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Anyone know something about Water Heaters?

N

novon

Diamond Member
Mine seems to be leaking and I want to get a new one anyways, I was wondering what I should look for, what the different types are, and I heard something about checking the amps, advise anyone?

thanks
 
bradford whites are excellent, and make sure you buy the water heater from a local plumbing store, not like a home depot etc. gas heaters are the most efficient, and the bigger you can afford/fit, the better
 
You need to know the capacity you need. Check the energy usage ratings and factor the energy savings over five years into the asking price. Also, some localities offer a rebate for buying a more energy efficient unit.
 
66gal electric is what I have now, they said to check the amps so I can get the correct electrical hookup, anyone know how? clueless as usual about home improvement.
 
Get one with a decent warranty and be really careful when you tranfer and install it. Water heaters are lined with glass on the inside to keep them from rusting. I'd hit Lowes or Home Depot and ask which ones they suggest.... Just find a good balance between up-front cost and efficiency. An efficient water heater may SAVE you money even though it costs a little more up front.
 
Originally posted by: novon
66gal electric is what I have now, they said to check the amps so I can get the correct electrical hookup, anyone know how? clueless as usual about home improvement.
Click to expand...
Most water heaters are 120watts. You should be able to use a standard 15-30 amps breaker or fuse on it. Most heaters only have one or two elements and they don't draw as much current as you'd think.... Check your fuse/breaker box and find out what fuse or breaker you have on there....if it's a 15-30 amps, then that's what you should be able to handle. Just hope that your wiring is up to code.

 
Check the breaker/ fuse box to see what the one for the W/H is rated. This is assuming that the electrician who installed original wiring did it right. Then check the size (AWG, or guage) of the wires entering your old unit. This should tell you the maximum amperage available for the appliance, or at least allow you to ask intelligently. Good luck!
 
Usually the rating is on a paper sticker on the outside of the heater. It will be in watts, not amps. If you do not see it there, go check the water heater breaker. It will be 30 or 40 amp, most likely. Tell the water heater salespeople the amperage of the breaker, and they'll hook you up.
 
If your water heater is leaking, GET A NEW ONE TODAY!!! When they leak it is a matter of time (and not much time at all) until the go completely and you have 50 gallons of water dumped and a steady flow of water going into your closet/basement etc...
 
Originally posted by: Scarpozzi
Originally posted by: novon
66gal electric is what I have now, they said to check the amps so I can get the correct electrical hookup, anyone know how? clueless as usual about home improvement.
Click to expand...
Most water heaters are 120watts. You should be able to use a standard 15-20 watt breaker or fuse on it. Most heaters only have one or two elements and they don't draw as much current as you'd think.... Check your fuse/breaker box and find out what fuse or breaker you have on there....if it's a 15-30 watt, then that's what you should be able to handle. Just hope that your wiring is up to code.
Click to expand...




This is INCORRECT! 120 watts??!! More like 1500+ per element (of which there are often more than one). 15-20 watt breaker???!! You mean AMPS, and No way is a 60+ gal. unit going to run on that! Man, what are you smoking (your wiring?)
 
Originally posted by: Mwilding
If your water heater is leaking, GET A NEW ONE TODAY!!! When they leak it is a matter of time (and not much time at all) until the go completely and you have 50 gallons of water dumped and a steady flow of water going into your closet/basement etc...
Click to expand...

If you don't already know where it is, find the shutoff valve for the water going into the tank. The hole can very suddenly get a lot larger as Mwilding said.

It's worth taking a look at Sears at the Kenmore water heaters. There appears to be a 66 gal. unit on sale(it may vary by region so I'll let you look for yourself).


Most electric water heaters and especially a large (66 gal) unit will be 240V. You need the wattage rating off of you old heater. It should be on a sticker on it. There's been some good advice already given. Check the ratings of the breakers in your breaker box and take that to the store with you also.

This is not something that you can wait on a few days. It will need to be taken care of if not today than tomorrow unless you can do without hot water and shut the water off to the tank and trip the breakers off.

info from the 66 gal Kenmore unit
Power:
Wattage at 240V 5500 Watts

Maximum Fuse Required 30 amps

Minimum Wire Size 10 gauge

No reason to look at tankless in your situation as far as I am concerned. Don't buy the most expensive, all you are doing is paying for a longer warranty. Middle is good, pay attention to the energy useage, a few dollars more for a more efficient tank will probably pay for itself. Energy isn't getting any cheaper.
 
Originally posted by: Carbonyl
Either buy the absolute cheapest one you can find or get an inline.
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uh yeah that really has no point.


but i would say go to the local plumbing supply store, and ask them, most of them are very knowledgeable about them, and will give you truthful information about which ones to get, plus their water heaters are usually better brands aand quality. I could get my dad to tell you everything you need to know about plumbing stuff (he sells plumbing supplies) but all they stock at their stores are bradford white

I dont think there is a 66 gal tank anymore, i know of 50 40 and 80+ are the common residential sizes gas heaters are much more efficient and cost less in the long run. There should be an energy efficiency label on most electric, that is a bright yellow and will give you most power ratings.

But i highly reccomend going to the local plumbing supply store and getting one there

!!!!!!!!also, b4 you conclude it is plain out leaking, find the drain valve, and make sure that isnt cracked open a little and if it is shut it, and that should fix your problem
 
nourdmrolNMT1 is correct about Bradford White . Excellent water heaters and they are not sold in big boxes . Most standard 6 year warranty heaters come with 4500 watt 240 volt elements , although they are available with other size elements . Make sure it is not leaking around the fittings at the top of / side of the heater and check to make sure it is not leaking at the t+p valve . They are glass lined for a reason - to ensure they will sell more heaters later . State sold a synthetic lined tank for a while but took it off the market , no incentive for the mfg. to make heaters that last too long . A very general rule of thumb for a basic power vent/direct vent/conventional vent LP or natural gas heater is that it will recover twice as fast as an equivalent electric model (usually based on a 90 degreee temp. rise from input temp.)
 
Originally posted by: Heisenberg


The last house I lived in had one - the whole house was electric. No gas at all.
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ah, good point.. I guess I never thought of that.
I'm used to everywhere having natural gas, or in rural places propane or oil. Guess its too chilly here to live in the winter with 'lectric only.

 
Have you considered a tankless water heater? The initial cost will be much more than a standard heater, but the monthly cost savings will add up.

edit> They showed one recently on 'ask this old house'. The guy who owned it said he could run a shower and dishwasher at the same time, and still get endless hot water. When no hot water is needed, it wastes no energy.
 
A few years ago I was told AO Smith water heaters are very very good. Companies change but I assume they still make good water heaters. Don't know if you can get it at those megastores like home depot. May only be able to get them at a plumbing store.
If you aren't familiar with installing a water heater. GET A PLUMBER! If you screw something up you may end up spending a lot of money to fix it.
 
If I were you I'd consider a tankless water heater as well. Not saying you should buy it, but at least look into it.
 
Originally posted by: morkinva
Have you considered a tankless water heater? The initial cost will be much more than a standard heater, but the monthly cost savings will add up.

edit> They showed one recently on 'ask this old house'. The guy who owned it said he could run a shower and dishwasher at the same time, and still get endless hot water. When no hot water is needed, it wastes no energy.
Click to expand...


I just replaced my water heater and looked into one. The cheapest one I could find was still well over a grand installed. The 50 gallon natural gas WH (9 yr warranty) I got from Lowes will cost me about $340 installed when I get back my rebates (~ $130 in mir). Its estimated to cost $130 a year to operate, so it would take a long time ( 7+ years) to recoup the price difference even if the tankless water heater only cost $40 a year to operate! My HE furnace should pay for the difference in price in about 5 years and I expect it to out last the water heater..

I think if your building a new house the tankless might make sense (especially if you have a big tub/ jacuzzi), but I couldn't justify the extra expense.

Memnoch
 
If you can, you should have a plumber tap into the gas line and install a gas water heater instead. It was cost more upfront, but it will save you money in the run long.

rich
 
If there is any possibility of switching to a gas heater, you should consider that strongly. Will probably save you big bucks.

Tankless? Ask around at plumbing supply stores & contractors and see what they reccomend. Here in Colorado, it isn't reccomened generally because the incoming water temperature can be very low such that a tankless unit can't keep up with multiple demands unless you spend big bucks on it.
 
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