Water set-up

First choice: Heat pump water heater. I have the 50 gallon GE Geospring, and love it. I've had it for a year, and my electric bill hasn't budged, and that was switching from a propane WH to the Geospring. Only ran out of water once, and that was when we did a load of laundry, a load of dishes, filled the bathtub for the kids, and my wife showered, all within about 15 minutes of each other. I waited half an hour and took a nice hot shower. I run mine on heat pump only mode. Helps keep the basement a bit drier too.

Otherwise, I'd go electric. I hate propane.

Is propane used for anything else?

I think even if it was I'd still stick with electric - and check out a HPWH first.

Mothra said:

So, as I had mentioned in another thread, i am in the process of remodeling an older home. With that in mind, I will be replacing the hot water heater, softener, and anything else i'll need to to supply the house. Does anyone have an opinion on using an electric or propane water heater? it's currently an electric, but i'm leaning towards switching it to propane.

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Replace with electric, straight resistance from home depot for like 150$. My current one was 118$ a few months ago. Propane is less efficient, requires venting, CO hazard, explosion hazard, the fuel price is volatile, and your tank can run out. The specifics will vary depending on local energy prices but propane is usually more expensive per btu of energy delivered to the water than straight electric.

HPWH are a new technology and not dependable enough yet. They are also expensive to buy, loud when running, an very heavy, very large. Neat in a techno geek sort of way but not ready for prime time yet.

If you go with electric, make sure you have room to pull the anodes every few years. If the anodes are replaced and the tank flushed routinely the heaters will last for years. Unfortunately the anode life is very depending on your local water quality so its takes awhile to figure out the right intervals. I try to flush mine once a year.

I am a fan of the external HPHW heaters. Hard to go wrong with this style (which has been on production for 20 years).http://www.ebay.com/itm/Etech-Heat-...875?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item4197cc932b

peakbagger said:

If the anodes are replaced and the tank flushed routinely the heaters will last for years

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I can attest to this. I have one going on 27 years. Just a glass lined electric resistance water heater that gets flushed and treated to a new anode when needed. And an occasional heating element also.

Edit: BTW, flexible "sausage" type anodes are available where overhead space is limited.

How often do you replace your anode?

maple1 said:

How often do you replace your anode?

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So far, twice.
I have hard water and occasionally need to remove the lower element to help with cleaning mineral buildup from the tank. I inspect the anode visually then.

I have soft water on my solar hot water tank which is basically a Rheem hot water heater with an external hot water coil wrapped around the lower tank. I replaced the anode after 10 years with a flexible anode last year and the old one was still in pretty good shape. I have known folks who change them every 5 years.

+1 on highbeam's advice. Cheap electric water heater sized correctly to your needs. cheap enough to replace when needed. parts always available. never run out of electric. propane is a headache. If you're handy you can replace the unit - or elements and anode when / if needed without needing an engineering degree to do so.

Dr.Faustus said:

+1 on highbeam's advice. Cheap electric water heater sized correctly to your needs. cheap enough to replace when needed. parts always available. never run out of electric. propane is a headache. If you're handy you can replace the unit - or elements and anode when / if needed without needing an engineering degree to do so.

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Screw maintenance. Did you not read that these things only cost 118$? I wouldn't even bother flushing it. If something isn't right, just pop in a new one. Oil changes for my pickup cost more than a new water heater.

I was checking out local prices of anode rods here last night on-line, and also noticed that the hot water heater I got 3 years ago for $329 ($50 off msrp), is now regularly priced at $489. A 60 imperial gallon '6yr' one. Yikes.

What did you get for $118? Cheapest I see on HD.com site is $279.

I used this one. It is 258$ now. While it may have gone up a bit I don't think it went up that much. I believe I was mistaken about the price and 218$ now sounds much more likely. I continue to be amazed that a product like this is available as such a low price. Between freight, liability, materials, marketing, profit, etc.

http://www.homedepot.com/p/Rheem-Pe...Electric-Water-Heater-XE40M06ST45U0/204298991

I have no intention of maintaining this appliance except to check for leaks. The water feeding my home has been filtered and is not hard.