What's the latest consensus on.....

[Boomyal]

...electric hot water heaters? I was just out in the garage, using the tops of the trash cans, nearby, as work benches. I heard a sound like water dripping on plastic. It was not rapid but it was pretty definite. In the same area I have my water softener so I started looking around with a flashlight and the floor was wet. I felt all the pipes around the water softener and all was dry.

I then began to lift some of the clutter off the top of the hot water heater and it was soaking wet. I put my ear to it and could hear the noise I had been experiencing.

It is a 20 year old, 82 gal electric heater and you can see water between the top cover and the in/out nipples. I guess it has lived a full life.

I know they have new 'heat as you go' units that claim to be more energy efficient but they cost a ton of money. I would be surprised if there are any modern efficiencies in conventional heaters like there might be in some other appliances.

Anybody have any input here?

 

[ob]

Re: What's the latest consensus on.....

None that I am aware of.I am aware that most of the newer electric water heaters are equipped with a plastic dip tube that has a fragile containment lip that will soon end up floating around in the tank unless you self install a length of rigid copper tubing of your own and flare the end yourself.Once this dip tube fails it promotes buildup ,particularly to the lower heating element.

 

[Boomyal]

Re: What's the latest consensus on.....

None that I am aware of.I am aware that most of the newer electric water heaters are equipped with a plastic dip tube that has a fragile containment lip that will soon end up floating around in the tank unless you self install a length of rigid copper tubing of your own and flare the end yourself.Once this dip tube fails it promotes buildup ,particularly to the lower heating element.

Thanks for the heads up ob. If I go conventional, I'll check it out. I'll probably will, at least, downsize to a 60 gal tank.

 

[Dunaruna]

Re: What's the latest consensus on.....

Hey Boom,

I've got a NG storage HW unit and an instant (what you call 'heat as you go') unit which is propane. The instant unit is definetly more economical but I can't compare it to electric units because I've never had one.

 

[Bigprairie1]

Re: What's the latest consensus on.....

'This Old House' did an interesting segment on 'on demand' hot water heaters...pretty positive from what I recall. Expensive up front purchase cost tho'. I'd consider it for reasons ranging from operating costs, to maintenance to floor space...but the numbers would have to be reasonable. I'm not going to spend $10000 extra to save $300 a year on heating costs.

 

[watermellonI]

Re: What's the latest consensus on.....

Just priced these yesterday at a hardware store, I would use one, anything that helps you cut costs is an improvement and the ones I looked at were only 500.00 I know thats more than a tank but I would be willin to try one.

 

[Boomyal]

Re: What's the latest consensus on.....

Just priced these yesterday at a hardware store, I would use one, anything that helps you cut costs is an improvement and the ones I looked at were only 500.00 I know thats more than a tank but I would be willin to try one.

Ya got a brand name or a link wmI?

 

[Boomyal]

Re: What's the latest consensus on.....

Hey Boom,

I've got a NG storage HW unit and an instant (what you call 'heat as you go') unit which is propane. The instant unit is definetly more economical but I can't compare it to electric units because I've never had one.

Around here Aldo, I think NG costs more than electric. We're right next door to the mighty Bonneville Dam on the mighty Columbia River.

 

[gss036]

Re: What's the latest consensus on.....

I don't recall ever seeing one priced at $500.00 unless there has been a drastic decrease in price because of availability. One of my son-in-laws had one installed last year but he has not commented about it. I will have to ask him when they come for Thanksgiving dinner.
I would think an electric installation would be much cheaper than gas, unless you have gas hook up right at the spot.
I would have to see what they are made out of. We are on well and the water has a high PH level, so it tends to shorten the life of some metals. In time it will erode the inside of copper pipe, especially the thin walled stuff.

 

[Scaaty]

Re: What's the latest consensus on.....

I'd just whip in a new 60..new ones pretty efficient, and nobody can beat our cheap electric (mine is pretty ancient to, but still hanging in there)

 

[Kenneth Brown]

Re: What's the latest consensus on.....

If you look at ones that will handle the same range of water needed that you do you are gonna spend some money. In addition you may have to upgrade your elec service to 320 or 400 amp to carry it. If'in I was making the decision I'd buy a new elec. You'd be suprised how much more efficent the newer ones are than your old one.

 

[v1_0]

Re: What's the latest consensus on.....

Some other points to consider: if power goes out and you have an on demand heater well.. no hot water. A tanked heater will still have some hot water in it for a while.

If you have a well, and power goes out then you don't have water to heat so the previous point dosn't work there. However - if you have a drain at the bottom of your tank you can still access the hot water. Hot or cold, you have some drinking water.

In terms of efficiency, the on demand heater is probably better. It takes up less space and can be plumbed closer to where the demand is. It only heats the water you use, plus a bit extra (length of pipe between it and you + water in it when you shut the tap). The tanked heater has to keep the water hot even when you aren't using it. Even with 3" of insulation, it still will loose heat over time.

Which is better would probably come down to your usage habits - how much water you use per day... are there often times when you are out of the house, etc.

About a year ago I bought a tanked heater - Whirlpool "energy smart, lifetime tank warrenty, triple foam, 0.92 energy factor" (whatever that is). It's been fine except for one problem: our well seems to be infested with 'iron' bacteria. They made the hot water stink like sulfur, and have no problems with normal water temperature in the water heater (120). I had to kick it up to 140 to get rid of most of the smell, and there is another anode rod that is for wells. I've been told that a tankless heater wouldn't have this problem.

As for costs, I think that the tankless has certainly gotten more affordable than a couple of years ago. I suspect that it will become 'standard' equipment in a house in time.. But then, they will be wired in right from the start.

-V

 

[Boomyal]

Re: What's the latest consensus on.....

Thanks v1, I'll undoubtedly go with the 80 gallon tank model. I found a .95 efficient model for $459.00. Best deal in town. It shows lower annual energy cost (at a higher KWH price) than my 20 y/o heater. It is also 2" bigger in diameter and 9" taller than my current 80 gallon. I guess it must be all that extry insulation.

So far however, since I took all the junk off the top of my heater, the little bit of leakage evaporates off pretty quick. All the 'stuff' allowed the leak to build up on the top.

I'll have to grab a new one pretty quick though. The floor is still damp around the base.

 

[muskyone]

Re: What's the latest consensus on.....

i got mine from the power company for 400 its a 100 gal thay came out and hooked it to its own meter and i pay half on the power for it try calling yours and see if thay offer something like it

 

[jimmer4444]

Re: What's the latest consensus on.....

I purchased a Bosch on demand water heater a couple of years ago,,I love it,only heats when water is on,can take a shower all day if I wanted to.cut my NG bill more than half,I think I only paid around &525.00 for it.

 

[SS MAYFLOAT]

Re: What's the latest consensus on.....

I've got an old electric 80 gallon. When all the kids lived in the house it was barely big enough. Now that they are gone and it is just the wife and me, I put it on a timer. We both get up early to go to work. I have it kick on for an hour just before we get up. It stays off until about an hour after we get off work. It then comes on from 5 pm to 10 pm. Doing this cut my electric bill a bit over half. The only problem is on weekends when we are both home, but usually the water stays warm enough for our use. Later on I plan to put in a 7 day programable timer. The price of the timer pays for itself within a couple of months from the savings...........SS

 

[Boomyal]

Re: What's the latest consensus on.....

I've got an old electric 80 gallon. When all the kids lived in the house it was barely big enough. Now that they are gone and it is just the wife and me, I put it on a timer. We both get up early to go to work. I have it kick on for an hour just before we get up. It stays off until about an hour after we get off work. It then comes on from 5 pm to 10 pm. Doing this cut my electric bill a bit over half. The only problem is on weekends when we are both home, but usually the water stays warm enough for our use. Later on I plan to put in a 7 day programable timer. The price of the timer pays for itself within a couple of months from the savings...........SS

SS, what do you use for a timer on a 220v heater. And wouldn't you lose any advantage by turning the heat on and off when a well insulated heater would be self regulating?

 

[ob]

Re: What's the latest consensus on.....

I installed one of them timer doohickies myself when I last changed the water heater out.Got it at Home depot and it was called "the little gray box." and is made by Intermatic.
Comes with several adjustable tabs for on and off cycles.Ours kicks on around 5 am and off at 9 am.Back on at 5 pm and off at 10 pm.

 

[rob711]

Re: What's the latest consensus on.....

theres a lot of them out there...google tankless hot water heater..i'm considering getting one...although it would be gas..