Connecting to elec WH element holes

Wayco Wayne_2

saw a job where the contractor used an electric water heater and connected into the holes where the heating elements previously were. Is there any trick to doing this, or just threading in an adapter?

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Rich L.

element holes

The element holes will take a 1" male adapter. They are actually a straight thread on the DWH. Tape and dope generously and so far it's worked fine for me.

hot_rod

Those plastic Marathon tanks

have special adapters available, as they use a special, possibly metric? straight thread.

I see more and more geo and even solar installers using those plastic tanks. should handle 160F or more.

On the regular electric tanks I buy a 1" male by 1-1/4" copper adapter to upsize quickly.

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Bob Gagnon plumbing and heating

Do you like the

marathon tanks? Do you know the hottest water they are rated for? Thanks, Bob Gagnon

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Weezbo

Use copper male adapters...

and sink them deep *~/:)

oh and i agree with using the same increasing adapters..with a short nip to union.

Wayco Wayne_2

Tell me more

about the Marathon tanks. Give a link if you can. Thanks. WW

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kpc_14

Wayne....

if you are adding potable water to it or not I would use a brass nipple first then transition to copper. A bit more dielectric....

hot_rod

160F

from what I can tell. They also have a commercial tank out there with 4 elements, I believe.

www.marathonheaters.com

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chris_93

wh tappings

Are you guys using the tanks as a buffer for boiler water. does the old upper and lower element tapping now primary zone, offer hydraulic separation, if the bottom drain and upper out (hot) tapping are used for the secondary?

Thanks,
Mike

Rich L.

Buffer

Mike, I'm using electric water heaters for buffer tanks for GEO water to water systems. Yes, it does work for hydraulic seperation. I use the element openings for the GEO unit, they would also work for a boiler, and I use the hot and cold tappings for the secondary. I cut the dip tube off about halfway as well as drill quite a few 1/8 inch holes in it to help mix things. I use the hot tap for supply, it pulls right off the top, and the cold with the modified dip tube for return.

Also I pretty sure it's Ruud that makes a special storage tank specifically for this. I think it has 2" tappings in the side and maybe 1-1/4" taps in the top. Kind of pricy so I haven't tried one. So far the water heater's worked just fine.