Water Heaters

[Grabber70Mach]

Need to replace the water heater in the house. I've rebuilt it several times since I bought the house, plus I've been here for 19yrs. and don't really know how old it is but when you try and drain it water just trickles out. Thought about changing over to gas but natural gas isn't available to me so I looked into LP gas and getting everything setup just is cost prohibitive at this time. So we're back to electiric thought about tankless, cons to this I see is that our community has a community well that supplies 35 homes, water pressure is 30psi and tends to vary as demand increases. Some of my reading on the subject makes me think this would cause issues. So now I am looking at this: http://www.homedepot.com/Plumbing-Water ... ogId=10053 (is it worth the extra cost) or this: http://www.homedepot.com/Plumbing-Water ... ogId=10053
I had thought about this: http://www.lowes.com/pd_188412-135-EE2H ... ity_sold|1
but have read alot of issues about the control board frying and general quality issues.

Thanks for the input.

 

[opentrackerSteve]

I've got a Whirlpool electric and it's ok but sure an energy monster. It's efficiency is 0.92. 50 gal.

I'd seriously consider the GE (Lowe's / Sears) or Rheem (Home Depot) hybrids - I have heard good things about them but I'd also get the extended warranty.

Good luck and let us know if you choose the hybrid. It should pay for itself in about 3 or 4 years as they use about 1/3 of the
energy of a traditional electric water heater.

If your water heater is in the basement or garage, I'd get the hybrid. If it's inside or outside, I would not.

 

[Mach1Rider]

Depending on where it is located will make cost to rework it to gas higher, But gas is more eff than elct.
But stay away from tankless electric heaters, they are not energy efficent at all.
Gas is much better in tankless form than electric.

As for the trickle in draining your old electric, it has probabily filled with sediment
from heating the water. only way to clean it is let it trickle out and remove the lower element.
From that hole you may be able to clean it out using a wire and a shop vac.
Quite the pain in the rear but only way short of replacing it.

Give me a pic on its location and I might be able to help you out with change over ideas.

 

[lethal289]

As for the trickle in draining your old electric, it has probabily filled with sediment
from heating the water. only way to clean it is let it trickle out and remove the lower element.
From that hole you may be able to clean it out using a wire and a shop vac.
Quite the pain in the rear but only way short of replacing it.

Give me a pic on its location and I might be able to help you out with change over ideas.

Or just unscrew the drain valve and let the pressure of the water blast the sediment out onto the floor. This method could cause a mess.

Trust me, if your in a cold weather climate, and already have volume issues, stay far away from tankless.