In reply to 03Panther :
But most of the time, when the burner kicks on the water in the tank is hot, just not hot enough. So it is in fact heating hot water.
When THAT was pointed out to me a few years ago, I was endlessly amused.
In reply to 03Panther :
But most of the time, when the burner kicks on the water in the tank is hot, just not hot enough. So it is in fact heating hot water.
When THAT was pointed out to me a few years ago, I was endlessly amused.
In reply to Pete. (l33t FS) :
yep. I can think of a few other literary circles to run through, as well. 
Had not thought of that one!
Once tankless units can be installed by DIYers and get maintenance parts as well as retain warranties, I might move to one.
I was really interested in HTP's "Versa Hydro" which was basically at boiler attached to the size of a water heater with two tanks inside (one small tank for floor heat and one big one for domestic).
slefain said:Since you have gas go with a tankless unit. The minor inconvience of waiting for the water to warm up is about the same as waiting for the hot water to travel from a tank (at least it is close enough to not bother me). I put in shelving where the old tank heater was since the tankless unit takes up so little room. If you really need scalding hot water at the tap instantly, do what we did and get a hot water dispenser.
Mine has a circulation pump that is programmable, some are self learning. I now get instant warm water in the bathroom that is 70' from the heater, it used to take a long time.
I installed the tankless WH in my hours before selling... was there a reason I was not supposed to?
In reply to 03Panther :
I'm surprised it passed inspection. If you install anything other than what was originally in the house you typically need permits, which means a professional plumber (and sometimes an electrician).
In reply to calteg :
Inspection?
I just changed a water heater. We don't need no stinkin' inspection. 
Where I was at the time, I had heard that if you left the old heater out at the street on trash day, they would pick it up, but then the city would come around asking about your permit. But I never knew anyone to actually go get a permit to change one out! Just take the heater to the scrap yard
How hard would it be to turn an old hot water heater into a still?
slefain said:Since you have gas go with a tankless unit. The minor inconvience of waiting for the water to warm up is about the same as waiting for the hot water to travel from a tank (at least it is close enough to not bother me). I put in shelving where the old tank heater was since the tankless unit takes up so little room. If you really need scalding hot water at the tap instantly, do what we did and get a hot water dispenser.
Mine has a circulation pump that is programmable, some are self learning. I now get instant warm water in the bathroom that is 70' from the heater, it used to take a long time.
I installed a new on in 2015 and intend on replacing it in 2025. While it may go another 5 beyond that I don't want to take the chance of flooding my basement. The one I replaced in 2015 looked to have been installed in the late 90s. When it let go we were lucky to have been home and my wife noticed it before it made a huge mess. If we had been away it would have been a disaster. I really wish I had a place above grade on a slab to install it.
Replacement was basically plug and play. Everything lined up perfectly from the old to the new. My unit was gas. The hardest part was getting the old one out of the basement and loading it in to my truck to take to the scrap metal place.
From my internet searching at the time it seemed like the expected service life of these things is ten years on average.
In reply to stroker :
Way easier to do other things but possible yes. Off the top of my head I'd be worried about plastics in the drain and or safety pop off. Also filling might be difficult with the small pipe sizes.
You'll need to log in to post.
