Gas water heater combined with storage tank

mp1969

Another example of circumventing energy conservation,we see it all the time and it is not addressed by codes (yet)An article in the PM magazine addressed this method of overusing resources. For what reason? 1.5 to 2.5 gallons is more than enough for showering. Exceeding 6 gpm is wasteful and paid for indirectly by all of us in higher energy costs.
We have the ability to heat or temper water for indoor waterfalls but is this truly practical. As a craftsman who lived through the shortages of fuel in the 1970s and 80s I can predict new codes that will once again prioritize energy usage.Selling energy wasting fixtures or assemblies is contradictory to selling energy efficient heat sources. Hard to understand other than $$$$$$ to burn (literally)

MP 1969

shawn_10

Hot water heater with storage tank

I am installing 7 bathroom house with 6 regular showers and the master has 4 shower heads in it at 2.5 gpm per minute.Also have 3 laundries.I am looking for options for hot water I can install a 100 gallon nat. w.h. and put a storage tank with recirc pump it.I would like to see if anyone has any diagrams for this piping.And if you have any other advice besides having a boiler.Client has 3 gas furnaces so a indirect is out of the question.I also looked into the bosch instantanous hot water heater but dont have any place for the vent seeing I would need multiple units. Thanks you

Weezbo

contact Triangle Tube.....

they will have a solution for you.

jim lockard

I have

done a couple. Older buildings cannot always accomdate big water heaters, I have piped up 50 gallon heaters and then added 50 or 75 gallon storage tanks to increase my hot water volume. I purchased the storage tanks thru R.E. Michel I'm sure they would have a piping print.

Constantin

If possible,

I'd tie multiple indirect water heater tanks into the boiler system, if there is one. In the absence of a boiler, I'd consider installing one.

A Munchkin 399 or a Trinity Ti400 will produce a lot of hot water very efficiently at a relatively low cost point (for a project of this scale, anyway!). Tie them into multiple storage tanks (pipe the supply and return piping to the tanks combined pri-sec on both the heating coil side, as well as the DHW side) and you should have some trouble running out of hot water. Insulate the buffer tanks well and the thermal battery won't even be that inefficient.

If that solution is too dear despite the huge number of fixtures and other toys this house seems to have, you could consider installing a large gas water like a Polaris, Voyager, etc. that is combined with one or more elementless electric water heater and a recirc pump. Once again, once you start exceeding one storage tank, I'd pipe them combined pri-sec coming out of the gas water heater.

Given the scope of the job, I'd try to convince these folk to go with a real boiler to keep the hot water flowing. Another thing you might try to pitch is a GFX heat exchanger, which will not save water but at least will stretch the indirects and waste less hot water down the drain. But what do I know, I'm just a homeowner.

JIm Bok

Ao smith Cyclone

Check out a Ao smith Cyclone

Constantin

I couldn't agree more...

... I've never had anything beyond a 2.5GPM shower head, and I don't feel terribly deprived.

On the other hand, would you refuse to do a job for someone who is willing to pay you to install a system capable of indoor waterfalls?

I still vividly remember my stay at a motel in the middle of the Australian outback where every room had single-use jacuzzis which where heated by LP-fired outdoor gas water heaters and gensets were running 24/7. Well water being drawn from 350 meters or feet (can't remember which, it was a lot) below ground... Augh!

mp1969

European Input

Seems that Dan H. mentioned that in Germany they cannot heat water above 165 degrees for space heating. We in contrast come out with technology (some from Europe) that does an exellent job of extracting heat to the point of condensation. Then we with a clear conscience install multiple head showers, spas etc. Constantin you and I and I would guess the majority of this forum's participants, need to address not only cost or sales but practical applications. We are the professionals and we should point out the need for conservation. I realize we have no real energy policy in the current administration other then consume,consume and consume ,however the resources we are consuming are finite!

MP 1969

Bob W._3

From my view, there hasn't been a cohesive energy policy in this country EVER, certainly not since the 73 embargo. A few bandaids and the like. In some ways, I welcome the high price of gasoline and related fuels, if it will spur the move to other sources.