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Using old electric water heater as tempering tank?

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Using old electric water heater as tempering tank? Steve 03-12-2008
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Posted by Steve on March 12, 2008, 3:06 pm
I will probably be purchasing a new "energy star" electric hot water
heater for my house in the not too distant future. I was wondering
what the issues would be (good or bad) to gut out the old one, remove
the insulation and pipe it just ahead of the new one to act as a
tempering tank?? I also have a wood stove in the basement for heating
the house and I would place the old heater tank close to the wood
stove to add heat to the tank. I'm thinking I could preheat the water
in the old tank up to about 100 degrees F overnight especially. Do
others here think this could be a worthwhile project to do? Thanks
for any input on this!
Steve

Posted by ransley on March 12, 2008, 3:55 pm
> I will probably be purchasing a new "energy star" electric hot water
> heater for my house in the not too distant future. I was wondering
> what the issues would be (good or bad) to gut out the old one, remove
> the insulation and pipe it just ahead of the new one to act as a
> tempering tank?? =A0I also have a wood stove in the basement for heating
> the house and I would place the old heater tank close to the wood
> stove to add heat to the tank. =A0I'm thinking I could preheat the water
> in the old tank up to about 100 degrees F overnight especially. =A0Do
> others here think this could be a worthwhile project to do? =A0Thanks
> for any input on this!
> Steve

I did that with an electric but was to lazy to strip the insulation,
it still helps a bit, but I think it will sweat in summer and you will
need a pan and drain hose under the tank. If you have ng or propane
consider a gas tankless, i cut my bills maybe 60% by going gas
tankless vs electric. One other consideration is the tank is old and
will someday leak, I put in valves to I can bypass the tank without
removing it.

Posted by Art on March 13, 2008, 11:23 am
We went tankless but the cold water is now really, really cold. It was
being tempered in the basement by the warmth of the water heater as it sat
in the pipes. Unfinished part of basement is now much colder too. An
advantage during the summer but disadvantage during the winter.


> I will probably be purchasing a new "energy star" electric hot water
> heater for my house in the not too distant future. I was wondering
> what the issues would be (good or bad) to gut out the old one, remove
> the insulation and pipe it just ahead of the new one to act as a
> tempering tank?? I also have a wood stove in the basement for heating
> the house and I would place the old heater tank close to the wood
> stove to add heat to the tank. I'm thinking I could preheat the water
> in the old tank up to about 100 degrees F overnight especially. Do
> others here think this could be a worthwhile project to do? Thanks
> for any input on this!
> Steve

I did that with an electric but was to lazy to strip the insulation,
it still helps a bit, but I think it will sweat in summer and you will
need a pan and drain hose under the tank. If you have ng or propane
consider a gas tankless, i cut my bills maybe 60% by going gas
tankless vs electric. One other consideration is the tank is old and
will someday leak, I put in valves to I can bypass the tank without
removing it.



Posted by hallerb@aol.com on March 13, 2008, 11:49 am
If you have ng or propane
> consider a gas tankless, i cut my bills maybe 60% by going gas
> tankless vs electric

most of this savings is by going gas.

tankless heaters have downsides like delay from flow starting till hot
water arrives.

tankless must detect flow turn on burner before water starts
heating.....

tankless have ;lots of downsides

Posted by hallerb@aol.com on March 12, 2008, 3:55 pm
> I will probably be purchasing a new "energy star" electric hot water
> heater for my house in the not too distant future. I was wondering
> what the issues would be (good or bad) to gut out the old one, remove
> the insulation and pipe it just ahead of the new one to act as a
> tempering tank?? =EF=BF=BDI also have a wood stove in the basement for hea=
ting
> the house and I would place the old heater tank close to the wood
> stove to add heat to the tank. =EF=BF=BDI'm thinking I could preheat the w=
ater
> in the old tank up to about 100 degrees F overnight especially. =EF=BF=BDD=
o
> others here think this could be a worthwhile project to do? =EF=BF=BDThank=
s
> for any input on this!
> Steve

old tank might leak.........

might be better to some how plumb and circulate water around your wood
stove, and send to a insulated storage tank like a solar storage tank.

someone must sell this

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