On Demand HW or Electric HW

michaelanthony · Post by **michaelanthony** » Sat. Feb. 10, 2018 8:19 am

Good morning all, I'm wondering which is the better option. I have a quality oil fired hw heater that was installed 12 yrs ago. Before the questions come, my electric usage is approx. 480 - 540 KW / month...No natural gas here but there is propain, and I know it's a bad word but those are my choices. Is the expense worth the hassle or should I wait until my present system fails? I use approx. 100 gallons of oil / yr for hot water...mother in law must run hot water until it burns your skin to rinse a spoon

The home will always have oil as a back up for heating but I'm curios what folks are spending for their systems.
Thanks all
Mike

scalabro · Post by **scalabro** » Sat. Feb. 10, 2018 8:36 am

Keep your Bock DHWH. 100 gallons a year is nuthin!

A “talk” with the MIL may be in order

windyhill4.2 · Post by **windyhill4.2** » Sat. Feb. 10, 2018 8:51 am

You already have the fuel oil tank,why switch fuels & have 2 tanks ?

Besides... propain can go BOOM

michaelanthony · Post by **michaelanthony** » Sat. Feb. 10, 2018 9:07 am

scalabro wrote: ↑
Sat. Feb. 10, 2018 8:36 am
Keep your Bock DHWH. 100 gallons a year is nuthin!

A “talk” with the MIL may be in order

Correct Scott, the Bock is a good heater, before I found coal my thought was to circulate hot water through fin tube from the Bock.
M I L never had to pay for nothin' she relied on the state or others to raise her kids. At 82 yrs old the "old dog new tricks" applies.

windyhill4.2 wrote: ↑
Sat. Feb. 10, 2018 8:51 am
You already have the fuel oil tank,why switch fuels & have 2 tanks ?

Besides... propain can go BOOM

Oh believe me Dave I've had that nightmare!

Post by **Rob R.** » Sat. Feb. 10, 2018 9:20 am

If you intend to keep the oil tank, I would definitely keep the oil fired water heater. The performance is excellent, the operating cost will be less than LP, and it will allow you to get fresh fuel every year or two.

michaelanthony · Post by **michaelanthony** » Sat. Feb. 10, 2018 10:03 am

Rob R. wrote: ↑
Sat. Feb. 10, 2018 9:20 am
If you intend to keep the oil tank, I would definitely keep the oil fired water heater. The performance is excellent, the operating cost will be less than LP, and it will allow you to get fresh fuel every year or two.

Yup, oil tank stays...any thoughts on a thermosyfon loop from the end of the hot water line back to the HWH? I realize oil consumption goes up some but water usage goes down.

windyhill4.2 · Post by **windyhill4.2** » Sat. Feb. 10, 2018 10:22 am

michaelanthony wrote: ↑
Sat. Feb. 10, 2018 10:03 am
Yup, oil tank stays...any thoughts on a thermosyfon loop from the end of the hot water line back to the HWH? I realize oil consumption goes up some but water usage goes down.

Wouldn't it be better to use a temperature sensing cold water return line valve ?

Or am i confused about your intended purpose of the thermosiphon ?

Keepaeyeonit · Post by **Keepaeyeonit** » Sat. Feb. 10, 2018 10:59 am

I think he wants hot water at a moments notice without a tankless heater Windy, I never used one before( circulating valves ) but I hear they work good.

Post by **Rob R.** » Sat. Feb. 10, 2018 11:01 am

michaelanthony wrote: ↑
Sat. Feb. 10, 2018 10:03 am
Yup, oil tank stays...any thoughts on a thermosyfon loop from the end of the hot water line back to the HWH? I realize oil consumption goes up some but water usage goes down.

Do you currently have a long wait time for hot water at the tap ? If so, a thermosyphon setup may be a good idea. Insulating all but the last few feet of that return line is important.

My mom and dad had a LONG wait time for hot water at their kitchen sink. I installed a 2 gallon electric water heater right under the sink.

windyhill4.2 · Post by **windyhill4.2** » Sat. Feb. 10, 2018 11:10 am

Keepaeyeonit wrote: ↑
Sat. Feb. 10, 2018 10:59 am
I think he wants hot water at a moments notice without a tankless heater Windy, I never used one before( circulating valves ) but I hear they work good.

Apparently i have no clue how the thermo-syphon works...

I was referring to a valve that when a hot water faucet is turned on,the water flows back into the cold water line until the hot water gets to that valve.

Problem is ... i can't think of what they are called so i can post a pic or link to clear the confusion.

Post by **Rob R.** » Sat. Feb. 10, 2018 11:13 am

David, the idea is to have your hot water piping in a loop going to and from the tank, and allowing gravity circulation so there is instant hot water at the taps.

In our part of the world, water is usually cheaper than keeping the loop hot, but it all depends where you are.

windyhill4.2 · Post by **windyhill4.2** » Sat. Feb. 10, 2018 11:23 am

Rob R. wrote: ↑
Sat. Feb. 10, 2018 11:13 am
David, the idea is to have your hot water piping in a loop going to and from the tank, and allowing gravity circulation so there is instant hot water at the taps.

In our part of the world, water is usually cheaper than keeping the loop hot, but it all depends where you are.

The device i am referring to may not have "instant" hot water... but.. you won't get cold water from the hot water faucet either.This device eliminates the "wasting" of water that takes place every time the hot water faucet is turned on.With this setup there is no need to run duplicate water pipes & have hot water constantly circulating in them. This device simply dumps the cold water into the cold water line until the incoming water is hot,then it allows the hot water to flow out of the faucet.

michaelanthony · Post by **michaelanthony** » Sat. Feb. 10, 2018 12:02 pm

Rob R. wrote: ↑
Sat. Feb. 10, 2018 11:01 am
Do you currently have a long wait time for hot water at the tap ? If so, a thermosiphon setup may be a good idea. Insulating all but the last few feet of that return line is important.

My mom and dad had a LONG wait time for hot water at their kitchen sink. I installed a 2 gallon electric water heater right under the sink.

Wait time is around 30 seconds...seems like forever when you watch the cold water go down the drain. 3X showers a day plus M I L thinks bread is still a nickel a loaf. I'm sure I sound foolish complaining but it seems like the more I do to save the more it cost, going against the tide has always been my way.

I like your 2 gallon electric under the sink though

michaelanthony · Post by **michaelanthony** » Sat. Feb. 10, 2018 12:10 pm

windyhill4.2 wrote: ↑
Sat. Feb. 10, 2018 11:23 am
The device i am referring to may not have "instant" hot water... but.. you won't get cold water from the hot water faucet either.This device eliminates the "wasting" of water that takes place every time the hot water faucet is turned on.With this setup there is no need to run duplicate water pipes & have hot water constantly circulating in them. This device simply dumps the cold water into the cold water line until the incoming water is hot,then it allows the hot water to flow out of the faucet.

Thanks for your input Dave, I've been reading up on it:

http://enviro.net.au/index.php/enviro-water-saver.html

windyhill4.2 · Post by **windyhill4.2** » Sat. Feb. 10, 2018 1:02 pm

michaelanthony wrote: ↑
Sat. Feb. 10, 2018 12:10 pm
Thanks for your input Dave, I've been reading up on it:

http://enviro.net.au/index.php/enviro-water-saver.html

Now i guess i understand why i never installed any here to save water....

$$$

I guess this should help motivate me to insulate my hot water pipes more.