Replies

1. 
   bobtim | Jan 06, 2009 11:07pm | #1

   years ago when I was a Home Inspector it seemed that the Rheems were the longest lived. Most water heaters lasted 10 - 12 years and the Rheems were almost always 20 years +.

   I am sure the make-up of the water had something to do with it ( 95% of the homes were on municipal water. Those on well water were all over- anywhere from 5 to 35 years).

   This was in Anchorage AK. The water was "normal" and nobody treated their water.

1. 
   etherhuffer | Jan 06, 2009 11:56pm | #2

   We have soft water of good quality. I will look at the Rheems.http://www.etherhuffer.typepad.com

2. 
   McPlumb | Jan 07, 2009 05:55am | #3

   Rheem or A O Smith, many of the other tanks are made by these two and marketed to meet the price point of the box stores.

1. 
   etherhuffer | Jan 07, 2009 08:17am | #4

   We had an AO Smith years ago and it held up well. In this area we have to sort of watch anodes, as the soft water corrodes out the anode faster.http://www.etherhuffer.typepad.com

3. 
   wallyo | Jan 07, 2009 08:26am | #5

   I just installed an reliance 1212 because it had the highest energy factor of .62 for its GXRT series http://www.reliancewaterheaters.com/lit/media/spec/gas/R1212G0708.pdf

   Wallyo

1. 
   etherhuffer | Jan 07, 2009 08:34am | #6

   Thanks all. Maybe I will expand this a little. I have a sunroom I need to work on next year and add heat to. I could use this model with a radiator?

   http://www.bradfordwhite.com/images/shared/pdfs/specsheets/551.pdfhttp://www.etherhuffer.typepad.com

1. 
   wallyo | Jan 07, 2009 08:48am | #7

   If money is no object look into this bad boy http://www.hotwater.com/products/residential/rg-vertex100.htmlIt was my next choice but at 1700 we will save it for the next house.

   Edited 1/7/2009 12:50 am ET by wallyo

1. 
   etherhuffer | Jan 07, 2009 09:01am | #8

   Gads, what a monster. If I was a cannibal I could really get a cauldron of hot water to cook folks in in a hurry!http://www.etherhuffer.typepad.com

1. 
   wallyo | Jan 07, 2009 09:14am | #9

   I just knew it would impress you, it has take offs for heat if you did not catch that.Wallyo

2. 
   etherhuffer | Jan 07, 2009 07:07pm | #10

   If you use these for radiant heat, do you have to get a pump, or is it passive? http://www.etherhuffer.typepad.com

3. 
   wallyo | Jan 07, 2009 07:24pm | #11

   I do think you need a pump, but in the scheme of things a small added cost, the pump will be paid for by what you save in fuel cost the first year. If you have existing forced air, one could install a heat exchanger in the furnace, run the hot water through that, keeping the existing gas or electric furnace as a back up.This heater has been featured on life with ed with Ed Beagley Jr. if you what more info on it google his web site. Again if we were staying here I would put one in.Wallyo

4. 
   etherhuffer | Jan 07, 2009 10:18pm | #12

   Cool. We are going to finish a sun room that will be over an unheated slab. We were going to insulate the floor and get an electric heater, but that would still leave a relatively cold floor, so radiant is a way better idea. And the tank is only 2 ' from the room to be finished out.http://www.etherhuffer.typepad.com

5. 
   Tinkerer3 | Jan 08, 2009 08:36am | #14

   If you are using a water heater for both heating and domestic water you will need to install a separate zone with a pump for heating.  The radiators generally use much hotter water that would be a danger and a liability for the domestic water.  I try to run the domestic water at 120º whereas the water for heating is more like 180º.  Also, if someone decides to take a long shower, it will use up the hot water and the room will go cold before the water warms back up.  Your plumbing store can show you how to hook it up.

6. 
   etherhuffer | Jan 08, 2009 09:43am | #15

   Yeah, I was wondering how they do that with the temperature differential. If the tank has multiple outlets, what are the manunfacturers thinking?http://www.etherhuffer.typepad.com

7. 
   BillHartmann | Jan 08, 2009 06:52pm | #18

   "I try to run the domestic water at 120º whereas the water for heating is more like 180º. "It depends on the details of the heating.Radiant heating uses temperature same or less than domestic.And while old "radiators" systems might be designed for 180 and new installation can use almost any temperator.And water heaters can't reliably produce 180 degree temps..
   William the Geezer, the sequel to Billy the Kid - Shoe

8. 
   etherhuffer | Jan 08, 2009 07:17pm | #19

   Ah, so radiant is not the same a radiator. I knew the old steam radiators were hotter of course, but some hydronic systems run differently. So, If you were going to heat a floor, would you use electric cableing or hydronic? I have a 220V lead to the area, so I could do electrical easily, with none of the attendant maintenance problems.http://www.etherhuffer.typepad.com

9. 
   BillHartmann | Jan 08, 2009 07:35pm | #20

   First you need to compare the cost of energy, I am assuming NG, in your area.And the amount of heat needed. Then look at the cost of the install.With hydronic system (off of a domestic WH) you have the pump(s), valves, heat exchanger, priority controls system in addtion to the tubing.If electric rates are on the low side and the area is limited I would be more inclined to electric radiant.But you need to check the system that you are going to use. Many of them are only designed for supplemental heat, and not to heat the room..
   William the Geezer, the sequel to Billy the Kid - Shoe

10. 
    etherhuffer | Jan 09, 2009 01:02am | #21

    I see that its not a good idea to run glycol in the same heater as potable water. What is the scoop with these dual use water heaters? Can you run glycol on one side and not worry about poisoning yourself?http://www.etherhuffer.typepad.com

11. 
    wallyo | Jan 09, 2009 01:35am | #22

    As long as you are not heating a sidewalk or driveway there is no need for glycol. You do have to set it up so the water does not become stagnint when the heat is off in summer. Here are two ways.You could do a indirect system with heat exchanger http://www.radiantec.com/pdf/Install_Indirect_Radiant_Heat_System.pdfOr an open direct systemhttp://www.radiantec.com/pdf/Direct_Radiant_Heating_System.pdfWallyo

12. 
    etherhuffer | Jan 09, 2009 02:22am | #23

    I see. Makes sense.

    I have seen prefab flooring that is grooved out for PEX. Any idea on where to get that stuff? http://www.etherhuffer.typepad.com

13. 
    wallyo | Jan 09, 2009 02:35am | #24

    One of the heating supply house in my area started stocking it Gensco, don't know how large they are. Call some supply houses in your area.Wally

2. 
   rich1 | Jan 08, 2009 07:43am | #13

   Inspired by the commercial version.    Trust me, it doesn't inspire any confidence. 

    

   Price out spare parts for that puppy before you buy it.

4. 
   Pelipeth | Jan 08, 2009 02:37pm | #16

   Just had to deal with a Rheem tank that burst. 75 gal. 7yrs old. (Calif.). They come with a 6 yr. warranty. Friend had plumber install a BradfordWhite unit cost $2600.00. Same 6yr. warranty.

5. 
   Danno | Jan 08, 2009 03:18pm | #17

   Whatever you do, DO NOT buy a Sears water heater--despite the fact that the last one my wife bought lasted 20 plus years. She convinced me to buy one from Sears and have it installed. Everything was fine until I saw on our credit card statement that they had billed us for three water heaters and three installations!

   (They also kept calling me and writing me to tell me my water heater was ready to be picked up at two local stores. When I called to complain, I got someone in India who couldn't understand me and I couldn't understand them. After literally weeks of back and forth, (one time getting an English-speaker in Ohio who put me on hold and then hung up on me) I called a local store and got the "menu" and chose the "water heater dept" and then the phone rang for several minutes and then it hung up on me. Next time I asked for "manager" and got a woman in the personnel dept! But, she did back out two of the purchases, apologized for my trouble and sent me coupons in the mail (which, I will never use, but it's the thought that counts).)