Plumber question

[Texastaxi]

When we moved into this house, I changed jobs so I got up and took a shower an hour and a half earlier than my bride.

Now, I've taken a different job that puts our showers one after the other.

We're in the process of adding on a new master bath and closet and my bride has stressed the need for more hot water.

The first option is to replace the existing heater with a tankless unit that will handle the whole house.

The second option is to add a smaller tankless unit in the new bathroom.

Is it possible to run the tankless heater in conjunction with the existing water heater? Kinda like a booster?

[Bill M]

Yes you can. They make units that are more for specific use, say like in the kitchen or as you are wanting to do. Not a plumber but I'm a homebuilder and we have used these before in kitchens. Maybe a plumber will chime in and give more specifics.

[cosmiccowboy]

Before you buy anything you should check and make sure the heater you have is working properly. If it is electric you might have calcium/scale built up on the element. If it is gas you should pull the access plate and make sure you don't have mud/scale built up on the bottom of the heater tank. Either could prevent the heater from heating properly. If there is no scale in the heater you might also check the thermostat setting on the heater...if it is set "down" to 130 you could turn it up to 140-145 and see if that solves your problem. (it takes less water from the storage tank to shower because you use less hot and more cold per shower) If you only add bathrooms but no additional people using hot water you don't necessarily have to add hot water heaters when you add bathrooms assuming everything else is working properly.

[Texastaxi]

Cowboy, now that you mention that, I'm pretty sure this one is scaled up. It's about 2 years old now and when it was only a year old, the lower element busted. When I replaced it, there was already enough scale in the bottom of the tank to warrant cleaning. So, I drug it out in the yard and rolled it around and washed it out until I had all the scale out.

I'll check the thermostat this evening and see where it's set.

Oh, we're adding a garden tub too. I think it holds 80 gallons.
With a 40 gallon water heater, will that be enough?

Thanks for ya'lls help.

[Devin]

To piggyback Kevin's thread, what are y'alls thoughts on the tank-less heaters?

I've only used one and the temp really varied while taking a shower. From scalding hot to hidden turtle in a nanosecond. It'd sure wake you up in the morning though.

[Texastaxi]

LMAO ... hidden turtle .... I just got that one!

I thought that the tankless were supposed to deliver a continuous temperature?

[cosmiccowboy]

If the heater is clean/functioning properly and the heater is set at 140 you can probably get by with the 40 gallon heater on filling the tub if you aren't running the washing machine, dishwasher, etc. It will be close. 35 gallons of "hot" and 40 gallons of "cold" will give you an average of about 100-105 which is about as hot as you would want to sit in...

[Texastaxi]

I think I'll have the electrician pull the extra wire JUST IN CASE, but I'll clean the existing heater and tell the bride that the problem is solved!

It's just a PITA to have to clean that heater out every 6 to 8 months.
Any ideas on how to keep the scale out?

[Atfulldraw]

I have a tankless and also install them. I love it! Neverending hot water!

The rating is important - In my own house I have the Bosch 250 that is rated for two showers, but I have a lot of water coming out of my one shower, so the wife and I don't try to bathe and shower at the same time, because that can overpower the unit. I have only found one application where the model 125 would be sufficient - this is one of those situations where it is definitely better to oversize.

If you have an electric heater - my advice is Get rid of it!

I really can't think of a more efficient energy-waster than an electric water heater. They really suck down the Kw's

[cosmiccowboy]

To piggyback Kevin's thread, what are y'alls thoughts on the tank-less heaters?

I've only used one and the temp really varied while taking a shower. From scalding hot to hidden turtle in a nanosecond. It'd sure wake you up in the morning though.

If you have hard water the instant heaters are on death watch from the day you put them in unless you have a water softener. They punch a lot of btu's through a relatively small heating surface and scale like crazy and are un-cleanable.

[Philip-TX]

Just take a shower TOGETHER !

Duh,

[cosmiccowboy]

It's just a PITA to have to clean that heater out every 6 to 8 months.
Any ideas on how to keep the scale out?

Water softener. I haven't had to clean my heater in 12 years and San Antonio is the hard water capital of the world...

[arrowslinger]

Adding a heater just for your bathroom would be the way to go, that way you could do dishes wash cloths with one heater and shower with the other. If you have gas to your house the tankless heater would work best. YOu dont have to go to extreme to clean your water heater, just hook a house to the drain and with the water still on open the drain and let it flush out for 15 or 20 min. if the drain on the bottom clogs up you can unscrew the drain and get a 3/4 brass nipple with a ball valve with a hose connection and it will flush it out good/. Also if you replace the fill tube it will help you get the most out of your heater.

[VorTexan]

Make sure both elements are working as well.

[BIG D]

Kevin, with your showering schedule, this is only a problem for your wife like once a week right?