Tale of Two Water Heaters.

[Jason A. Sieg, CMI]

Originally Posted by pdoane

......... or you could just buy a larger water heater, Ive seen them up to 119 Gallons. I wonder which would be more cost effective?? Anyone? Larger water heater or connecting smaller ones?

See my post... Post #10, Pro's & Con's.

[Peter Doane]

Originally Posted by jsieg

I highly suggest Twin Parallel Water Heaters with complete bypass systems for each, over a single large water heater!

Normally, both water heaters do not die at the same time. And, when do they usually go? In the evening on the weekend or on a Holiday.

PRO's:

1. Faster recovery time. (2@37+ gal/hour or 1@50+ gal/hour)
2. If you do not need large amounts of hot water you can completely shut down one water heater. Energy Saving (Teenagers have gone off to collage)
3. If one water heater fails on a Friday night you can completely shut that one down and still have Hot water until the weekday when a service call will be less expensive.
4. Initial install cost is about the same for 2@40 gal w/bypass or 1@80 gal, including parts & supply's.
5. Try to find an 80 gal propane water heater in stock anywhere when you need one. (Most stores & plumbers do not have 80gal water heaters in stock.)
6. Less expensive to replace 1@40 gal water heater then 1@ 80 gal.
7. You will have a warning to start putting money aside to replace the second water heater, it will most likely need replacement in the next 6 months.

CON's:

1. 2@40gal uses 1.5 to 2 times the floor space of 1@80 gal water heater.
2. Second 40 gal water heater will be in need of replacement most likely within the next 6 months. (Not a real CON in my book, see PRO #7.)

I can not think of any other CON's.

I think the PRO's out weigh the CON's.

Even if they are connected in series I would personally like to have bypasses for both tanks. This way if one fails I can shut down the failed unit and still have Hot water while waiting for the other to be replaced.

Anyone else have any thoughts about this list?

Sorry Jason, breeeeeeezed right over this. thanks

[Andrew Cox]

Originally Posted by lkage

Hooking up two together is fine but it should be done in parallel instead of series like your picture.

http://www.dallascityhall.com/pdf/Bu...riesPiping.pdf

That's a great reference - I must be having a good day - I read that and said, "Duh!" it made absolute sense!

[Roy D. Cooke, Sr]

I have seen two hooked up in series and it worked great.
40 gal to do main part of the home .
A small kitchen 35 feet away took forever to get warm water .
12 gal in crawl space Hot water fed from the 40 gal almost instantly and they never ran out of hot water in the kitchen .
Worked just the way they wanted it too.

[Jason A. Sieg, CMI]

Originally Posted by pdoane

Sorry Jason, breeeeeeezed right over this. thanks

I understand, Some of my posts have been becoming a bit long lately.