Cabin Hot Water Heater

[Dave]

So, got the water well and septic in last Nov. Gonna finish a little plumbing but come to the point of buying a water heater. Just a bath and kitchen;nothing fancy. Water heater will go under the staircase as far a possible to save room. I'm thinking just an inexpensive electric 40 gallon should do. Always received great advice here. So, any tips from you experts or just pick one at the Big M store?

[shamrock7]

Look at the Marathon brand. More expensive but will last longer, better warranty and more efficient AND comes with all the safety valves that the others may not have.

[Dave]

Oooooooo...haven't found prices but they look like they'd be more than the $220 Big M type

[nobody05]

I'd go with your conventional 50 gal electric for you cabin. Especially If it's seasonal. They are all the same. Just a different name and paint on the front of them. It just don't justify the $600 difference for the marathon. If your worried about efficiency, wrap a water heater blanket around it. After all all electric water heaters are 100% efficient.

[Walleye Guy]

Check with your local electric coop. I built a lake home in western WI in 2002. The coop sold me a 100 gallon Marathon electric water heater for $200. Granted that was 10 years ago. Marathon water heaters have a lifetime warranty and are way better insulated than the big box store type. I wish I had a Marathon in my primary residence.

[Dave]

Nobody, that's my thought pattern since it is a seasonal place. Won't really get used much to justify that cost difference.

Good suggestion Walleye Guy, I will do that before I purchase.

[BoxMN]

FWIW - we put in an off peak electric that we got from the coop. But we use it year round (weekends), and also have eletric boiler on the off-peak meter. I can tell from usage breakdown that it costs us $8 in electricity per month in the summer for the eletric heater (only thing on the off-peak side of the bill in summer), getting used every weekend, and some weekdays. Got a 120 gallon (because I didn't wanted blended manifolds, etc.) for about $325 from the coop.

Good luck.