Gale Hawkins
Super Member
- Joined
- Sep 20, 2009
- Messages
- 8,072
- Location
- Murray, KY
- Tractor
- 1948 Allis Chambers Model B 1976 265 MF / 1983 JD 310B Backhoe / 1966 Ford 3000 Diesel / 1980 3600 Diesel
About 4 PM yesterday morning I was informed our hot water heater had a flow of water running to the basement drain.
It was perhaps 12 years old (a record of us) but we had replaced a lot of elements and the anode tube one. A year or two ago I saw Lowes still stocked the same 80 gallon hot water heater and started to go ahead and get one but did not.
Yesterday I learned they stop carrying hot water heaters considered to be commercial size. They also asked me to fill out plumbing permit number and the name of the plumber and my contact info. I filled out my contact info so the handwriting may be on the wall down the road for we DIY types at least in KY. Not sure they will ever stop homeowners but I know some plumbers that would be fine if home owners stopped being DYI plumbers.
Shop Whirlpool 5 -Gallon 24 -Volt 9-Year Regular Electric Water Heater at Lowes.com
For the first time ever I did ask for and get the 10% veterans discount. It is the 9 year live version.
I read and learned it is possible to get the results of an 80 gallon tank out of a 50 gallon tank (size we now have) by turbo charging it. I have order a HEATGUARD Thermostatic Mixing Valves TMV HG110D LF w/ 3/4" Sharkbite Ends off eBay for $55 which was half of the Home Depot price so we will see how that works out.
It is factor set to limit the tank output to 120F and I do not plan to adjust it. By going max and mixing it with the cold water the effective output is jumped up.
Another thing that I learned tanks can grow stuff like Legionnaires Disease but not at 140F which is where I plan to run ours vs at 150F max or the 120F setting we used on the old 80 gallon tank. The thermostatic mixing valve protects against burns. The kids are 18 now but I still want to limit the temps to 120 at the tap.
We failed to get all of the water out of the 80 gallon and it was a bear bring it out up the steps in the house and out the kitchen door and the son did most of hard work. He did a great job of cutting the plumbing on the old one and removing the wiring and re plumbing/wiring the new one. I did not like the computer interface at first but then learned last night it is just an optional interface and the old still electronic thermostat is still inside like on the older models so if it fails one can just unplug it and keep trucking.
I am glad the job started and finished last evening. I knew it was overdue. If this one makes it 10 years I may just replace it before it fails in the middle of the night.![Smile :) :)](data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7)
It was perhaps 12 years old (a record of us) but we had replaced a lot of elements and the anode tube one. A year or two ago I saw Lowes still stocked the same 80 gallon hot water heater and started to go ahead and get one but did not.
Yesterday I learned they stop carrying hot water heaters considered to be commercial size. They also asked me to fill out plumbing permit number and the name of the plumber and my contact info. I filled out my contact info so the handwriting may be on the wall down the road for we DIY types at least in KY. Not sure they will ever stop homeowners but I know some plumbers that would be fine if home owners stopped being DYI plumbers.
Shop Whirlpool 5 -Gallon 24 -Volt 9-Year Regular Electric Water Heater at Lowes.com
For the first time ever I did ask for and get the 10% veterans discount. It is the 9 year live version.
I read and learned it is possible to get the results of an 80 gallon tank out of a 50 gallon tank (size we now have) by turbo charging it. I have order a HEATGUARD Thermostatic Mixing Valves TMV HG110D LF w/ 3/4" Sharkbite Ends off eBay for $55 which was half of the Home Depot price so we will see how that works out.
It is factor set to limit the tank output to 120F and I do not plan to adjust it. By going max and mixing it with the cold water the effective output is jumped up.
Another thing that I learned tanks can grow stuff like Legionnaires Disease but not at 140F which is where I plan to run ours vs at 150F max or the 120F setting we used on the old 80 gallon tank. The thermostatic mixing valve protects against burns. The kids are 18 now but I still want to limit the temps to 120 at the tap.
We failed to get all of the water out of the 80 gallon and it was a bear bring it out up the steps in the house and out the kitchen door and the son did most of hard work. He did a great job of cutting the plumbing on the old one and removing the wiring and re plumbing/wiring the new one. I did not like the computer interface at first but then learned last night it is just an optional interface and the old still electronic thermostat is still inside like on the older models so if it fails one can just unplug it and keep trucking.
I am glad the job started and finished last evening. I knew it was overdue. If this one makes it 10 years I may just replace it before it fails in the middle of the night.