Home and Auto Hot Water Heaters

Holladay · 02-19-2015, 07:32 PM

(an aside, 4 people in the house and 2 of which are teenagers) I have 2x50 gal propane hot water heaters, 10 years old, set up in line. The thought was that have one (the last in line) fairly hot, and the first just warm. When the needed, I could turn up the first to hot as well...ie when I wanted to fill the big bath tub.

The first in line has stopped working. I can't /won't light. So we have been working on just one. Which is OK because we have the other (last in line) that works fine.

I am looking at upgrading the tanks. I saw online to have 1 propane tank coupled with a "tankless" hot water source. I don't know the price, setup requirements, cost etc.

I just want to have adequate hot water. Again, have two teenagers and a big bath tub that we don't use that much.

Should I just replace both 50 gal propane tanks, have a repairman come out to fix the first in line that doesn't work, or do the hybrid propane tank and a tankless source?

Cost is an issue to a degree. Or the increased value to the house with a tankless?

Thanks

**lewdog** · 02-19-2015, 07:34 PM

Lewdog is also in need of a new water heater. Will be subscribing to thread for details. I only need one replacement though. Not sure the options.

Good thread OP.

**Bugeater** · 02-19-2015, 07:40 PM

Shit, if they're only 10 years old I'd try to get the 1st one working. Might be something as simple as the thermal cutoff being tripped.

**lewdog** · 02-19-2015, 07:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Baconeater

Shit, if they're only 10 years old I'd try to get the 1st one working. Might be something as simple as the thermal cutoff being tripped.

Mine produces hot water, is 13 years old and original to the house but makes the loudest popping sounds when heating up. Anytime you run hot water, it starts up again and it's just super loud. It's done this the whole past year we've owned the house but it worries me. So just thinking about replacing it before it blows. Or at least the wife has convinced me to just replace it.

Thoughts?

**TimBone** · 02-19-2015, 07:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lewdog

Mine produces hot water, is 13 years old and original to the house but makes the loudest popping sounds when heating up. Anytime you run hot water, it starts up again and it's just super loud. It's done this the whole past year we've owned the house but it worries me. So just thinking about replacing it before it blows. Or at least the wife has convinced me to just replace it.

Thoughts?

Is it electric or propane?

**lewdog** · 02-19-2015, 07:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TimBone

Is it electric or propane?

Natural Gas.

**Bugeater** · 02-19-2015, 07:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lewdog

Mine produces hot water, is 13 years old and original to the house but makes the loudest popping sounds when heating up. Anytime you run hot water, it starts up again and it's just super loud. It's done this the whole past year we've owned the house but it worries me. So just thinking about replacing it before it blows. Or at least the wife has convinced me to just replace it.

Thoughts?

It won't "blow up" as long as the pop-off valve is functional. Not unusual to hear some creaking from the temperature changing but shouldn't be anything too dramatic, might just be a cheapass builder grade water heater.

stevieray · 02-19-2015, 07:56 PM

are expensive

**LoneWolf** · 02-19-2015, 08:17 PM

If you go tankless, you shouldn't need another propane heater coupled to it. I have a tankless system and we've never ran out of hot water.

**Perineum Ripper** · 02-19-2015, 08:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lewdog

Mine produces hot water, is 13 years old and original to the house but makes the loudest popping sounds when heating up. Anytime you run hot water, it starts up again and it's just super loud. It's done this the whole past year we've owned the house but it worries me. So just thinking about replacing it before it blows. Or at least the wife has convinced me to just replace it.

Thoughts?

It is going to blow up and your house will look like Hiroshima or Nagasaki..whichever you prefer

**DaneMcCloud** · 02-19-2015, 08:37 PM

I've had three hot water heaters in 12 years.

One was a GE, which was defective from the manufacturer. They offered to pay for the part but with the labor, I just decided to get a new model. That one lasted five years, yet it was a 12 year model.

The next was a Whirlpool that lasted six years. Again, it too was defective but Home Depot pro-rated it and gave me $300 towards a new Rheem platinum, which has been in for about four months.

Good times.

Prison Bitch · 02-19-2015, 08:53 PM

Hot water heater is redundant

HonestChieffan · 02-19-2015, 08:58 PM

Tankless are everywhere in Europe. They are awesome but they use an assload of fuel. The electrics are insane inefficient

**lewdog** · 02-19-2015, 09:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Baconeater

It won't "blow up" as long as the pop-off valve is functional. Not unusual to hear some creaking from the temperature changing but shouldn't be anything too dramatic, might just be a cheapass builder grade water heater.

It is a cheap ass builder grade heater. A.O. Smith is what it says.

**BigMeatballDave** · 02-19-2015, 09:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Prison Bitch

Hot water heater is redundant

Heh. I was about to post something like this.

"If the water is already hot, why does it need to be heated?"

02-19-2015, 07:32 PM
Holladay Veteran Join Date: Sep 2000 Casino cash: $129480	Hot Water Heaters (an aside, 4 people in the house and 2 of which are teenagers) I have 2x50 gal propane hot water heaters, 10 years old, set up in line. The thought was that have one (the last in line) fairly hot, and the first just warm. When the needed, I could turn up the first to hot as well...ie when I wanted to fill the big bath tub. The first in line has stopped working. I can't /won't light. So we have been working on just one. Which is OK because we have the other (last in line) that works fine. I am looking at upgrading the tanks. I saw online to have 1 propane tank coupled with a "tankless" hot water source. I don't know the price, setup requirements, cost etc. I just want to have adequate hot water. Again, have two teenagers and a big bath tub that we don't use that much. Should I just replace both 50 gal propane tanks, have a repairman come out to fix the first in line that doesn't work, or do the hybrid propane tank and a tankless source? Cost is an issue to a degree. Or the increased value to the house with a tankless? Thanks
Posts: 4,005

02-19-2015, 07:34 PM	#2
lewdog Mod Team Join Date: Sep 2011 Location: Valley of the hot as **** Casino cash: $-1378100	Lewdog is also in need of a new water heater. Will be subscribing to thread for details. I only need one replacement though. Not sure the options. Good thread OP.
Posts: 46,304

02-19-2015, 07:40 PM	#3
Bugeater The Maintenance Guy Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Renovated Bugeater Estate Casino cash: $3992680	Shit, if they're only 10 years old I'd try to get the 1st one working. Might be something as simple as the thermal cutoff being tripped.
Posts: 70,546

02-19-2015, 07:56 PM	#8
stevieray Most things I worry about… Join Date: Aug 2000 Location: Under Pressure Casino cash: $-1114727	are expensive
Posts: 73,984

02-19-2015, 08:17 PM	#9
LoneWolf Constable of Untruths Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: Wichita Casino cash: $-788916	If you go tankless, you shouldn't need another propane heater coupled to it. I have a tankless system and we've never ran out of hot water.
Posts: 15,347

02-19-2015, 08:37 PM	#11
DaneMcCloud Supporter Join Date: Sep 2000 Location: Hollywood, CA Casino cash: $10053648	I've had three hot water heaters in 12 years. One was a GE, which was defective from the manufacturer. They offered to pay for the part but with the labor, I just decided to get a new model. That one lasted five years, yet it was a 12 year model. The next was a Whirlpool that lasted six years. Again, it too was defective but Home Depot pro-rated it and gave me $300 towards a new Rheem platinum, which has been in for about four months. Good times.
Posts: 88,960

02-19-2015, 08:53 PM	#12
Prison Bitch Rabbi Goldmann Join Date: Nov 2012 Casino cash: $5450159	Hot water heater is redundant
Posts: 87,025

02-19-2015, 08:58 PM	#13
HonestChieffan Seeking the Truth daily Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: In the Country in MO Casino cash: $-1385691	Tankless are everywhere in Europe. They are awesome but they use an assload of fuel. The electrics are insane inefficient __________________ "We read books for knowledge; We read the Bible for wisdom!"
Posts: 54,744