water heater

TGIN · Dec 31, 2015

Going to get a new electric water heater for the house. Just the two of us now . Anyone have any suggestions before I start shopping? Thanks

Bob Harvey · Dec 31, 2015

There are 40 gal 'energy efficient' units available for around $250. (plus installation of course) Lowes, Home Depot may be your friend - end of the year stock rotation. HTH

buickanddeere · Dec 31, 2015

At the same time add a timer to cut power from 7:00AM to 7:00PM Mon-Fri. Heat the water for approximately half the $$$.

Switchflicker · Dec 31, 2015

(quoted from post at 02:08:44 01/01/16)
At the same time add a timer to cut power from 7:00AM to 7:00PM Mon-Fri. Heat the water for approximately half the $$$.

Why not just turn the temperature to a less hot setting?

DENNIS MIN · Dec 31, 2015

buickanddeere,

If the larger part of electricity KW spent is within the confines of a home requiring heat, well, then, that does transpose into energy spent within the home.

In summer, perhaps there may be some savings not having heat interior.

D.

Greg K · Dec 31, 2015

The marathon water heaters have a plastic tank that is advertised not to rust out, they also are super insulated for more energy efficiency. Hang onto your shorts when you see the price however. Check with your power supplier to see if any rebates are offered.

David G · Dec 31, 2015

It is not wasted heat, but resistive heat is usually 2-3 times NG or propane her BTU.

Andy Martin · Dec 31, 2015

(quoted from post at 18:38:30 12/31/15)

(quoted from post at 02:08:44 01/01/16)
At the same time add a timer to cut power from 7:00AM to 7:00PM Mon-Fri. Heat the water for approximately half the $$$.

Click to expand...

Why not just turn the temperature to a less hot setting?

I keep mine turned up because I hate running out of hot water. And mine is propane with quick recovery.

Chuck (CA) · Dec 31, 2015

We bought one of the GE hybrid, heat pump super efficient ones. 50 gallons. About 5 or 6 years ago. Big rebate from the utility company. There has been a noticeable drop in our electric bill and we never run out of hot water.

coshoo · Dec 31, 2015

One reason not to turn down temp is that if its too cool, your dishwasher won't work right. I put in a new water heater element, and dishwasher wasn't dissolving all the soap out of the dispenser, and dishes weren't clean. Turned it up from 120? to 130?, problem solved. Fortunately, the climate change police didn't show up to imprison me.

Steve@Advance · Dec 31, 2015

I'll second the Rheem Marathon. I put one in my house and 2 others for friends. Have had no problems. They do cost more, but you get a life time tank guarantee. The elements and thermostats are standard replacement parts.

If you are hiring the install done, the higher cost for the heater will pay for itself by the long life. The install cost is the same as for a standard heater.

El Toro · Jan 1, 2016

We have a Sear's NG water heater that has a lifetime warranty. Most of our appliances are gas. Hal

buickanddeere · Jan 1, 2016

(quoted from post at 21:38:30 12/31/15)

(quoted from post at 02:08:44 01/01/16)
At the same time add a timer to cut power from 7:00AM to 7:00PM Mon-Fri. Heat the water for approximately half the $$$.

Click to expand...

Why not just turn the temperature to a less hot setting?

Joking or serious ?

buickanddeere · Jan 1, 2016

(quoted from post at 21:43:55 12/31/15) buickanddeere,

If the larger part of electricity KW spent is within the confines of a home requiring heat, well, then, that does transpose into energy spent within the home.

In summer, perhaps there may be some savings not having heat interior.

D.

Not the topic I was discussing.

D beatty · Jan 1, 2016

I put in an electric Whirlpool energy smart 50 gallon water heater with the life time stainless steel tank and that's been about 6 years ago.

buickanddeere · Jan 1, 2016

How about a heat pump water heater. General Electric builds them as well.

http://www.stiebel-eltron-usa.com/products/accelera-heat-pump-water-heaters

PJHoward · Jan 1, 2016

I installed a tankless propane fired water heater and would never go back to a tank again.

buickanddeere · Jan 1, 2016

Kids will use hot water until the tank runs cold which limits the gallons. A kid will run more gallons through a tankless water heater than a tank heater.

Blackhole49 · Jan 1, 2016

I don't even have a blanket wrapped around my NG hot water heater, but I can tell you it will sit all day without firing unless someone runs
the hot water. Can't see more than a few pennies saved.

PJHoward · Jan 1, 2016

The answer to that is discipline.

buickanddeere · Jan 1, 2016

My teen daughter would take you apart in about 2 minutes.

David G · Jan 1, 2016

I would agree, a smaller tank limits the shower time of teens.

PJHoward · Jan 1, 2016

Two egg timers. Set them both at 15 minutes. One in bathroom, other with you. At bell go to heater and flip switch to off.
Takes only two cold ending showers to fix time problem.

mtny · Jan 1, 2016

I had an oil fired boiler mate system , when fuel went through the roof I went to lowes and picked up a 180 dollar 50 gallon electric. Bill went up about a dollar a day . Been 6 years or so .

Switchflicker · Jan 1, 2016

(quoted from post at 15:45:44 01/01/16)

(quoted from post at 21:38:30 12/31/15)

(quoted from post at 02:08:44 01/01/16)
At the same time add a timer to cut power from 7:00AM to 7:00PM Mon-Fri. Heat the water for approximately half the $$$.

Click to expand...

Why not just turn the temperature to a less hot setting?

Click to expand...

Joking or serious ?

Serious,

Although I think my question has been answered by the posters above. I was thinking that shutting the heater off would result in a less hot water temp, but not in a controlled manner, thus turning the temp to less hot would at least be under control and would make sure the temp would not bet too cold.

Brian Jasper co. Ia · Jan 1, 2016

A while back we changed out an ordinary tank style for a high efficiency on demand type. If you want to stand in the shower for an hour, the water will be hot until you turn it off. That's good if you have a house full of women that all want to shower every morning. The bad is you waste a lot of water waiting for it to heat up. If you want hot water to wash your hands with after you use the bathroom, turn the water on BEFORE you go or wait a couple minutes before it's hot. Same goes for the dishwasher and laundry. Turn the hot on so they don't fill with cold water.

Rich_WI · Jan 1, 2016

(quoted from post at 14:33:41 01/01/16)

(quoted from post at 15:45:44 01/01/16)

(quoted from post at 21:38:30 12/31/15)

(quoted from post at 02:08:44 01/01/16)
At the same time add a timer to cut power from 7:00AM to 7:00PM Mon-Fri. Heat the water for approximately half the $$$.

Click to expand...

Why not just turn the temperature to a less hot setting?

Click to expand...

Joking or serious ?

Click to expand...

Serious,

Although I think my question has been answered by the posters above. I was thinking that shutting the heater off would result in a less hot water temp, but not in a controlled manner, thus turning the temp to less hot would at least be under control and would make sure the temp would not bet too cold.

You are correct, setting the temp lower will require less BTUs to keep the tank at the set temp, thus saving money.

It wont save much, certainly not by half, by just turning off the heat as suggested. For that to work, the AVERAGE temp of the tank would have to be half of the normal set temp and the room temp. If the basement is 60 degrees and the tank is set at 120, the AVERAGE tank temp would have to drop to 90 for the whole time it was shut off. 90 degree water is not to appealing to most people so saving half is not going to work. Not to mention the cool down period from 120 is not factored in, tank hold temp much better than that so no way is it goig to save half.

buickanddeere · Jan 2, 2016

(quoted from post at 15:33:41 01/01/16)

(quoted from post at 15:45:44 01/01/16)

(quoted from post at 21:38:30 12/31/15)

(quoted from post at 02:08:44 01/01/16)
At the same time add a timer to cut power from 7:00AM to 7:00PM Mon-Fri. Heat the water for approximately half the $$$.

Click to expand...

Why not just turn the temperature to a less hot setting?

Click to expand...

Joking or serious ?

Click to expand...

Serious,

Although I think my question has been answered by the posters above. I was thinking that shutting the heater off would result in a less hot water temp, but not in a controlled manner, thus turning the temp to less hot would at least be under control and would make sure the temp would not bet too cold.

Does save a thing turning down the water tank temperature. In fact it's law here to operate at a minimum of 140F to prevent bacteria growth inside the tank.
If the incoming water is 50F , the water temp at the shower head is 105F and the kid uses 20 gallons of water. It doesn't make a lick of difference if the tank temp is set at 105 or 160F. The same btu's of energy will be used to supply the same 20 gallons of 105F water that entered the tank at 50F.
Operating the tank heater at times other than 7:00AM to 7:00PM Mon to Friday in Ontario reduces the cost to heat that 20 gallons of water 105F down to about 2/3 the peak demand rate.

Dr. Walt · Jan 2, 2016

For just TWO people you might consider an 8 or 10 gallon heater, which should supply more than enough Hot water for Cooking, Dishes, Laundry, & Bathing. I currently use a 6 gallon electric water heater & it's more than adequate (one person) .

With a smaller tank you get a better cost (tank cost + energy usage) savings as you are not burning up electricity trying to keep 20 gallons of water hot for all the hours in the day when it's not needed.

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