put the new electric 40 gal WH in the laundry room , next to the washing machine .

GE 40 gal. Medium 6 Year 4500-Watt Double Element 240-Volt Electric Water Heater-GE40M06AAG at The Home Depot

God bless
Wyr

[AC_Hacker]

Originally Posted by WyrTwister

...The plan is to put the new electric 40 gal WH in the laundry room , next to the washing machine...

There are various rationales for locating a DWH.

Some people put them at the center of the house so that all taps are about equal distance away.

Some put the DWH as near as possible to the outlet through which the greatest volume of heated water flows (sometimes laundry, sometimes bathroom).

In my opinion, the very best location for a water heater is as close as possible to the most frequently used outlet... which in most cases is the kitchen sink.

The reason is that there is a "slug" of water that has become cold inside the pipe, and that water is allowed to run (wasting water & time) until the hot water begins to flow. By locating the DWH near the most frequently used tap, the slug quantity and time are remarkably reduced. With the advent of popular electric demand heaters, the water heater can easily be put under the kitchen sink, inside the cabinet. This way the distance from the DWH to the tap can be measured in inches rather than feet.

Also, if you live in a climate that requires 'mostly heating', then if it is possible to locate the DWH in the heated section of the house, it's wasted heat is put to good use. Of course, if your climate is 'mostly cooling' then the DWH should be located outside the heated envelope.

* * *

On a not unrelated note, two of my personal friends are going to considerable effort (separate installs) to locate their furnaces outside the heated envelope, in barely-heated attics, which make me wonder if there is any hope for humanity... at all?

You can lead a horse to water, but wise energy decisions have a long way to go.

-AC

[jeff5may]

http://www.homedepot.com/p/GE-40-gal...6AAG/100183332
Yep, trailer trash. Just be sure and get the "primo" extended warranty with it. If something fails, don't worry about repairing it. Just rip it out and haul it back for "in-store replacement". It's the new world order.

[WyrTwister]

As far as furnaces in the attic , sooner or latter someone ( in my case , me ) is going to have to get up in the attic to work on the thing ! Not good ! :-(

Hope they have the furnace filter located in a single , large , return air grill ? Hopefully accessible from below ?

The furthest HW consuming devices are in the back bathroom . It serves the guest bedroom , which is seldom used . It will have to wait for an upgrade . Other than , maybe insulating the HW line , as far as I can get to / reach . I am too old and fat to get under the actual bathroom ( under the floor ) . I can follow the HW line across the guest bedroom ( under the floor ) . Pier and beam house .

Good news and bad news . I have also traced down a water leak , inside a wall in the main bathroom . The leak is bad news . That I found it is good news . There is some crazy plumbing in this house . That is not uncommon to houses that have been added on .

The water leak is unrelated to the grumbling / belching WH .

Last weekend , I replaced 2 faucets and overhauled a third .

The fun just never ends ! :-(

God bless
Wyr