Hot Water Tank Efficiency

[MarkF48]

I installed a 40 gallon Marathon water heater to replace a failed oil fired WH. I'm retired and wanted something that would be basically maintenance and trouble free. The Marathon will not rust out and there is no anode rod in it since nothing within will corrode. Well insulated and it hasn't hurt the electric bill too badly compared bills prior to its install.
Marathon Water Heaters by Rheem

 

[dadster4]

You missed the point.
We were talking 10 vs 30 mortgages which has nothing to really do with this, other then money.

I didn't miss the point...you missed the sarcasm.





I'd still go big. Didnt you wonder why they had to special order it? Did you think you were just a genius ahead of your time?

I don't think it will really matter. But it could hurt resale in a hot market where people could choose.

I just look a good hot shower myself. I am going to put a 30 in at my cabin, since room is limited and will be quicker to drain.

When the water is just sitting there, doesn't take alot to keep it hot. They are insulated decent. In fact a new law came out a couple years ago, forcing you to buy buy ones with more insulation. Which really sucks for tight spaces. But government decided.

I don't need big, two showers and wash dishes twice a day. They had to order it because the smallest stocked size is a 40 gal. WTF?...genius no...smarter than some, yes.
I like hot showers also...and I live in a cabin.
Standard water heaters are still one of the most inefficient appliances in the home, although the new foam insulation is much better than the fiberglass of old. The new 30 is the exact same size as the 40 it replaces.

 

[fried1765]

I don't need big, two showers and wash dishes twice a day. They had to order it because the smallest stocked size is a 40 gal. WTF?...genius no...smarter than some, yes.
I like hot showers also...and I live in a cabin.
Standard water heaters are still one of the most inefficient appliances in the home, although the new foam insulation is much better than the fiberglass of old. The new 30 is the exact same size as the 40 it replaces.

In many areas of the US (cold inlet side) expansion tanks are now required on new/replacement tank installations?

 

[jk96]

I installed a 40 gallon Marathon water heater to replace a failed oil fired WH. I'm retired and wanted something that would be basically maintenance and trouble free. The Marathon will not rust out and there is no anode rod in it since nothing within will corrode. Well insulated and it hasn't hurt the electric bill too badly compared bills prior to its install.
Marathon Water Heaters by Rheem

We have a 50 gallon marathon water heater. It is on an energy monitor. The few times we were gone for a day or two I've checked the standby usage. It is practically nothing. It will usually sit in standby without a call for heat for 16-18 hours and then only heats for 5-10 minutes.

 

[buckeyefarmer]

I removed a marathon when I installed the GE heat pump one, that has failed twice. I need to switch the marathon back in, just ain't got to it. Also need to pipe in my geothermal preheat.

 

[CalG]

Point of use ELECTRIC is most efficient.

PoU gas is most economical

There is a difference!

 

[dadster4]

In many areas of the US (cold inlet side) expansion tanks are now required on new/replacement tank installations?

Yes they are, due to the increased use of backflow preventers on the supply line to the home. On a well system, the pressure tank serves the same purpose.

 

[RalphVa]

Those hybrid ones have a heat pump to supply most of the energy for heating your hot water. They'll save about 2/3 of the cost of heating hot water, IF the hybrid part continues to work. I've heard of compressor problems with these, and I had compressor problems with the 2 units I put on as retrofits.

The first failure occurred in slightly less than a year: still on warranty. The company I bought the unit from replaced it. However, there was no way I could get the coils out of the hot water heater, but it was old; so I decided replacing the tank was okay.

Then a little more than a year later, the compressor on the new unit went out. I just shut it down and put the electrical coils back into the tank. They were new, as I bought the tank and removed the coils before putting the 30 or more feet of coils containing the Freon were slid in. I still am operating on that tank with the defunct heat pump sitting on top it.

The reason for these compressor failures (vs. a common, everyday heat pump) is because they have to put up much higher head pressure to get the Freon hot enough to heat hot water.

Ralph