small house water heater needed

allenh

we take 25 per mos off rent from one apt for the electricity to run cellar lights and washer / drier & outside light.

allenh

small house water heater needed

First what we did: Removed a larger boiler from a 3 fam and went to 3 individual boilers (Laars Endurance (EDP). The boilers make their own domestic hot water for their appropriate apartment.
There is a common basement with a washer / drier. We are bringing in a new line just for the gas drier. We need to make hot water for the clothes washer. Cannot do electric as we do not have a common electric meter. So it has to be a gas water heater. Hate to do a standard self standing gas water heater as this might run once a week. Looking for an instant one but have a couple of questions and would welcome all suggestions:

The instant water heaters - are they condensating? Thinking of placing the flue into the no longer used chimney that used to have a couple hundred thousand btus running up it.

If I go to a free standing gas water heater what is the smallest one made? I do not think there are that many gallons used in a clothes washer and if its just warm instead of hot that is not going to be a big deal.

Electric is out due to no common meter.

Brad White_198

Tankless

The instantaneous or tankless DHW heaters tend not to be condensing by design that I know of. (There are some tank types which do condense specifically and run in the 95% + range.)

For your application, the notion of condensing is fairly minor, not a lot of run-hours against which to amortize the presumably higher cost.

Any of the Rinnai or similar units should be fine, especially if just connected to the washer and is close by. (I have had issues at least on older models where the temperature and flow fluctuations made showering a challenge on occasion.) These units run in the 80's and depending on the size and condition of your flue, you may be able to re-use it.

Hard to tell from here, so don't go running off doing that before you have it checked out.

The notion of "make hot water as you go" is ideal.

Here is another idea which may better satisfy any green sensibilities you may harbor:

What we did in our house is go almost entirely to cold water washing. The use of HOT water is rare and the use of "warm" is at best tepid, with the water becoming room temperature in minutes sitting in the drum. Same for cold water, not a lot of difference. Also, hot water tends to set some stains.

Modern detergents work well with cold water.

The other part is, if you desire "sterilization", that is what the dryer can do when used on high temperature.

Point being, you may start to question what you really need hot water for in the laundry in the first place.

Second unsolicited point: If you have not yet purchased a washer, consider a horizontal axis type. Staber is a good one, not cheap but easy to service, a brand you may not know. Whirlpool and others of course, but point is, use less water and power than a vertical spindle type.

chris_93

No common elec?

What are the washer and dryer going to run? They will need power to turn??

Le John

What size Endurance were put in? Do you like them?

allenh

put in the 110 model. Its a bit large for btus and I kinda wish there were smaller models. Heat bills went down with them in comparison to 17 cast iron boiler that everyone knows in this board. Ye old super store is probably still good.
With new boilers had a stuck circ pump - tapped it with a wrench and it took off. I think it was a grundhos. Installed a tempering valve as required as hot water comes out around 150. All three have not had to do anything to for the year.
Oh ya - we ran all three apts from the hot water made from one boiler for the entire last summer and had no complaints. They are quiet when running in comparison to other units. Did the entire job in 1 1/4 copper. Installed low water cut offs and full port balls on each side of the 007 circs.
I have pix of the covers off below.
YES I like them.

John Mills_4

Might make sense

to take another $25 off and put a little 6 gallon electric tank in by the washer. Cheapest way for sure. Or if gas is much cheaper than electric, tap off of that apartment's hot water line. That apartment would make money at $25 a month!

If you went any kind of gas heater to vent in the chimney, would require a liner. If you haven't priced tankless heaters, very pricey!