Bird
Rest in Peace
Yep, Brian, a bypass valve is something I should have remembered, since my motorhome had one. /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif
Water Heater advice needed
- Thread starter EddieWalker
- Start date
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graybeard451
Bronze Member
My take on water heater warranties is the price for a longer warranty is like buying snap-on tools, you pay more because chances are they will have to give you a second one free. So in effect you are paying for the replacement up front. But in a campground they may say it's commerical use and only warranty it for a year anyway.
Parallel piping will give more volume, series piping will give you hotter water but not more. Yes you could crank up the temp they mix it back down with a tempering valve but that will only help on the first hour draw because you would have more BTU's banked up. But the second hour draw would be the same. And hotter temps will stress the tank that much more. Commerical water heaters are made to run at higher temps for things like commerical dish washing.
Electric water heaters are the cheapest to buy but have the lowest recovery. Gas costs more to buy the tank but does have quicker recovery. A oil fired water heater has many times faster recovery but costs many times more to buy the tank because it has to be made stronger due to the many times higher flame temp. If you don't have natural gas piped in I would go with the electric myself. Of course if you were in the north, maybe I'd go fuel oil but I don't think you'll find many oil fired choices in TX.
just my .02 cents, Richard
Parallel piping will give more volume, series piping will give you hotter water but not more. Yes you could crank up the temp they mix it back down with a tempering valve but that will only help on the first hour draw because you would have more BTU's banked up. But the second hour draw would be the same. And hotter temps will stress the tank that much more. Commerical water heaters are made to run at higher temps for things like commerical dish washing.
Electric water heaters are the cheapest to buy but have the lowest recovery. Gas costs more to buy the tank but does have quicker recovery. A oil fired water heater has many times faster recovery but costs many times more to buy the tank because it has to be made stronger due to the many times higher flame temp. If you don't have natural gas piped in I would go with the electric myself. Of course if you were in the north, maybe I'd go fuel oil but I don't think you'll find many oil fired choices in TX.
just my .02 cents, Richard
Sigarms
Super Member
Don't forget about the warranty "fine print".
Meaning that you you pay more money for a longer wrty, the wrty is only valid for that length of time.
Example.
You spend the extra money now and get a 10 year tank (2005). Tank leaks in 2014, you get a new tank, you now have only 1 year left on that water heater.
Meaning that you you pay more money for a longer wrty, the wrty is only valid for that length of time.
Example.
You spend the extra money now and get a 10 year tank (2005). Tank leaks in 2014, you get a new tank, you now have only 1 year left on that water heater.
OP
EddieWalker
Epic Contributor
Greybeard,
Thanks for the advice. If I understand this correctly, if I install them in series and use up the water, high demand periods, then all three water heaters will be struggling to keep up.
If I put them in parrallel, then all three will work equally to supply hot water and I'd be less likely to run out of hot water?
I've only seen parrallel systems done in other parks and hotels, never series, which is new to me. Could this be the reason why?
As to the warantee claims. If it fails, I'd return it as a home owner and not mention that it's used comercially. Not sure if that's legal or ethical, but it's my plan.
Lowes also has a Whirlpool 50 gallon water heater for $350 that has a lifetime warrantee. Would the elements and materials be that much better in it to justify the added price?
6 year warrantee is $200
9 year warantee is $270
12 yea warantee is $300
Lifetime warantee is $350
All 50 gallon Whirlpool electric water heaters.
Thanks,
Eddie
Thanks for the advice. If I understand this correctly, if I install them in series and use up the water, high demand periods, then all three water heaters will be struggling to keep up.
If I put them in parrallel, then all three will work equally to supply hot water and I'd be less likely to run out of hot water?
I've only seen parrallel systems done in other parks and hotels, never series, which is new to me. Could this be the reason why?
As to the warantee claims. If it fails, I'd return it as a home owner and not mention that it's used comercially. Not sure if that's legal or ethical, but it's my plan.
Lowes also has a Whirlpool 50 gallon water heater for $350 that has a lifetime warrantee. Would the elements and materials be that much better in it to justify the added price?
6 year warrantee is $200
9 year warantee is $270
12 yea warantee is $300
Lifetime warantee is $350
All 50 gallon Whirlpool electric water heaters.
Thanks,
Eddie
If you are organized and disciplined enough to keep all your papers filed for ready access, and to remember that you have those lifetime warranties, and you plan to stay there for more than 12 years, then buy the lifetime warrantee.
My guess is that they are all the same water heater and will all fail in about 7 years. The extra money is so they can afford to give away a water heater to the folks who remember they have the warranty and who go to the trouble to exercise it. They are partly counting on the number of folks who will forget; those who will nopt be able to find the paperwork; and those who think it's too much trouble. The other possibility is that you might voluntarily forgo the warranty because something better has come out.
But then, I'm a little cynical about warranties... /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif
My guess is that they are all the same water heater and will all fail in about 7 years. The extra money is so they can afford to give away a water heater to the folks who remember they have the warranty and who go to the trouble to exercise it. They are partly counting on the number of folks who will forget; those who will nopt be able to find the paperwork; and those who think it's too much trouble. The other possibility is that you might voluntarily forgo the warranty because something better has come out.
But then, I'm a little cynical about warranties... /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif
SLOBuds
Gold Member
Are they going to allow you to have one of those extended warranties when you are using it in a commercial setting?
Many times the warranties limit you to non-commercial applications.
My opinion about the rest: if you are in it for the long haul, I'd take a further look at either solar or geothermal.
Martin
Many times the warranties limit you to non-commercial applications.
My opinion about the rest: if you are in it for the long haul, I'd take a further look at either solar or geothermal.
Martin
jinman
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Eddie, when I was building my house, someone suggested I check with my coop electric company. I did and they had a great deal on water heaters. If you are on coop power rather than TXU, you might check with the coop power company and find they have a pretty good deal. Otherwise, I think you have a good handle on the best way to go for a do-it-yourself type of guy like yourself.
graybeard451
Bronze Member
<<If I put them in parrallel, then all three will work equally to supply hot water and I'd be less likely to run out of hot water?
I've only seen parrallel systems done in other parks and hotels, never series, which is new to me. Could this be the reason why?
As to the warantee claims. If it fails, I'd return it as a home owner and not mention that it's used comercially. Not sure if that's legal or ethical, but it's my plan.
Lowes also has a Whirlpool 50 gallon water heater for $350 that has a lifetime warrantee. Would the elements and materials be that much better in it to justify the added price?>>
Yes, I think parrallel will reduce the chances of running out of hot water. Low-flow shower heads along with timers will also help that along with helping reduce the electric bill. In series, the first tank would be set around 100F so it wouldn't even start heating until you get to 80 or 90 F, by then you have a cold shower.
All the tanks and heating elements are the same, maybe a little more insulation, maybe two anonde rods instead of one but they are all the same. But, if you're going to buy them from Lowes, in 6 or 7 years when it plays out, the kid there is only interested in your paper work, not where you're using it. So what you're doing is buying one tank for $200 but buying two is $350 why not?
Good luck and I always check out your photos, my parents started camping when I was small and worked part time at a campground as a teenager. Richard
I've only seen parrallel systems done in other parks and hotels, never series, which is new to me. Could this be the reason why?
As to the warantee claims. If it fails, I'd return it as a home owner and not mention that it's used comercially. Not sure if that's legal or ethical, but it's my plan.
Lowes also has a Whirlpool 50 gallon water heater for $350 that has a lifetime warrantee. Would the elements and materials be that much better in it to justify the added price?>>
Yes, I think parrallel will reduce the chances of running out of hot water. Low-flow shower heads along with timers will also help that along with helping reduce the electric bill. In series, the first tank would be set around 100F so it wouldn't even start heating until you get to 80 or 90 F, by then you have a cold shower.
All the tanks and heating elements are the same, maybe a little more insulation, maybe two anonde rods instead of one but they are all the same. But, if you're going to buy them from Lowes, in 6 or 7 years when it plays out, the kid there is only interested in your paper work, not where you're using it. So what you're doing is buying one tank for $200 but buying two is $350 why not?
Good luck and I always check out your photos, my parents started camping when I was small and worked part time at a campground as a teenager. Richard
jmc
Elite Member
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Consumer Report dissected water heaters to see the differences in warranty choices. Longer warranties have better construction according to CR. Link attached. Also other interesting facts about water heaters.
Consumer Report- water heater tips
Consumer Report- water heater tips
BobRip
Elite Member
Have you looked at Marathon hot water heaters. They have 4 inches of foam insulation and a life time warranty.
With 3 hot water heaters your losses are going to be greater. Three tanks of the same capacity as one large tank have more loss, insulation thickness and type being equal.
Also consider insulating the pipes even the incoming pipes cause losses for some distance back. Saving energy actaully gives you a little more capacity.
Bob Rip
With 3 hot water heaters your losses are going to be greater. Three tanks of the same capacity as one large tank have more loss, insulation thickness and type being equal.
Also consider insulating the pipes even the incoming pipes cause losses for some distance back. Saving energy actaully gives you a little more capacity.
Bob Rip