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Water Heater Help

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eds1275:
How long does you guys' power go out for? I have a relatively new [2 years old] CHEAP [$300] tank, and I was doing some plumbing and shut the power off for the hot water tank when I drained the lines so I didn't burn out the heater element. I didn't need to, but better safe than sorry. It was the morning of the third day after before I realized that the water was only warm and I had forgotten to turn the power on. I was admittedly using very little hot water - a shower a day, and since the wife was away the dishes were just piling up  :P
When my power goes out it's amazing if it lasts more than an hour.

Vigo:

--- Quote from: Howard_Casto on December 28, 2011, 06:17:49 pm ---Heh.. yeah, I hate plumbing with a passion, mainly because I get roped into doing it so much.  The way we were raised is that you do everything you possibly can yourself and to call a plumber or handyman is a "waste of money" unless it is absolutely necessary.  I've ended up doing about everything at one point or another. 

--- End quote ---

It looks like we share a common enemy.  :lol I hate plumbing with a passion as well, and have the same mindset that a plumber is a last resort only (e.g. basement flooding and main valve broken). Since I have also done about everything myself before, I am sure I have saved thousands and thousands not ever going with a plumber.

I am sure I wouldn't mind doing plumbing If I worked on new systems. I currently live in a 100+ y/o house, and the plumbing is a hodgepodge of mostly old galvanized steel cobbled together in a backwards fashion. When I bought the house, there were a good dozen leaks and a complete lack of valves on everything but the main. (Buying a foreclosure has some work involved) When I finally fixed the leaks, I found my water pressure was nothing but a dribble in some areas. Now everything I fix up is all replaced with Pex. That stuff is awesome. I never had a single leak and connecting joints is a cinch. Of course with a water heater, you need a lead of steel pipe before you can start in with the Pex.

Ridgefire:
I love working on homes..plumbing, electrical especially. I can do drywall I admit its not my most favorite thing to do. There is just something about how things work. The only thing I don't mess with is my furnace and that is only because it's quite old and I can't get diagrams for it or parts. Now hanging new duct work yeah I can and will do that when I get a new furnace.

Vigo:
I love working on electrical too.  :cheers:

menace:
I have a "bare bones" tankless unit and love it!  it is rated as a single appliance model or about 4.5gpm and raising the water by 80-90 degrees max (I shoot for less than 120F out of the nearest faucet and adjust the output accordingly but it changes with the seasons.  This is because the city supply temperature will vary by as much as 15 degrees over a year.   Smarter units raise the water temperature to a preset regardless of the input temperature. 

Things to consider--will you REALLY be doing laundry and dishes while you shower?  do you need the higher output (13gpm@120F is considered normal for a two appliance at a time unit)  We've had ours for 5 years and its never come up so the 4.5gpm unit works just fine.

Cost:  Retail they are about 2500 here in canada with a traditional tank being about 800-1000 before installation.  You have to have the space and the venting clearances but this can usually be accomplished in an unfinished area with an area on an exterior wall.  Not easy but doable.  Mine was $450 from amazon.com and I installed it myself:)  so its paid for itself many times by now.

My unit does not work well with low flow (read: water saving) shower heads, dishwashers or washing machines.  We have adjusted--I skimmed the flow restrictors from the showerheads, we wash in cold laundry and the dishwasher has a pre-heater.

Efficiency:  a "modern" gas fired water tank is about 50-60% efficient--some people think because there is a blower on it, it must be more efficient.  The opposite is true.  the blower uses energy to speed and cool the exhaust gases so they can be vented via a sidewall in system636 piping. (formerly ABS).  My unit is about 80% efficient but there are much better units out there.  In the real world we pay the minimum gas charge ($16) from may till october (southwest ontario here) with regular useage

Is it for everyone--no way--it does take a bit longer to get hot water (seconds not minutes though) and when more than one hot water device is on, it splits between them. I'm happy with mine though--bosch aquastar 125Fx

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