Hot Water Tank Efficiency

[nikdfish]

In the unfinished basement (a walk-out) which is about 900 square feet & originally not part of the heated envelope. It really hasn't caused a noticeable difference, pretty much about like running a dehumidifier (which is another side effect). You need a drain option for the moisture it removes from the air, I added an elbow (had a plumber do it, anyway) connected to the main stack to let a gravity flow handle it. I added a vent & return to the basement space mainly to get some cooling during summer (my amateur radio gear is set up down there) & I do get a bit of heating that way as well (roughly a 12"x4" vent in the middle of the space & 12"x8" return above my radio desk). Our heating is primarily via heat pump w/propane backup. We have tended to use only about 50 gallons or so of propane a year (prior to adding the propane fueled generator last summer) so any "stolen heat" is generally coming from another heat pump.

Nick

 

[300UGUY]

I bought a Rheem Marathon heater 2 years ago. I didn't need a connected one. It replaced a 20 year old heater, that had started to leak. One thing, the model I have is very fat, it takes up much more space. My electric bill went down about $10 per month. Only 2 of us, so it comes off a low base.

 

[Zerk]

I got over 40 years out of my last one, but doubt I will this time.

 

[BrokeFarmerJohn]

I'm kinda surprised so many people here have the hybrid water heaters, nothing bad about them so far. When I did my calculations I figured that my bill would go down $10-$15 a month, could be more but that's the figure I came up with.

 

[Zerk]

Talk about going off on a tangent? There is no comparison between the two.

100% comparison. Replacing a car for a more a fuel efficient model, and time value of money. You buy water heaters with money. You want to save money. Often it would be better to take the money you were going to use to buy the water water heater, and buy a mutual fund. It should be doubling around every 7 years. People here are talking about making up the money. Breaking even is not getting ahead.

Some people just don't understand math, electricity, or money. Hopefully they are lucky in love.

 

[BrokeFarmerJohn]

100% comparison. Replacing a car for a more a fuel efficient model, and time value of money. You buy water heaters with money. You want to save money. Often it would be better to take the money you were going to use to buy the water water heater, and buy a mutual fund. It should be doubling around every 7 years. People here are talking about making up the money. Breaking even is not getting ahead.

Some people just don't understand math, electricity, or money. Hopefully they are lucky in love.

10 year mortgage or 30 year making an extra payment to principal each year and investing what's left?

 

[Zerk]

10 year mortgage or 30 year making an extra payment to principal each year and investing what's left?

The question is?

I don't get paid every other week. So making extra payments isn't really an option. I get paid 12 times a year.


But people should take pen to paper and write it down. I actually prefer spreadsheets. Take a $1000. See how many months it will take you to break even. Then take take $1000 and look at rate of returns on mutual funds. Subtract taxes you will pay because it will be income. The mutual fund is making money. The water heater is starting out in the hole.

If you need a water heater, subtract the cost of a normal one from the cost of the expensive one. That helps. Even then it is hard to break ahead. You have increased labor cost, it is not a one for one swap. It needs a direct vent. I was a plumber, and even given that, it just wasn't worth doubling the cost of material.


Some people like carrying risk and having a mortgage. So they spend 3% on mortgage, which they can deduct 25%. As long as they have enough to deduct. So they invest it, for say 7-10. Which they are paying tax on too. It can work out. Myself, I listen to Dave Ramsey. He did a study. 100% of foreclosed homes had a mortgage.

But mortgage have nothing to do with this conversion. Reduce this to buying a $500 widget or $1000 widget, that saves you $10 a month. Remove everything except numbers.

Get rid of your feelings.

 

[Zerk]

10 year mortgage or 30 year making an extra payment to principal each year and investing what's left?

If you can afford it, I will go 10 year mortgage. $$$$$ less interest. Secruity. In 10 years you have that mortgage payment to invest for the next 20.

Imagine all the wealth you could build without a mortgage.

If you want a tax deductions, send me $10k, I will give you 2.5. That is how smart the average American is. They think that is good investment.

 

[Tractor Seabee]

Mine is similar, it's next to a floor drain, same drain my water softener regenerates into. And also the dehumidifier dumps into.

For those contemplating the condessing type WHs and furnaces; remember the condensate is highly corrosive (acidic), eats just about anything including concrete.

Ron

 

[Zerk]

My heat pump hot water heater takes hot air from my wood stove right across from it. The wood stove burns all winter long. The basement is unfinished. The basement is usually around 80F in winter and the same in summer. Temps in summer can and have gotten up to 100+.

That sure sucks. Can't you open windows? Move it outside?