Adding a second water heater

[quicksandfarmer]

I've got three teenagers in the house and the 50 gallon electric water heater isn't keeping up, so I'm thinking about adding another. I have two questions I'm pondering.

The first is whether I have to run another circuit, I'd rather not. I have a run of 10-2 right now with a 30A breaker. My understanding is that each 220V device needs it's own circuit so I'm thinking of adding a panel at the water heaters with two 15A breakers. At 80% loading each could get 12A, which is 2600 Watts at 220V. I can get 2500W elements. Would it be OK just to replace all four elements with 2500 Watt ones?

Second question is serial or parallel for the hookup of the water heaters. It seems that with parallel you spread the load, while with serial the back one does all the work while the front one loafs, only coming on when you've exhausted the back. But with parallel you have to somehow balance the load, and if you don't you could drain one tank while the other one still has hot water.

Thoughts?

Thanks.

 

[Blaneypark]

Why not MAKE them to take shorter showers.. Saves one **** of a lot of money and only needs one hot water heater.

 

[mddorange]

We have 9 in the family with 5 girls, 3 of which are teenagers, and only one 50 gallon electric water heater. We make it work by scheduling the shower times, limiting to 12 minutes in the shower and water saving shower heads.

 

[Code54]

May even think about putting in a larger unit, lot easier and simpler.

 

[davesl708]

We had ten at home with one heater. Would have been nice to have had two.
What about a on-demand heater?

 

[zzvyb6]

Don't do anything to cave into their waste of hot water. Schedule, conserve, consideration for the next user. Otherwise start buying extra cars, extra food, extra clothing and extra headache medicine. If they had to pay their share of the electric bill, it would clear up the problem right away. Your only hope would be to convert to natural gas or propane. When they move out (because they can only take 10 minute showers) you could be faced with a lot of excess hot water.

Been there.

BTW, there are such things as water storage tanks that can be plumbed in with a small circulation pump. No heater elements but it doubles the amount of available hot water with a slower recovery. Just in case you don't like sleeping on the couch...

 

[joefromga]

I'd slap them and install or just turn down the output valve on the water heater so it ran slower.

OR, I'd install an electric tankless unit but you'd have to run giant new wire to power it.

I've used smaller tankless units and they will slow the flow automatically and they instantly heat the water and will last as long as you want to run it.

You could install a smaller one right behind the shower and keep the tank you have as supplemental and you'd be able to raise the pressure of the tankless and have unlimited heat.

 

[4570Man]

We have 9 in the family with 5 girls, 3 of which are teenagers, and only one 50 gallon electric water heater. We make it work by scheduling the shower times, limiting to 12 minutes in the shower and water saving shower heads.

I probably take longer than 12 minutes in the shower. I have never seen a female take take a 12 minute shower. Actually that's not true. When the power is out and the water is cold they seem to hurry things along. I have never had good luck with tankless heaters. In the summer they work fine. In the winter they can only heat the water Lukewarm. My theory is that they lack the power to properly heat the much colder incoming water.

 

[quicksandfarmer]

Don't do anything to cave into their waste of hot water. Schedule, conserve, consideration for the next user. Otherwise start buying extra cars, extra food, extra clothing and extra headache medicine. If they had to pay their share of the electric bill, it would clear up the problem right away. Your only hope would be to convert to natural gas or propane. When they move out (because they can only take 10 minute showers) you could be faced with a lot of excess hot water.

Been there.

BTW, there are such things as water storage tanks that can be plumbed in with a small circulation pump. No heater elements but it doubles the amount of available hot water with a slower recovery. Just in case you don't like sleeping on the couch...

What I really need is one tank for my wife and one for me and the kids. But I'd have to replumb the whole house...

I've looked at storage tanks, but what I noticed is they cost more than water heaters! But it does have me thinking. No matter how I slice it I'm not getting more than 5000 watts out of that 30 amp line. It doesn't matter if it runs into one element or two. Maybe the answer is to have two water heaters, but only one is plugged in. A 5000 watt element in the one that is plugged in, plus a circulator -- attached to the thermostat on the one that isn't plugged in.

 

[hawkeye08]

Perhaps turn up the temp some, hotter water would allow them to mix more cold and get the same shower but use less hot?? Sometimes the temp is not high enough, I forget the max recommended, but years ago, they made us turn them all down to avoid scalding. If you have temp compensating valve with anti scald, why couldn't you have the hot water heater up a little bit to help with your issue? Just a thought, haven't spent much time on it, have a under 2 grand daughter in the house so I am not turning mine up...

 

[4570Man]

Is gas available? In my experience gas has a faster recovery time. I recommend not turning up the heat. I have been "scalded" a few times at a relatives house whose is set a lot hotter than mine.

 

[Johnkn]

If it were me and assuming your current tank is somewhat old I'd upgrade to a single 80 gallon tank. I've not ever run out of hot water even when my daughters were young and lived at home. An upside is that the newer tank would be more efficient than an older tank, take up about the same footprint, and take your existing wiring. Just think of it as an early house upgrade. You may be able to sell your current heater on Craigslist or something if it's in good shape and recoup a few $. Good luck.

 

[Tractor Seabee]

Perhaps turn up the temp some, hotter water would allow them to mix more cold and get the same shower but use less hot?? Sometimes the temp is not high enough, I forget the max recommended, but years ago, they made us turn them all down to avoid scalding. If you have temp compensating valve with anti scald, why couldn't you have the hot water heater up a little bit to help with your issue? Just a thought, haven't spent much time on it, have a under 2 grand daughter in the house so I am not turning mine up...

Anti-Scald is a code requirement. Maximum 110 degrees F. Cheap shower valves do not have temp compensation. Shower and sink valves are available you can preset the mixed temp. They make tempering valves for under the sinks. To kill bacteria the tank needs to be at 140-150 degrees F minimum. Plenty of info on the internet on this subject. New houses now should have all this if subject to permit and inspection. DIY and old houses lean the other direction.

Ron

 

[David Wayne]

My 80 gal. sprung a leak after 7 years, still under warranty. But since new gov. regulations went into effect in April 2015 they cant comply and stopped making it. I got a full refund, but the only 80 I could find was a Marathon or a hybrid. Both $$$$$, so I put in a 50 in series with a 30.
And yes I ran a second service from electric panel. I figure if heater #2 is just "loafing" as you put it, its not costing me anything- untill I need it.

 

[Handloader109]

I'd check the temp also, bump up a bit. Make sure that your alarm is earliest and get yours done first. Wife second if she wants to get hot shower. Kids can complain........ First up is first come

 

[RalphVa]

DO NOT turn up the heat. Keep it at 120 F for safety.

This house came with 2 hot water heaters. Think one was 60 and one 50, in series. I had them repiped to run either singly or in series with a bunch of quick turn ball valves. The 2nd one can run off the generator. Had to replace the 2 since buying 15 1/2 years ago. Both are insulated outside as well. One still has a defunct heat pump on it that failed on warranty and then failed again a little over the warranty. Put coils back in and running with coils now. I do not recommend the added heat pump. A neighbor has one that still works.

Ralph

 

[dadster4]

If you add another water heater they should be piped in parallel, NOT in series, and an independent breaker and wire run to each of them.
I myself would upgrade to a 75 gallon heater with a faster recovery rate than the average heater. You may want a mixing valve installed with the new heater, this would allow you to raise the water temperature to 140-150 degrees, but the water temp after the valve would be set to 110-120 degrees. In effect you would have the capacity of about 125 gallons of hot water available.

 

[LittleBill21]

when i redid my plumbing i put a 50/40 in series. i only add my 50 when i run my tub, and use my 40 primarily and shutdown my 50 till i need it. works flawless

 

[hawkeye08]

Interesting the folks that say do not turn up the temp, without knowing what it is now. Maybe it is only 105 and he can turn it up to 110 and gain some without getting it too hot.

 

[Gary Fowler]

Interesting the folks that say do not turn up the temp, without knowing what it is now. Maybe it is only 105 and he can turn it up to 110 and gain some without getting it too hot.

Anti-scald valves on faucets have nothing to do with hot water heater setting. I set mine on 140F so I don't use so much HOT water when bathing. Just adjust the shower valve till it is comfortable mix. I don't have anyone using my showers that aren't capable of adjusting the valve as needed. 105-110F water is barely lukewarm and of no use in providing hot water for a nice soothing bath. I think folks are confusing anti-scald shower valve requirements with hot water temps.
I suppose if you have an old house without modern valves and have less than 6 year old kids, then setting the hot water temps low would be practical but not so much with us old farts.