Water heaters

[chas3]

i replaced my water heater a few years ago. it didnt have a gas or water shutoff so i added both at the time to make life easier for the next guy (who might be me). working with gas is safer than electricity. never heard of anyone being killed by touching a gas line while wet. gas takes a fairly precise fuel/air ratio to become explosive/burn. you will smell big leaks and you should check for small leaks with a little soapy water.

i added a drop tray at the time too just in case it leaks. its pretty cheap to do and you can add a little pipe to direct it to your basement drain. seems like a good idea.

heat/dielectric traps/nipples on the water heater are a good idea too even if not required by code. i would like a plumber would carry something small like this on the truck. it will save you money in the long run.

i also used 'flexible' hookup lines. much quicker than cutting and soldering a couple little pieces. not sure if the flexible hookup lines are code though. apparently they are required in earthquake prone areas, but the east coast does not have that problem.

 

[benjamming]

Originally Posted By: kargo27
Have any of you wrapped your water heater with an insulated blanket?


Is this necessary if the hwh is cold to the touch?

I have insulated my water lines though.

 

[XS650]

Originally Posted By: benjamming
Originally Posted By: kargo27
Have any of you wrapped your water heater with an insulated blanket?


Is this necessary if the hwh is cold to the touch?

I have insulated my water lines though.


You can't tell by feel unless it's really bad.

Just for you, I just measured my heater temps for the 1st time.

My water heater feels as cold as anything in the garage but a non-contact IR thermometer shows the outside skin is actually 4 deg F warmer than other things near it. Heater skin = 59F and surrounding wall and bench = 55F right now in what passes for winter in my garage.

That's on a decent quality foam insulated gas heater and that's a bigger temp delta than I expected.

 

[benjamming]

Thank you. Our water heater has 2" non-cfm foam insulation from Bradford White. What insulation does the measured hwh have?

http://www.bradfordwhite.com/images/shared/pdfs/specsheets/109B.pdf

 

[XS650]

Originally Posted By: benjamming
Thank you. Our water heater has 2" non-cfm foam insulation from Bradford White. What insulation does the measured hwh have?

http://www.bradfordwhite.com/images/shared/pdfs/specsheets/109B.pdf


Ours is also a BW. It's a 2002 vintage and appears to be the same as
http://www.bradfordwhite.com/images/shared/pdfs/specsheets/104.pdf
The model number starts off M4403. Looks like a step down from yours in overall efficiency but still 2 inches of foam.

During the non-heating season we use about 15 therms of gas a month with a gas stovetop/oven, gas dryer and the water heater, so it's pretty decent.

About 10 years ago I super insulated a cheap gas water heater (maybe one inch of fiberglass from the factory) by adding 6 inches of fiberglass to the outside. R19. I left it on pilot when we went on vacation once and the water was hotter when we got home a week later than it normally was when it was on and being used.

 

[benjamming]

Interesting and good info. Do you have your current hwh wrapped?

 

[XS650]

Originally Posted By: benjamming
Interesting and good info. Do you have your current hwh wrapped?


No, now that I've seen the 4 deg F delta, I am sort of thinking about it. It would be hard to make a meaningful improvement of 2 inches of foam, so I doubt that I will.

I spend about $15/month for gas on hot water, cooktop/oven and clothes dryer including any heater losses. I don't think there is much to be gained with a blanket.

 

[Gary Allan]

Just go on vacation every other week and you'll save lots of hot water heating costs. How many in line wrapped tanks would it take with low loss interconnects to simulate a week's vacation ondering 2 story 3" HEX where that pilot is screaming to get btu's back:

 

[XS650]

Originally Posted By: Gary Allan
How many in line wrapped tanks would it take with low loss interconnects to simulate a week's vacation ondering 2 story 3" HEX where that pilot is screaming to get btu's back:

Talk English boy, you're in America.

 

[Gary Allan]

 

[1sttruck]

When we moved in we purchased a free replacement maintenance plan from the utility company, and a couple of months later needed a new water heater. They put in a Bradford White, wrapped it in blanket, 12 years go by and we needed another one. This one didn't need a blanket, they put it on stand, and tied it to the studs.