I have an unfinished basement. I have a 50 Gallon Gas water heater in the basement. I have a water softner feading it. Home is about 3000 sqft.
In the summer time, our electric prices skyrocket. In the winter time, the gas prices sky rocket. (AC and GAS heat / supply -n- demand, I assume.)
I am currently paying on average $300 for these two utilities from different sources. Gas is the bulk of it in the winter, and electric in the summer. This is after switching to florecent lighting, adding extra isulation, etc.
My question is this. Can I place an electric water heater right next to my gas water heater, and have them run in parallel. In the summer time using the gas one and in the winter time running the electric - to benefit from the lower price per unit during those times?
I would guess that I would have to have some sort of flow back restricter from both water heaters output into the home lines right before a cutoff switch. Would I power off the electric when appropriate, and turn off the gas when appropriate? Would I have to drain the water heater as well? (I have a sump pump right there.)
Or is this just a bad idea?