Water Heater
- Thread starter softtouch
- Start date
itsbob
I bowl overhand
Is there a man in your house?
Actually a small hand held pipe cutter and two shark bites anyone can do it.
OR if you have gas, convert to a tankless and save HUGE $$$$$..
desertrat
0_0
Wow. 35 years is amazing. Yes get a new one. You will get energy credits, a rebate from Smeco I think and the energy savings will be great. Easy to install so let them do it if you can't. I think Smeco or someone will haul your old one for free, or that might be the payoff.
getbent
Thats how them b*tch's R
Is that the only way to heat the water for tankless?
Dakota
~~~~~~~
Double check on that - I think if you take the SMECO rebate you disqualify yourself for the Federal rebate.
When I called earlier today, the agent at the IRS asked me if I had gotten a rebate from the electric company and I said no.... so she said, then you are entitled to the whole rebate from the Federal credit program.
GWguy
*
No, you can go electric too. Have to pull in a dedicated 240v wire from the breaker panel.
getbent
Thats how them b*tch's R
Ok thanks. There's something attached yo the wall, above our water heater, that looks similar to a breaker panel. Its a box with a thick wire that runs toward the breaker panel. But we cant open it. Could that be something only dedicated to our current water heater? Didn't have anything like it at our last place.
GWguy
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It could be a timer, or a SMECO controller, but I doubt it. Probably just a box to join wires, a splice box. You'd have to see if the existing wire is heavy enough and has a big enough breaker to support an on-demand water heater. Most water heaters are dual-30 amp, I think most on-demand hot water heaters use a dual-50 amp breaker. Anyway, that's what I seem to remember. You can go to Lowes and look at a few.
getbent
Thats how them b*tch's R
Cool. Thanks. Hubby really wants a thankless. Not sure how big our current water heater is. I tried to look for the temp control on it with no luck. It looks pretty old, along with the water pressure pump :/
GWguy
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desertrat
0_0
desertrat
0_0
35 is ancient! If you have a large family you need a big one if not you can get by with a small one. Bigger ones are also nice because if the power goes out it will hold hot water for a couple days.
getbent
Thats how them b*tch's R
itsbob
I bowl overhand
Fixededed..
getbent
Thats how them b*tch's R
Yeah it is. We are a family of 4. 3 of which are female (1of which is a teenager) . Hot water does not last long during a shower. Usually have to wait a while for the hot water to return in order for more than one person to shower.
I work at lowe's in the plumbing department.
Newer electrics are more efficient than older ones, but do need a dedicated circuit.
Electric tankless water heaters need a dedicated 70 Amp circuit. (As I recall)
Gas or Propane are more problematic...
Some jurisdictions require a permit...
Some require an expansion tank...
Any natural gas or propane tankless requires both a separate combustion air source and an upgraded exhaust stack.
Newer electrics are more efficient than older ones, but do need a dedicated circuit.
Electric tankless water heaters need a dedicated 70 Amp circuit. (As I recall)
Gas or Propane are more problematic...
Some jurisdictions require a permit...
Some require an expansion tank...
Any natural gas or propane tankless requires both a separate combustion air source and an upgraded exhaust stack.
itsbob
I bowl overhand
Not really... You can buy a tankless that mounts outside of your house, and the one I installed (indoors) only needs an exhaust. The heater is so efficient I actually used 3" PVC from the heater to the exterior wall.
You do need to run a drain line to a pump (mine shares the AC pump) as it removes the humidity from the air just like the AC does.
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I can only go by the info I receive, which i as I previously keyed.