Gas on-demand Water Heater for one washing machine?

[PILOON]

I have to assume it never freezes in the barn, since a "flow through" type water heater is not frost protected.

I also think that a small conventional electric heater, fitted with a time based thermostat (only HOT during the hours needed) would work perfectly for the job. Provided the "idle" temperature is warm enough, you also have freeze protection. Perhaps not needed for your application, but surely required in the midwest.... Just how much hot water is needed when doing laundry ?

As to 'IDLE' temp, we once had a 5 day power outage and I simply needed a shower and decided to shower no matter how cold it might be.
Much to my surprise as long as I did not mix any cold what came out of the tank was still very comfortable and not even chilly.
The newer foam insulated tanks really are efficient.
I venture to suggest a standard tank switched on about 1 hour B4 a washing probably would be just right.
Most newer ranks with dual elements really have a great recovery cycle.

 

[California]

Responding to several posts -

*Freeze is unlikely. Less than once a decade, temp remains below freezing throughout the warm part of the day. One period of overnight lows in the low 20's ten years ago, and another 10 years before that. Dad wrapped and insulated pipes for that event 20 years ago, I just monitored and ran faucets etc for the one 10 years ago. There's never been freeze damage to outdoor, exposed pipes here in the 60 years I know about. I think its a low-risk gamble to leave this unprotected inside the barn. In case of a 'severe' (don't laugh) cold spell I could run it at bedtime, maybe again at dawn if I were really concerned.

*Timer, or start heater before doing laundry: My wife is incorrigibly random, she would never have the patience to - every time - start the heater in advance of laundry. Likewise a timer would never match actual use cycles.

*Electric: This is an old simple farm house with the original wiring installed by the inexperienced homeowner 70 ? years ago. Running adequate 220V service would be a lot more trouble than replacing gas with gas. This photo of the storage area lighting under the house will illustrate ...

Added - I have one modern 220v 50A circuit from the 100A Service Entrance to serve my workshop in the barn. But I would have to wire from there to make a new 220V circuit in the laundry room.

I'm still leaning toward tankless gas but I'm becoming convinced I don't want the cheapest versions.

 

[MossRoad]

Tide for Cold Water

 

[California]

Tide for Cold Water

View attachment 470675

That may be the best suggestion yet. :thumbsup:

 

[DuckSlayer1017]

We've had a gas on demand unit in our cottage since 2000. We love it and I'm planning on changing over our house as whenever my current tank heater goes out.

 

[CurlyDave]

I very rarely wash anything in warm water. Only cold water washes for me.

 

[Clint S]

That may be the best suggestion yet. :thumbsup:

As a kid we never had hot water attached to any washer we had. Even as an adult my first house did not have HW attached. Our current house has it attached, but I can probably count on one hand the number of times we have used it in 13 years.

 

[Zerk]

On demand are expensive. Why not just a 12 gallon tank? I take showers at camp with 12 gallon electric. I jack the hot way up, so I only use small amount of hot.

If it is just used once in awhile, what about a timer, or just turn on a hour or 2 before you need it?

I think on demand is overkill for doing laundry, in a barn. Not like you got back to back showers.

I don't use much or hot water for washing clothes.

 

[Zerk]

We've had a gas on demand unit in our cottage since 2000. We love it and I'm planning on changing over our house as whenever my current tank heater goes out.

Why? Lots of people and showers, back to back, is about the only reason I can think of. Which usually occurs at home in morning, not at my camp.

 

[DuckSlayer1017]

They use less gas. There is no tank of water to keep at 110F or whatever it is set at. You only use gas when you need hot water.