Water Input Temp to Water Heater

[dieselscout80]

We have a well and the water is nice and cold coming from the well.

However, this means the water heater has to work hard to heat the water.

If I installed a pressure tank (about 40 gal) in my crawl space next to my water heater (50 gal) would it be enough to allow the water to warm up to at least the crawl space temperature before entering the water heater?

 

[LouNY]

A long coil of copper tubing would work better,
the 40 gallon tank would actually only hold 10-20 gallons normally.

 

[user.69169]

Too many unknowns in yer question as stated. Nice and cold ain't a number can be worked with.
Add in static liquids ain't gonna absorb surrounding ambient heat much. Liquid in motion will absorb more heat just as liquid runnin thru a radiator delivers heat to the room.
Add to that the material the liquid is traveling thru has a lot to do with heat transfer. PEX & Black iron good, copper poor. That's why baseboard rradiation got aluminum fins to give heat to the surrounding air.

Add to that crawlspace possibly worst place to make de build. Attic is much better, especially where you live, and probably give you near free hot water half of de year. Take it a step more you can get near instant hot water at faucets when opened wid a small pump and some PEX.
Gotta pull up a chart shows all year averages before makin much progress.

Attic cisterns were pretty dang popular up into NY for hot water most of year back 150 years in upscale houses. Coal and later gas water heaters took over as people got too dumb to manage a fire. Depression pretty much killed attic cisterns when gas companies rented gas water heaters to homeowners to sell more gas. Ain't much new, just things new to you.

 

[CADplans]

A 100 foot coil of black plastic water pipe would be cheaper than the proposed water tank,,
and, it would work at least 100 times better.

Buy the largest diameter pipe you can afford , along with the two adapters to reduce the size to match the existing water line.

Heck, if one works good, buy a second later,, :thumbsup:

Two lengths can be connected in series,, or in parallel, with about similar performance.

 

[CADplans]

Hmmmmmm,,,,,, one concern,,
whatever you use to "temper" the water temperature,
plan on a LOT of moisture condensation in South Carolina.

The condensation is a good thing,,
Condensation is due to the moisture in the air giving up its heat, as it changes to liquid.

Phase change is where the largest amount of heat is given off.

Actually, once you get the heat exchange device in operation, a thermostat controlled fan will dramatically raise the systems efficiency,,

 

[user.69169]

Use PEX, put it inside de attic as a collector, and while you heat water you also lower attic temperature AND lower AC cost in living space.

All kinds of things you can do when you think it out.

Whole load of contractors runnin around lookin to steal your money for doin crappy imitation of what a thinkin man could do better.

 

[the old grind]

There may still be the modified tub trip-waist out there with coils plumbed to use draining water to preheat WH inlet. Showers being one of the highest HW usages it kind of makes sense to put it where it does the most good, and no one says you have only one option.

brw, props to (removed) for clever suggestions. :thumbsup:

 

[dieselscout80]

A 100 foot coil of black plastic water pipe would be cheaper than the proposed water tank,,
and, it would work at least 100 times better.

Buy the largest diameter pipe you can afford , along with the two adapters to reduce the size to match the existing water line.

Heck, if one works good, buy a second later,, :thumbsup:

Two lengths can be connected in series,, or in parallel, with about similar performance.

That is a interesting idea thanks. :thumbsup:

The condensation you mentioned in your next post is something I had not considered. However, I have a condensation drain for our heatpump water heater that could be used.

I wonder if a washer or water heater drain pan would work to contain the condensation and provide a drain point/connection.

 

[dieselscout80]

There may still be the modified tub trip-waist out there with coils plumbed to use draining water to preheat WH inlet. Showers being one of the highest HW usages it kind of makes sense to put it where it does the most good, and no one says you have only one option.

brw, props to (removed) for clever suggestions. :thumbsup:

Sorry, but, what is a tub trip-waist?

 

[Industrial Toys]

I was going to do the same thing. But my pressure tank is in an underground pump house two hundred feet from the house. And installing another tank in the basement, would mean that I still have to heat that water via ambiant temperature, so half the year, there would be no gain. Maybe less calcification of your elements, but i already run mine on 120 instead of 240 to reduce the watts per square cm and keep the deposits down.