4d ago

Installed a water heater today

Been on my list of things that are urgent for like 4 years. Finally had the money to do it today.

Thank you, thank you

30 comments

Awesome! I replaced my water heater a couple years ago - and managed to do it with just a single trip to Home Depot! Felt like a goddamn boss.
- One trip? So the legends are true? It can be done?
  
  There is a special fastener squirreled away for when the day comes that it is needed, no trip to the store will be required. On that day, your life will be complete.
- Bullshit - it can't be done.
  1st rip get the water heater and all the recommended parts.
  2nd trip take the parts that don't fit back and get the "right" ones.
  3rd trip take the "right" ones back and get the part you really need.
  The 4th trip so the worst. You stop go to a local hardware store because you need a special part and pay out the bose for it.
  
  The 4th trip to the local hardware store is cuz you can’t be seen back at Lowe’s / home despot for a 4th time today.
  
  That's exactly what I was expecting! I wrote down everything I needed. Took some pictures. Went to a buddies house and had him look at my list and pics. Then went to the store, bought the water heater and pieces, and got it all in one shot.
  It's the closest I've ever come to greatness.
- 🥺 I was 3 trips
  
  I think three trips for a water heater install scores "birdie" (-1), since a water heater install is usually considered a par 4.
Congrats. If funds permit, consider swapping the anode rod for a powered unit. Pretty much negates scale buildup, smells and corrosion. It also lasts the life of the tank, unlike the sacrificial anode rod.
- Yes, that’s next. Thank you, almost no one knows about these!
- This is pretty cool, I didn't know they existed. I'm wondering why they make it run off a separate 120v wall wart instead of 240v that could be run to the same power supply as the water heater (assuming its an electric water heater).
  
  I think NEC dictates that a convenience 110v receptacle must be within 25 ft of a WH so that's probably why the company assumes the plug is enough.
  I saw that some of the Chinese alphabet branded options on Amazon did list 240v capable but I'd never trust one for the job.
It's wonderful that the name for these devices has evolved.
I’d really like to get a heat-pump water heater but my current one is a lowboy, so I’d either need to excavate clay from underneath it or move the lines/power supply. The only lowboy heat-pump water heaters are incredibly expensive.
- Heat pump water heaters are VERY pricey up front with [hopefully] a good long term ROI. I'm still trying to decide between one of those or a tankless unit.
  
  The other drawbacks to heat pump style is that they require a lot more ventilation and they cool the air around them (which is great in the summer, but could be a nightmare in the winter). I think maybe they also dry the air too, which again could be nice in the summer and rough in the winter.
  If that all works for your situation, go for it, but I'd hate for you to spend that money upfront for something that didn't suit your needs.
  
  I’m still trying to decide between one of those or a tankless unit.
  I'm easily on team "heat pump water heater", not only for the energy efficiency but for the low maintenance. Before you go tankless, research how often you have to flush it or descale it. In some areas its every 12-18 months. Thats way more interaction than I would like with my water heater.
- It might be cheaper to get solar power instead, and use the excess with a traditional water heater, but will be location specific.
  
  I actually have solar. The entirety of my south-facing roof is covered, but it's only 7.6 kW clipped to 5.6 kW by the microinverters. It's about 70% of my usage right now. I'm trying to get to 100% through efficiency upgrades.
- I put a heat pump water heater in like 2 months ago in my basement, which is like 6'2"/188cm and I had to squeeze it between floor joists, plumbing it was fun...

30 comments