OT: Replacement water heater for home (NSOT??)

[Sky]

cross-posted: rec.food.cooking & alt.home.repair

Argh!! The ancient and antique, 30-something-year-old natural-gas water heater (40-gallon, short) in my home went kaput yesterday (figures it'd happen on a Friday!!) because the gas-line was disconnected, then reconnected, due to obligatory construction by the power company. For the past 1.5 years, I have anticipated the need for a new water heater :( Besides, money spent to repair this ancient unit will be far better applied to the purchase of a new and more energy efficient one!!!

Anywho, it'd be a great help to me if folks would share any "anecdotal" stories about their water heater replacement experiences. The online Consumer Reports (via local library) website is worthless today, just as it was in August 2014 when I checked that resource then - no brand comparisons, reliability ratings, no specifications, mostly nothing!

Knock on wood, the less money spent (for the value) is desired. However, selling points to potential home buyers some time in the future is a high point of consideration for the new water heater. Will consider

50-gallon unit except space might be an issue.

In the meantime, I'll wash and rinse dishes with basins full of water heated by the MW.

TIA, Sky

================================ Kitchen Rule #1 - Use the timer! Kitchen Rule #2 - Cook's choice! ================================

[Gary]

If considering a larger water heater be aware that you might have to upgrade your electric box. I've seen that happen with a friend.

What fun. Cold showers too? A cold shower at 5am will definitely wake you up and get you moving! :-D

[trader_4]

I wouldn't buy a new water heater based on what some future buyer might or might not think about it. When mine went about 15 years ago, I went down to HD and bought a basic 40 gal model, made by State. You could consider a larger one, if there is some reason to believe the 40 isn't adequate. I would not put $500 or $1500 more into a water heater on some theory that you're going to get more than that or even that money back.

[Dean Hoffman]

This might be some help:

[Chris P. Bacon]

So buy whatever brand is on sale at McLowesDepotMegaMartSuperStore.

[Wade Garrett]

Back in 2006, my 27 year old gas 40 gallon WH started leaking. Home Depot offered new ones in three price tiers/warranty lengths. I opted for a Rheem that HD guaranteed for "As long as you own your home" as it wasn't much more expensive than the 10 or 12 year warranties.

Yeah, I know most water heaters are all the same and the reason the longer warranty ones are more expensive is you're buying insurance from the manufacturer.

So my Rheem is at 10 years and working just fine, However, the now-required expansion tank on the water line sprung a lead a few years back. Plumber wanted $185 to replace it. But I picked one up for $39 at Home Depot, unscrewed the old one, and screwed in the new one. Took less than 10 minutes-- not counting the trip to HD!

[Ophelia]

Do you not like combi boilers? You don't need to heat up a huge tank of water.

[Brooklyn1]

This is a No-Brainer!

I love mine, should have done it long ago... a bit pricey but more than pays for itself in two years. You already have gas available so have your gas company install a Rinnai. Space is no problem, mine is mounted on my basement wall, no larger than a piece of carry-on luggage... can be mounted in a closet, if you live in a warm climate it can be nounted in your garage or on the exterior of your house. Hot water is unlimited, it stops making hot water when you run out of water. I can run my clothes washer, dishwaher, and shower all at the same time. Mine runs on propane, with natural gas you'll save even more:

[trader_4]

He said it's gas.

[trader_4]

Good way to turn an $800 project into a $5K one. The cost of maintaining the tank of hot water with NG isn't much.

[Gary]

What you describe sounds like the "hot water on demand" things like Sheldon has. I don't have them here. I have 2 giant water heaters in the basement right underneath my apartment. They supply hot water to

24 apartments in my building. They work well too... the only time I ran out of hot water was during one hurricane that took out power for 3 days. Gas water heaters but they don't run without electricity.

[trader_4]

Only if you don't think about it.

Please show us the math that shows how that works. I have nat gas bills during the summer, with just the WH and some grilling, that are under $20 with a 40 gal tank WH. How do I pay for a typical $2000 tankless install in two years?

Given the high gas needs of a tankless, it may however require new piping all the way to the meter. And typically does require at least some substantial re-piping.

Space is no problem, mine is

I have a 40 gal tank and I too can run my washer, dishwasher and shower all at the same time. A tankless does have the advantage of unlimited water, so if you have a large household, lots of people wanting to take showers at the same time, it does have advantages. But saving money, I've yet to see that justified. And if the power goes off, I still have unlimited hot water. What happens with the Rinnai with no power?

[S Viemeister]

Combi and tankless water heaters _are_ available in the US, but they are not yet common.

[S Viemeister]

Although I rarely agree with Sheldon, I agree with him on this. Our tankless/on-demand water heater has saved us a fortune, freed up space, and we've never run out of hot water.

[bob haller]

tankless also require maintence, like cleaning the heat exchanger. they have gone high tech. requiring a knowledgable and pricey service tech.

i know a guy who spent 8 grand all in for a tankless install. his payoff time far exceeds the life of his tankless.

on regular tanks you can get a standard tank, but the come in different BTU ratings, and capacity cheap low btu 30,000 btu

my old tank was a 50 gallons 75,000 BTU. whe it leaked they no longer sell the 50 gallon size.

so i upgraded to a 75 gallon 75,000 btu tank. unlimited hot water had as many as 5 people living here with 2 washers..going all the time

if you go tankless with teenagers they can get hours long showers. and make your bills go up:(

[jmcquown]

I agree and I'll be certain to keep this in mind when my hot water heater needs to be replaced. :)

Jill

[jmcquown]

No, they aren't common in the US. But tankless water heaters are becoming more popular all the time.

When we lived in Bangkok the water heaters in the bathrooms were like that. Mounted on the wall, natural gas igniters. Turn on the water in the shower, voila! it's hot. Turn it off, the heater shuts off. That was old technology. Imagine how far it's come since 1970. :)

Jill

[Nancy Young]

We were without electricity for 11 days ... one saving grace was we had hot water. Gas. Not sure why yours didn't work.

nancy

[Gary]

My guess would be that you had pilot lights. The newer water heaters here are gas but electronic ignition so they don't work without power. My gas furnace is the same. My old stove does have pilot lights and I can use that even when the power goes out.

[Nancy Young]

I didn't have heat, but my newer water heater must have a pilot light as it stayed on. I haven't had an older water heater since we moved here some 30 years ago. Several new ones. Went through a couple of cheap ones earlier, not worth the money you save.

nancy