No Hot Water Heaters over 50 gallons now at Lowes or Home Depot

[ultrarunner]

I wonder if in some locales they are porting the pressure relief valve into a pressure tank? Water Heater Pressure Relief Valve - Prevent Water Heater Explosion - Replace a Relief Valve - YouTube

No... we must run the PTRV to daylight per code... plus the heater must be seismically braced and the all sections for vent pipe (Gas) must be mechanically secured generally with 3 self tapping sheetmetal screws. Also hard piping the gas line is no longer permitted.

Unless you have a well onsite in addition to a city water meter the water there is no backflow preventer or check valve for residential... even at Hospital where we have backflow valves there is no pressure tank.

We also have are water heaters in parallel as are the steam boilers... each can be taken out of service without affecting the others.

 

[Zerk]

Does seem to be a debated topic. I would go parallel, because when one fails, you can use the other. To me that is a lot of peace of mind, and convience. Plus you could remove one when it dies, without the whole house losing hot water.


http://www.hotwater.com/lit/bulletin/bulletin64.pdf
Piping in series can cause the first heater to fail sooner than the second. The reason this happens is you are using the full capacity of the first heater and only upon an increased demand, is the second heater cycled on. This causes the first heater to be used more than the second, and used to its fullest capacity. This can cause the first heater to condensate and corrode.


Piping in parallel allows you to use both heaters equally. It allows the system to act as one heater rather than independent. By drawing hot water out of both heaters equally, you are able to equalize the life of your heaters.
Figures

 

[Zerk]

You are in CA, so we really shouldn't take you to serious. You should shower in cold water, to save the owls. Hot water probably gives you cancer.

No... we must run the PTRV to daylight per code... plus the heater must be seismically braced and the all sections for vent pipe must mechanically secured generally with 3 self tapping sheetmetal screws. Also hard piping the gas line is no longer permitted.

Unless you have a well onsite in addition to a city water meter the water there is no backflow preventer or check valve for residential... even at Hospital where we have backflow valves there is no pressure tank.

We also have are water heaters in parallel as are the steam boilers... each can be taken out of service without affecting the others.

 

[murphy1244]

If you are going to pipe in series, you should turn one down. It is acting as a preheater, and wasting money if not needed. If demand is low and in series one will not be running, so cheaper.


Guide to Alternative Hot Water Sources - how to choose among different ways to make domestic hot water

Where hot water volume requirements are high, in addition to installing a single larger-capacity water heater, one can install a several water heaters connected in parallel

Some buildings use water heaters installed in series to handle variations in hot water demand more economically
標hen the anticipated hot water demand is low, only water heater #2 may be running.


標hen the anticipated hot water demand is high, water heater #1 is turned on as well, doubling the volume of hot water available (if the heaters are of the same capacity in gallons or liters).


標ater heater controls can be adjusted so that the "upstream" water heater, (water heater #1 in our example), is left turned off or perhaps set to a very low temperature. In either of these cases, the upstream water heater or tank functions as a "booster water warmer" reducing the energy use by water heater #2 by pre-warming water entering the active heater#2.

That is exactly what I did. I only need the 80 gallons when she wants to use to use the jet bath. Other than that the first tank is just a preheater.

 

[ultrarunner]

You are in CA, so we really shouldn't take you to serious. You should shower in cold water, to save the owls. Hot water probably gives you cancer.

I use to buy 30 gallon gas water heaters for $88 and $95 for 40 gallon at Home Base... an early competitor to Home Depot.

California implemented low NOx burner standards and heaters now cost around $400 at the wholesale house... it's been a number of years and I think the California standard has gone Nationwide... just like the Low-Flow plumbing fixtures...

Just remember what happens in California doesn't stay in California...

 

[Zerk]

That is exactly what I did. I only need the 80 gallons when she wants to use to use the jet bath. Other than that the first tank is just a preheater.

Depends what you want. In series one will die earlier. Not an issue, but unless you put bypass valves in, you will have to turn hot water off to whole house. Though in reality I image even in parallel they may be years apart in failure.

From what I read, you can argue this both ways, lot costs, versus water supply.

California standard has gone Nationwide... just like the Low-Flow plumbing fixtures...

Just remember what happens in California doesn't stay in California...

This is why I am anti CA.

 

[murphy1244]

Depends what you want. In series one will die earlier. Not an issue, but unless you put bypass valves in, you will have to turn hot water off to whole house. Though in reality I image even in parallel they may be years apart in failure.

From what I read, you can argue this both ways, lot costs, versus water supply.



This is why I am anti CA.

I can use 1 or the other or both heaters that's what all those valves are about. My house has 4 hot water tanks for 3 baths.

 

[ultrarunner]

Always looking for options... someone once said it you can't beat them... join them.

I've seen the rollout of more regulations than I can remember... covering every aspect of life.

It's incremental... baby steps... as in this new law will only affect a few and 10 years later it affects all.

The one that gets me is no burn even with EPA CAT equipped stove and seasoned hardwood...

Water heaters are a big inspection item when a home is sold and half the time there are problems... often with the seismic bracing or the gas vent pipe or the PTRV not going to daylight.

 

[murphy1244]

They need to build a wall around California!!!

 

[ultrarunner]

The place in Washington is all electric and I have two electric water heaters... one for upstairs and one for the main level... the home was built for a big family.