New water heater needed...which one?

[sparkyaber]

Any brand better than another? I figured I will get a 12 year, 50-80 gallon, electric. I will also install it myself. I can't believe that they want more to install one the the price of a new one. I figured I could do it in a couple of hours.

Your thoughts?

[harvey lee]

Any reason why you would go with the electric version. I believe the gas has much faster recovery and should also be less to operate. I have not figured the conversion for a few years but, the gas was always less to run.

Just a thought.

[King Canada]

Can you get an off peak deal from your electric company?

[sparkyaber]

Quote:

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Any reason why you would go with the electric version. I believe the gas has much faster recovery and should also be less to operate. I have not figured the conversion for a few years but, the gas was always less to run.

Just a thought.

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I have an electric one already, and I am and electrician, so I like to see my trade put into good use.

But you are correct, gas is a better option. I just don't really want to mess with putting in the gas line and the vent for it right now. When I built my house, the builder was against anything gas. The only gas appliance he would install is/was a furnace, because there really is no other economical option for heat in Minnesota.

[sparkyaber]

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Can you get an off peak deal from your electric company?

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Haven't thought about it, never really delt with it, but I would have to get a large water heater, and if we would ever run out of the hot water, Momma would not be to happy!

[RobertELee]

Have you ever thought about an on demand water heater? They are supposed be be great and save alot on energy costs.

[slotlimit]

Sparkyaber,

When we built our home we got off peak from the electric company at 3.5 cents and bought a 120 gal hot water heater from them. After the rebates it ended up costing us about $200. This thing is a beast though and takes up some room. On the off peak we have our Air Con, in floor boiler, hot water heater hooked up to it. With a family of four our highest electric bill for a month in the 2 years we have been here is $140.00 the average is $110-$120.

[sparkyaber]

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Have you ever thought about an on demand water heater? They are supposed be be great and save alot on energy costs.

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I did think about it, but they are very expensive units, and if memory serves me right, they still have some sort of recoup time.

[sparkyaber]

Slotlimit: I am am little confused, you use your water heater to supliment your boiler during off peak? Have you ever had any problems running out of hot water? I may have to look into the off peak a little more. Thanks for the idea guys.

[slotlimit]

No sorry. The hot water heater and the boiler are separate. I just wanted to state what I all had hooked up the the off peak meter. We have heated floors with the tubing running through it and then to the boiler. I don't have the receipt right in front of me but i believe the hot water heater was around $800 and after the rebates it ended up to be about $200. Went directly through the Energy Coop.

[fishing tech]

Quote: With a family of four our highest electric bill for a month in the 2 years we have been here is $140.00 the average is $110-$120.

Holy dump I pay $145 a month year round gas and electric. That is with the ac running all summer mid May to end of September and heating the garage in the winter. Family of 5, 2 teen agers. Gas appliances

[slotlimit]

Quote: Family of 5, 2 teenagers, wouldn't that be a family of 3, I know when I was a teenager all I did was eat and sleep at home with a shower to go. Unless those 2 teenagers are girls. Then it's probably like a family of 10. Guess I don't understand that Holy dump remark? You pay $145 year round. I pay an average of $115 for an electric bill in which everything in my house is electric. Including the in floor heat in the garage and the floors of my home. Plus I live in the country with no windblock but I should have a nice one in ten years or so. Everything costs more in the country but i wouldn't trade it for a house in town EVER. Wish I could have town prices for gas and electric, but it's a small price to pay to take a leak off the front step if I feel like it, go for a ride on the ATV, let the dog run around, shoot some trap in the back yard, not worried about theft.

[Walleye Guy]

Sparky,

I built a lake home in NW Wisconsin 5 years ago and our electric coop sold me a Rheem Marathon 100 gallon electric water heater for $100. I run it on off-peak power which they came in and wired for free. The water heater has a life time warranty (except the heating elements (2 elements)). It has a fiberglass shell and is very well insulated. I shut it off when I leave on Sunday and the water is warm enough to take shower when I arrive the next Friday. If I miss a weekend the water is still slightly warm the following Friday.

I know they make smaller units as well as a friend of mine has a 50 gallon unit.

I highly recommend these water heaters. Check with your electric company to see if they have any deals or rebates.

WG

[sparkyaber]

yeah, I got the ball rolling on the option of off peak, I may also look into off peak cooling for the summer. Thanks everybody, I will also let you know what I decide.

[JohnMickish]

Sparky, are you Conecsus (sp?) or Exel up there? I believe that Exel dosen't offer off peak since they are not an REA but Conecsus does since they are.

[sparkyaber]

mnfishinguy- We do have connexus here, I have two options, get all of my electricity for $.07 a kwh or get my hotwater for $.035 a kwh while keeping the rest of the power for the house at $.08/kwh. I will have to do some figuring as to which one would be more economical. I checked my parents (who have offpeak) energy bill, and they used just over 200 kwh for the water heat, and about 600 for the rest of the house.

[JohnMickish]

.035 cents per KWH is pretty cheap and you probably won't get controlled (turned off) at the time of day that most water heaters run but remember that you can wake up to no hot water!

It's been a few years since I have put in an off peak panel but if I remember right they are pretty easy, kind of like a generator transfer panel.

If I could get off peak I'd probably put my water heater, range and AC on the plan but with the threat of getting turned off when I might want to use it I'd probably put in a transfer switch over to regular price power for emergency use!

[nytelyter]

just a note... its a COLD water heater. hehehehe if the water was already hot you wouldnt need a heater. lol. ... paul

[fishing tech]

The holy dump was meant if I had all electric appliances I would have to get a second job.