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.

**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.

**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

FlaChief58 · 02-19-2015, 09:54 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?

The average life expectancy for a heater is 8-10 years. The noise you're hearing is from sediment build up on the elements. If you do it yourself, you can replace both the thermostats and the elements for around 40 dollars, but because of it's age, you may just want to replace it

**lewdog** · 02-19-2015, 10:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Flachief58

The average life expectancy for a heater is 8-10 years. The noise you're hearing is from sediment build up on the elements. If you do it yourself, you can replace both the thermostats and the elements for around 40 dollars, but because of it's age, you may just want to replace it

Yea we figured it was just time for replacing the whole thing. What do you recommend? I hear mixed reviews on tankless heaters. Some say they aren't energy efficient and we are gone most of the day and there's only two of us in our house. I don't mind waiting 30 seconds for the shower to heat up.

FlaChief58 · 02-19-2015, 10:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lewdog

Yea we figured it was just time for replacing the whole thing. What do you recommend? I hear mixed reviews on tankless heaters. Some say they aren't energy efficient and we are gone most of the day and there's only two of us in our house. I don't mind waiting 30 seconds for the shower to heat up.

Even with a Tankless heater, the wait time would be the same. If you're willing to shell out the money for a quality Tankless and a water softener, which is recommended, they're great. The 2-3k startup cost deters a lot of people from getting them here. Bradford white is our preferred brand of tank style heaters

**Bugeater** · 02-19-2015, 10:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Flachief58

The average life expectancy for a heater is 8-10 years. The noise you're hearing is from sediment build up on the elements. If you do it yourself, you can replace both the thermostats and the elements for around 40 dollars, but because of it's age, you may just want to replace it

Huh? I work at a 20 year old apartment complex and we still have a shitton of the original water heaters. Hell the one in my own house is 25 years old, I've been here 16 and the only issue I've ever had with it is I had to re-light the pilot light one time. That must be what you tell your customers in order to get them to buy a water heater that they don't really need.

FlaChief58 · 02-19-2015, 10:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Baconeater

Huh? I work at a 20 year old apartment complex and we still have a shitton of the original water heaters. Hell the one in my own house is 25 years old, I've been here 16 and the only issue I've ever had with it is I had to re-light the pilot light one time. That must be what you tell your customers in order to get them to buy a water heater that they don't really need.

Well, we have extremely hard water here which plays hell on heaters. If you've ever tried to change an element in a heater that's full of sedement, you'd understand. And yes, most heaters carry a 6 year tank warranty and a life expectancy of 8-10 years. That's not me saying that, it's a well known fact in the industry

stevieray · 02-19-2015, 07:56 PM

are expensive

02-19-2015, 07:32 PM	Topic Starter
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: 4,006

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: 46,305

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	#15
stevieray Most things I worry about… Join Date: Aug 2000 Location: Under Pressure Casino cash: $-1114727	are expensive
Posts: 73,992