Best electric HWH?

Hudsonvalleycarpenter

I'm a novice at electric HWHs so I have to start with the basic question:  What's the best electric HWH for a three bedroom, two bath home?  Most cost effective is another way to define it, I suppose.

With Gratitude and Respect, Peters

Gordy

Type WH

Storage type. instantaneous, Solar tank with electric backup? Sounds like a good incorporation to your passive home, if that is what its for.



 The question needs to be answered how many users Family of 4 any large spa tubs, Over zealous shower heads. etc

Hudsonvalleycarpenter

Duplex rental

I'm going to build a 3BR/2B duplex rental. The master baths will have spa tubs.  Just looking for the most reliable electric HWH in the most appropriate size.  Best energy rating would help too.

Thanks, Peter

Larry Weingarten

Its the tubs!

Hello:  The tubs throw things off.  I'd be tempted to have tankless heaters for the tubs alone and the rest on a fifty gallon electric... or a bigger gallonage heat pump unit.  My mind is of two minds about what should supply the showers!



Yours,  Larry

Hudsonvalleycarpenter

as Santa often sez....it's a tankless job.

The only problem I can see with going tankless, from my limited knowledge, is that such electric HW sources don't put out enough volume to do the job in a timely fashion.  Please correct me if I'm wrong.  I'm here to learn.



Peter

kcopp

I think the....

Vaughn Hotstow/ Sepco electrics are great. Longevity needs no anode.... Stone lining holds heat great. Downside is they are heavy...very heavy. Competitive price. Made in Massachusetts.

http://www.vaughncorp.com/html/electric.html

Hudsonvalleycarpenter

Thanks....

for the recommendation.  I'll check 'em out.

With Respect, Peter

Eric_32

Have a look at..

The Rheem Marathon tank. http://www.ruud.com/product.aspx?id=AB27075C-9101-4A97-AF4B-5344C0B75288



It is a plastic lined tank not metal, with a lifetime warranty on the tank, 6-year for parts. I have installed one and a good idea compared to the standard tank heater.

• 
  
  Seamless, blow-molded, polybuten
• 
  
  e tank - impervious to rust and corrosion
• 
  
  Multiple layers of filament wound fiberglass give the tank unmatched strength
• 
  
  Polyurethane Envirofoam™ insulation helps reduce energy consumption
• 
  
  The highest energy factors (EF) available!
• 
  
  Pipe wrap energy saving kit included to achieve maximum energy savings

Hudsonvalleycarpenter

Worth considering

Thanks for the link.  Looks like a good, reliable HWH.

Peter

Larry Weingarten

You would need...

... very big storage to supply conventional spas.  A way to use electric tankless is to fill the tubs from your tank and bring up to temp or reheat with the tankless.  On average, big tubs get used less than one week a year.  Perhaps a Japanese soaking tub or some other sort of low volume tub could do the job without such an equipment penalty.



Yours,  Larry

SWEI

tankless capacity

The Stiebel-Eltron Tempra 36 will handle large tubs (3 GPM at 80F rise), but requires a 300A service for single phase use.  The 29 does 2.5 GPM and can be run off a 200A main, though you really need a load calc, especially for an existing service.



You can go much bigger with commercial booster heaters or paralleling as long as you have enough juice.



No gas, oil, or boiler there?  Indirects can have amazing recovery capacity.