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Hot water cost

Discussion in 'Everything Else (off topic)' started by savemoney, Feb 21, 2015.

  1. wildwest

    wildwest Moderator

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    Ray, is something like this what your are talking about?
    [​IMG]
     
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  2. raybonz

    raybonz Moderator

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    No it is a coil of finned copper pipe that is inside the hot water jacket for the boiler.. The tankless coil is heated by the same water that also circulates to the baseboard heaters.. More info at this link.. http://inspectapedia.com/plumbing/Tankless_Coils.htm
    [​IMG]
     
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  3. badbob

    badbob

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    Did not study whole thread,(havin beers watchin race),but have been running ele. water heater,insulated,on a timer for over 2 years.Has saved me money,BUT I am single and have low hot water usage.also went to smaller hot water heater.Have seen places use on demand heaters use much more ele or gas "because the heat never runs out"(longer showers).@ neighbors switched back out because of this--kids.Researched the fancy ones,noted above,and figured out the payback would be longer than I will live,kind of like argon windows.Just a few thoughts.
     
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  4. basod

    basod

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    I'm considering the heat pump style for replacement. I'd like to know where they are that cheap in original post. FYI you probably only get the rebate if switching to an electric unit from a gas/oil HWH
    My existing standard electric unit has just started to weep, it's a '93 model so probably got money's worth out of it.

    My great debate about going to one is it's in a utility/laundry room. It would help cool it off in there during the summer months, and would have some heat from the dryer during the winter, just wonder how cool it will make it during the winter
     
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  5. Fanatical1

    Fanatical1

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    I'm not sure in the original post, what rebate the add is referring to. Each electric utility has different rebates available if they offer them at all. I was going to post a link to the utility company that I received the rebate from, but it appears it's no longer available. Mine was just a flat rebate from AEP, for $500 going from electric resistance to a heat pump unit.

    The Feds may still be offering something as well? I used my federal energy saving rebate up years ago with a new furnace and air unit though.

    If you plan on putting it a utility room with a door, you will probably need to keep the door open or get some additional air movement in that room. It will make it cold in the summer or winter, which will lower its efficiency. If you don't have a family using tons of hot water, you will be better off. I play around a little with mine as to when it runs. It has a digital programmer on it. You can find videos of it on YouTube if interested.
     
  6. TurboDiesel

    TurboDiesel

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    Wow
    Your lucky Crzybow
    I'd be running EVERTHING on gas. Generator for electric?
     
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  7. crzybowhntr

    crzybowhntr

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    Yes. I have a generator that can run on NG. I only run it when needed though.
     
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  8. TurboDiesel

    TurboDiesel

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    Thats what I'm talking about
    Thats the exact heater I have
     
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  9. TurboDiesel

    TurboDiesel

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    Here is a link to our other discussion on tankless water heaters. THis is the model i was explaining
    http://firewoodhoardersclub.com/forums/posts/24137/
    This is the same water heater I have. I like it
     
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  10. lukem

    lukem

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    I'm on the fence about what to do when my water heater chits the bed. The current one is propane fired. I have to run a dehumidifier 24th in the summer. ...but I want a boiler as I have a largely unused hot water baseboard system.
     
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  11. TurboDiesel

    TurboDiesel

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    Wood boiler?
     
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  12. wildwest

    wildwest Moderator

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    I'm on the fence too. Water heater new in 2013, but I can barely make through decent shower, and now our larger jetted bathtub will be running soon. I need to supplement the hot water. What do you think TurboDiesel to temper the water with the smaller water heater and use the ecosmart tankless you have? My first thought was a tandem water water heater, now I leaning towards saving the space another water heater will take up. I can't go crazy here using water since we haul it in but I would like have hot water when I need it.
     
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  13. TurboDiesel

    TurboDiesel

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    First lets see what you have
    Why can't you get a hot shower?
     
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  14. wildwest

    wildwest Moderator

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    I have a hot shower but the the water heater runs out before I am done with my shower routine, you know, women.....And I tend to run more than one washing appliance at once. *if* I get a spurt of energy to do stuff that usually means running washing machine and dishwasher at the same time.
     
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  15. TurboDiesel

    TurboDiesel

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    what size tank do you have?
    An ultra low consumption shower head might help. Most of the low consumption heads are 2 gallon per minute. I found a 1.5 gallon ultra low. it works fine.
    (And my wife doesn't complain)
     
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  16. wildwest

    wildwest Moderator

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    I think its a 30 gal. Wondering if I could put an ecosmart too so I can get more than 10 minutes. The shower we are currently using is VERY old, doubt its a water saver head.... I actually bought a new shower head but it did not fit, but I blew it off since we have low water pressure anyway, I think the pump is set at 30psi.
     
  17. TurboDiesel

    TurboDiesel

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    First I would adjust the water heater temp to the max. (as long as you dont have kids in the house)
    Insulate the hot water pipes(this doesn't save a lot of hot water but its cheap and saves time waiting for the hot water to get there)(we've all turned on the hot water and walked away while waiting)
    Change the shower head to ultra low consumption
    Get your shower before washers run.
    And turn up the pressure on the well pump.(45-60 psi)(its easy)
    The next cheapest fix would be to replace the 30 gallon tank with a 50 gal (not much extra work or wiring)
    Next would be to add a heater like mentioned before. If this is your next choice then I would go straight to the Eco Smart.
    And set it up so you can use both heaters( this will take a few valves but they aren't expensive)
    There are some options here as well
    You can go with one Eco Smart style heater for all your needs(set to 130 degrees,no back up,thats how I went)
    Or. Add the tankless after your 30 gallon tank (turn the tank down and preheat the water to 90 degrees and set tankless to 130 degrees)
    Or. Use a few more valves and plumb it in a series and in parallel. (use one or the other or both)(you will need more than basic plumbing skills to do this)
    I would have done mine this way but my tank went bad so I just replaced it with the tankless. I would still like to have it this way but why bother now
    Another thing to consider is your electric panel. Do you have enough room for three 240v/40amp two pole breakers ? These Eco Smarts use 112 amps on highest setting.
    Most houses have a 200 amp panel
     
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  18. lukem

    lukem

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    Yup.
     
  19. TurboDiesel

    TurboDiesel

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    When we (BrianK here on the site is my brother) lived at home,our dad put a wood/coal boiler in and interconnected it to the gas boiler and gas water heater.
    He was a plumber also. Most people that saw his equipment room were confused with all the piping. But it worked flawlessly.
    He turned the gas off to the boiler and used all wood. (Peoples Natural Gas Company didn't like that)
    it was very even heat.:yes:
    Fact is I still have the boiler. stop over I'll give it to ya. Bring friends its heavy!
     
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  20. lukem

    lukem

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    I don't have room to add a flue for a wood fired boiler inside so I will either build a boiler shed or get an OWB.
     
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