Low Cost Marey Water Heaters

[Servicetech]

What do you guys think of these low cost water heaters?

The Good: At $235 they are even cheaper than a tank water heater!! Can use standard B vent, no expensive SS venting required. Works with 1/2" gas lines. Ignitor runs off batteries, no electrical hookup required. Simple design, no electronic controls or inducer motors. Doesn't look like it needs a drain connection.

The Bad: Users complain poor temp regulation and questionable support after the sale. Efficiency isn't rated as high as more expensive models.

[Daox]

Here is the manufacturer's website for the linked product.

Marey Heater Corp. | Products | TANKLESS GAS WATER HEATER 10L LPG

And the user manual:

http://www.marey.com/product_pdf/english/6.pdf

You do seem to get a lot for your money spec wise. However, it does not have a dedicated intake, so it does pull your conditioned air for combustion. It also requires 4" flue (which most on demand gas units do). Normal tank heaters only require a 3" diameter flue. It would also be wonderful if they provided an efficiency chart. They only say 54% to 87% efficient. Is it 87% efficient at full heat (manual setting, its not modulating), or is it 54% at full heat output? That is a pretty wide range of efficiency swing.

[ecomodded]

With the low efficiency rating of the gas water heater mentioned I would stay clear and start pricing electric units. On demand electric water heaters are in the 85% efficiency range (95-97% for the condensing units)

[Servicetech]

Electric water heaters aren't practical due our crazy cheap (last bill was 51 cents per therm) gas rates. Only have a 100A panel, wouldn't be enough to operate on instant water heater. The condensing tankless water heaters appeal to me due to the use of ordinary PVC pipe for venting.

[ecomodded]

Aha , I see, I am surprised your Gas company has priced gas so cheap, in Canada its not that way, well at least in my Province of B.C

Here the government has made a sick deal or a disgusting deal with the gas companies to raise the market value to equal electricity ( so they all make the same big profit), we pay threw the nose for Gas here but our gas Companies are filthy rich.

[Servicetech]

Originally Posted by ecomodded

Aha , I see, I am surprised your Gas company has priced gas so cheap, in Canada its not that way, well at least in my Province of B.C

Here the government has made a sick deal or a disgusting deal with the gas companies to raise the market value to equal electricity ( so they all make the same big profit), we pay threw the nose for Gas here but our gas Companies are filthy rich.

Here they hammer us with a $28/mo customer charge before you light a pilot.

[WyrTwister]

Originally Posted by Servicetech

Electric water heaters aren't practical due our crazy cheap (last bill was 51 cents per therm) gas rates. Only have a 100A panel, wouldn't be enough to operate on instant water heater. The condensing tankless water heaters appeal to me due to the use of ordinary PVC pipe for venting.

I am wondering about using this to pre-heat the water to an electric WH ? In series .

The reviews speak of poor Temp regulation ? The electric WH would act as a storage tank and , maybe even out the temp varations ?

By pre-heating the water entering the electric WH , I would think it would minimize the electric consumption ?

Set the output temp of the tankless to a hair below the temp settings of the tstats on the electric WH ? Or maybe slightly above ?

God bless
Wyr

[Servicetech]

Installing an electric "buffer tank" defeats much of the purpose of tankless. I'd just keep my gas tank heater instead. It's a shame that there is not an "in between" tankless that has a modulating gas valve and uses standard B vent for exhaust. Cat III vent is so expensive (about $200 for my layout) that it's not much more to get the condensing water heater that uses ordinary PVC pipe for venting.

[AC_Hacker]

Originally Posted by Servicetech

What do you guys think of these low cost water heaters?

You have two questions going on at the same time:

• Morey water heaters
• Demand gas heaters.

I met a woman who had a Chinese demand heater that was no different from the Morey unit, that she had inadvertently damaged, after 15 years of satisfactory use. She was trying to remove a pipe from the input assembly, and the assembly crumbled in her hands...

I have had a Bosch demand heater (non-con) that uses the same flashlight battery igniter system, for nearly 20 years. I had a coil problem early, but it was resolve quickly. Otherwise, it just keeps chugging along to my great satisfaction. It's temp regulation is pretty good, but not exactly like a storage tank heater.

In my opinion, one of the best features of the little gas (or electric) demand heaters, that Americans don't seem to grasp, is that due to their very small size, they can be deployed at, or very close to, the point of use. This will greatly reduce energy and water waste.

But, back to the Morey heater... many of the Chinese products simply do not have 'product support' of any kind available. So if it breaks, you discard the whole thing and get another one. In the long run, this may be cheaper, unless you expect, and are able to repair failed appliances.

-AC

[jeff5may]

Units of this caliber litter the shelves at home despot and slow's. Average DIY network junkies see the hot chicks (rehab addict, crasher girl, etc.) with one in their carts on tv (at slow's), so they must be OK. Monkey see, monkey do. Another Ben Franklin goes to China. On goes the slow decay of American industry.

Your best bet is to ask a few plumbers in the area. If your area is like mine, all the best supply houses are within a few blocks of each other, somewhere. Find out where that is, and either take a tour or let your fingers do the walking. You will be much more likely to end the day with a wise purchase than trolling thru a big box store. And if something ever goes wrong, you can go to the plumber's shop and get some satisfaction from a counter clerk who has a clue what you're talking about.