Hot Water Heaters

[Holladay]

(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

[Boise_Chief]

Lots of interesting advice. First 8 to ten years old is the standard life yes. All water heaters can last longer of you maintain them. Flushing is not the same as draining. If you have a gas heater that isnt producing as it once was flush it and replace the dip tubes. Dip tubes take the cold water in to the bottom to the tank. When they plug up or get a break in them cold water mixes with your hot water as it flows out of your tank giving you luke warm water. When it isnt functioning correctly you are wasting alot of money heating water that you never see. Too much to type it all out on my phone.

[Ming the Merciless]

If the pilot light won't stay lit, it might be as simple as changing the thermocouple..

20$ , universal


Will the pilot stay lit or is the burner not igniting

Or am I q

I didn't read shit

[Boise_Chief]

Go tankless only if you intend to keep your house long term, otherwise you won't recoup your investment.

Electric heaters that keep blowing the bottom element are full of sediment.
If you see rust around the bottom of your heater replace it.

To the op fix your broken heater worst case it the gas valve best case it is the thermocouple. Easy fix if you want to try to check the thermocouple.

[Ming the Merciless]

There's a little bullshit probe wire called thermocupule..

Change that bitch

20$ at home depot and a couple scresz

[A Salt Weapon]

I'm a little late, but since this is what I do for a living I should chime in. Go tankless and never look back. Here's the kicker, don't go cheap. Rinnai is the only brand to consider. One r-75 will replace both 50 gal tanks, use less fuel and pay for itself. And there's a tax credit as well. They make both a propane and nat gas unit, you could go bigger with the r94 but you won't need it. If you really want to save some fuel get the ru80i, (condensing 96+% efficient) however you'll have to address the condensate. Costs more and if your local code requires it to be neutralized you have a little more cost.

Shouldn't run you over $3k out the door and could be even less since you already have gas lines. If you can mount it closer to your main water fixture it will run less.
I've put in over 100 over the last 6 years and never had a complaint. Our company has put in over 500 over the last 20 years and never removed one. I work on about 5-10 a year and most are over 10 years and don't require much work to fix.

Rinnai offers a 12 yr warranty and stand behind their product 100%.

Their boilers are an amazing machine and I'm installing about 1-2 every 2 months now.

[A Salt Weapon]

Just to address the won't pay for itself crowd, mine paid for itself in 3 months, I've yet to have a customer take more than 3 yrs to recoup the install cost. Most customers save enough to pay for the job, including gas line, in about a year not counting the tax credits. With a gas tank water heater it will take a bit longer but not by much, and the lack of maintenance and the convenience of endless hot water/worry free operation easily offset the cost of going tankless.

[DaneMcCloud]

Originally Posted by A Salt Weapon

Just to address the won't pay for itself crowd, mine paid for itself in 3 months, I've yet to have a customer take more than 3 yrs to recoup the install cost.

My gas bill, which includes my hot water heater and stove top, has never averaged more than $28 dollars a month.

I do a ton of budget tank replacements in the kc metro. Not too many people want to pop for a tankless around here. Spend $700 or $3k? 99pct choose the cheaper option even understanding that they will recoup the up front cost.

[A Salt Weapon]

Originally Posted by DaneMcCloud

My gas bill, which includes my hot water heater and stove top, has never averaged more than $28 dollars a month.

Cool, you get billed monthly for propane.
:-)

Nat gas is a different story, but still a tankless will save money over the long run.

[DaneMcCloud]

Originally Posted by A Salt Weapon

Cool, you get billed monthly for propane.
:-)

Nat gas is a different story, but still a tankless will save money over the long run.

SoCal Gas Company is propane?

We thought about a tankless but considering it would take about 10 years to payoff, we just stuck with a regular 50 gallon Rheem.

[A Salt Weapon]

I was pointing out that in a thread about propane, you chose to use nat gas as an exception. Nat gas has some advantages (ex. Dirt cheap), however in the event of a natural disaster where the city shuts off the gas supply, propane has a huge advantage.

[DaneMcCloud]

Originally Posted by A Salt Weapon

I was pointing out that in a thread about propane, you chose to use nat gas as an exception. Nat gas has some advantages (ex. Dirt cheap), however in the event of a natural disaster where the city shuts off the gas supply, propane has a huge advantage.

I'm not even sure what you're talking about.

I live in Los Angeles. The mean temperature is about 70 degrees. My gas bill, with stove top and hot water, averages about $26 or so month.

I have an Earthquake shutoff valve on the gas line, which is required in SoCal. My gardeners set it off two weeks ago, so I don't think there is much of a chance of disaster, as restrictions were put in place after the January 1994 Northridge earthquake.

[A Salt Weapon]

lol, I was referring to that in the event of a major disaster the gas lines get shut off at the source, if you have propane you have your own tank and storage. Thus emergency time with nat gas no hot water/cooking (or heat, power through a genset, etc) with propane come disaster time you still have hot water/cooking etc.

[007]

Its sad that appliances just aren't made to last anymore. Just had to replace a new refrigerator that we got 17 years out of and the new fridge is not even a month old and I have placed a second service call on it already.

[FlaChief58]

Originally Posted by A Salt Weapon

I'm a little late, but since this is what I do for a living I should chime in. Go tankless and never look back. Here's the kicker, don't go cheap. Rinnai is the only brand to consider. One r-75 will replace both 50 gal tanks, use less fuel and pay for itself. And there's a tax credit as well. They make both a propane and nat gas unit, you could go bigger with the r94 but you won't need it. If you really want to save some fuel get the ru80i, (condensing 96+% efficient) however you'll have to address the condensate. Costs more and if your local code requires it to be neutralized you have a little more cost.

Shouldn't run you over $3k out the door and could be even less since you already have gas lines. If you can mount it closer to your main water fixture it will run less.
I've put in over 100 over the last 6 years and never had a complaint. Our company has put in over 500 over the last 20 years and never removed one. I work on about 5-10 a year and most are over 10 years and don't require much work to fix.

Rinnai offers a 12 yr warranty and stand behind their product 100%.

Their boilers are an amazing machine and I'm installing about 1-2 every 2 months now.

Rinnai is definitely a good unit and has been a leader in the field for some time, but Navien is giving them a run for their money. They are 99% efficient, have all stainless inner workings, and a built in recirculating pump. Rinnai is a ford, Navien is a Cadillac