Bull. Hooking 2 WH's in series WILL double capacity.
The fuel bill will increase some, but there's a demand for more heated water. Do you know of another way to increase the amount of water heated without increasing the fuel bill at all?
It works fine that way.
There are pro's and cons to each method.
Sounds pretty beneficial. I would install bypasses and the proper valving so as to allow an either/or use when either needs to be taken out of service for replacement.
What's wrong with that? With one heater only, it see's the "lion's share" anyway.
I have read all the posts and any links and I see nothing that said that hooking them up in series is a poor way to go. just that the first heater will be doing most of the work, and will not last as long as the second. So my question is, "what is not as long?". Say you normally get 15 years on a water heater. Will the first in serries last only 7, the second 15 years? Or, will the first last 15 years, and the second 25 years? No where did they say it would shorten the life of the heater, just that it would not last as long as the second heater. My bet is it may shorten the life of the first heater slightly, but greatly extend the life of the second. In parrallel they would run close to the same life. Also your statement that hooking heaters in series will cost more is rediculous. It will cost you the same to heat a gallon of water either way, one way will not heat water more efficiantly, (cheaper), than the other. The second heater in a series set up may never run, depending on water usage, other than to re-heat the water if it cools during times of no hot water use.
I have seen quite a few homes with two heaters hooked in series. The second heater in most cases was not even connected to electricity, it was just a storage tank. A small circulating pump was connected to circulate water between both heaters. I also have seen homes with one gas, and on electric heater, again hooked in series. We have "off peak" electric in our area and the electric utility will shut off the power to the electric heater in high demand times, and the gas heater will take over. Greg
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