Red_Beard's 75 Tank Build

[tbrown]

To think I paid you not one, but two, nice compliments yesterday and one of them was specifically about your sense of adventure. Then you make a comment like this bashing all my good will towards you. Apparently, you're just another user. Use me when it suits you and than destroy me like a couple of Aiptasia. It's ok, though, as life has long-ago prepared me for people like you. I will, once again, have to say, "It's okay, Chris. Scott is just another damaged spirit who got chewed up and spit out. Have some pity and let him be him and use you."

 

[That Crusso Kid]

 

[me & my baby]

What printer do you have

Ender 3 Max Neo.

Is that the one with a fixed bed people put shims underneath it to help with the bed level

 

[tbrown]

Is that the one with a fixed bed people put shims underneath it to help with the bed level

One of them, yeah.

 

[Red_Beard]

Woke up this morning with so many ideas! Was going to take my dude machine golfing, (he has a putter and 9 iron and has been practicing. He has a pretty legit chip-shot especially for a 3 year old) but the only tee time was 10:40 when I looked at 10:30. Sucks to suck i guess.
Then, i had mechantions of moving rock structures in my tank, so i glued my poletti back together. But, while i was waiting for the glue to set, i got thinking about new water heaters and texted a plumber friend of mine. Tanked heaters are super easy, ive done at least a dozen, but i was thinking of going tankless. I asked him if he were to put one in his house which one would he get, and would he get one with a circ pump. Well, one thing led to another. By that i mean he came over like 10 minutes later and sized me one up and told me where he would put one. After he left, i chased that rabbit some more and ended up cutting a hole in my roof and plumbing out a 2" pvc for the exhaust. Then, realizing it would also need a plug, and that there was not currently one in my mechanical room, decided to pull a dedicated circuit to it with some help from my super hot wife (yes, she is watching me type this ;) p.s. she hit me and said i was a butt for that). **bonus, because now i can plug my ro pump in there too now instead of using an extension cord like the hillbilly that i am**
Anyways, 2 hardware stores later, some time in the attic and crawl space, and i am ready for an on demand. But, sadly, my tank remains mostly neglected.

 

[UncommonSense]

After he left, i chased that rabbit some more and ended up cutting a hole in my roof and plumbing out a 2" pvc for the exhaust.

This is a condensing style tankless heater, I hope?

My old fashioned tankless heater runs a 4” double walled oval steel exhaust duct!

(And for anyone curious, I am NOT impressed with electric tankless on-demand water heaters… I went through a few… they consumed half of the houses entire electrical service, then melted wiring, and/or their own circuit boards eventually…)

 

[MegabiteOG]

Woke up this morning with so many ideas! Was going to take my dude machine golfing, (he has a putter and 9 iron and has been practicing. He has a pretty legit chip-shot especially for a 3 year old) but the only tee time was 10:40 when I looked at 10:30. Sucks to suck i guess.
Then, i had mechantions of moving rock structures in my tank, so i glued my poletti back together. But, while i was waiting for the glue to set, i got thinking about new water heaters and texted a plumber friend of mine. Tanked heaters are super easy, ive done at least a dozen, but i was thinking of going tankless. I asked him if he were to put one in his house which one would he get, and would he get one with a circ pump. Well, one thing led to another. By that i mean he came over like 10 minutes later and sized me one up and told me where he would put one. After he left, i chased that rabbit some more and ended up cutting a hole in my roof and plumbing out a 2" pvc for the exhaust. Then, realizing it would also need a plug, and that there was not currently one in my mechanical room, decided to pull a dedicated circuit to it with some help from my super hot wife (yes, she is watching me type this ;) p.s. she hit me and said i was a butt for that). **bonus, because now i can plug my ro pump in there too now instead of using an extension cord like the hillbilly that i am**
Anyways, 2 hardware stores later, some time in the attic and crawl space, and i am ready for an on demand. But, sadly, my tank remains mostly neglected.

Great read. I like how the day took on it's own path. From thinking about golfing to setting up for a tankless along with plumbing and power. I've had many days in my life turn out very similarly.

 

[Red_Beard]

This is a condensing style tankless heater, I hope?

My old fashioned tankless heater runs a 4” double walled oval steel exhaust duct!

(And for anyone curious, I am NOT impressed with electric tankless on-demand water heaters… I went through a few… they consumed half of the houses entire electrical service, then melted wiring, and/or their own circuit boards eventually…)

Absolutely. Was torn because there is an aptly sized b-vent already stubbed in next to where i want to put it, but he talked me into the Rinnai RX model. Supposed to be 98% efficiency (condensing), going for the 199kbtu natural gas model. Still trying to decide if i want a recirculation pump or not though. $400 difference.

Totally agree with you on the electric commentary. NG is the way to go unless all you want is a tepid shower and a huge electric bill. That is wild you had them streight up melt down though!

 

[GoAskAlice]

Woke up this morning with so many ideas! Was going to take my dude machine golfing, (he has a putter and 9 iron and has been practicing. He has a pretty legit chip-shot especially for a 3 year old) but the only tee time was 10:40 when I looked at 10:30. Sucks to suck i guess.
Then, i had mechantions of moving rock structures in my tank, so i glued my poletti back together. But, while i was waiting for the glue to set, i got thinking about new water heaters and texted a plumber friend of mine. Tanked heaters are super easy, ive done at least a dozen, but i was thinking of going tankless. I asked him if he were to put one in his house which one would he get, and would he get one with a circ pump. Well, one thing led to another. By that i mean he came over like 10 minutes later and sized me one up and told me where he would put one. After he left, i chased that rabbit some more and ended up cutting a hole in my roof and plumbing out a 2" pvc for the exhaust. Then, realizing it would also need a plug, and that there was not currently one in my mechanical room, decided to pull a dedicated circuit to it with some help from my super hot wife (yes, she is watching me type this ;) p.s. she hit me and said i was a butt for that). **bonus, because now i can plug my ro pump in there too now instead of using an extension cord like the hillbilly that i am**
Anyways, 2 hardware stores later, some time in the attic and crawl space, and i am ready for an on demand. But, sadly, my tank remains mostly neglected.

" Life is what happens when you're busy making other plans." – John Lennon.

 

[Red_Beard]

Great read. I like how the day took on it's own path. From thinking about golfing to setting up for a tankless along with plumbing and power. I've had many days in my life turn out very similarly.

" Life is what happens when you're busy making other plans." – John Lennon.

Arent those the most fun kind of days sometimes though? :)

 

[MegabiteOG]

Arent those the most fun kind of days sometimes though? :)

Absolutely!

 

[UncommonSense]

Still trying to decide if i want a recirculation pump or not though. $400 difference.

this is a tough one… rapidly available hot water is fantastic, but at what (recurring) cost?

— you need to run a pump (power)

— you need to frequently power cycle the tankless heater to maintain your target line temp (gas, wear on ignition system)

It would be a nightmare to do a monthly utility comparison on this one, mostly on the heat loss side of things… so, I suppose it’s personal preference?

 

[steveschuerger]

Middle aged men generally do not shake and shimmy. More of a jiggly belly roll….

 

[08TRDOFFROAD]

this is a tough one… rapidly available hot water is fantastic, but at what (recurring) cost?

— you need to run a pump (power)

— you need to frequently power cycle the tankless heater to maintain your target line temp (gas, wear on ignition system)

It would be a nightmare to do a monthly utility comparison on this one, mostly on the heat loss side of things… so, I suppose it’s personal preference?

I did this comparison when I had to replace my last one. I could replace and run my conventional 50 gal tanked 4 times (~25 years) before I ever covered the cost of one on-demand tankless system. I can live with running the water for a few seconds to get hot water too.

 

[Red_Beard]

this is a tough one… rapidly available hot water is fantastic, but at what (recurring) cost?

— you need to run a pump (power)

— you need to frequently power cycle the tankless heater to maintain your target line temp (gas, wear on ignition system)

It would be a nightmare to do a monthly utility comparison on this one, mostly on the heat loss side of things… so, I suppose it’s personal preference?

Ive insulated the hot water lines already, would still have to add a return loop, but yeah. The new tech in these are supposed to trend your usage, like shower at 8pm, dishes at 6pm, wash at 2pm etc and will pre heat in anticipation of that. The dang thing has wifi and an app. I just dont think i need that. Cool thing though is they sell a pump add on kit for the dumb one should i change my mind. Either that or just pop in a grundfos or taco pump.
How are you liking yours? Is it a recirculating one?

 

[UncommonSense]

The new tech in these are supposed to trend your usage, like shower at 8pm, dishes at 6pm, wash at 2pm etc and will pre heat in anticipation of that. The dang thing has wifi and an app. I just dont think i need that.

You really don’t!

Given the direction things are going, it would probably end up logging/sending all your usage data to the manufacturer to sell… not to mention the whole remote bricking, and planned obsolescence thing…

How are you liking yours? Is it a recirculating one?

It’s not recirculating, but it is right around the center of the house so it isn’t particularly necessary!

I’ve not looked back once since installing a tankless gas water heater… to the point where I actually can’t recall which one’s in there anymore! It’s been phenomenal!

— there’s definitely something to be said for unlimited hot water, particularly when there’s more than a few people in the house!

 

[Red_Beard]

I did this comparison when I had to replace my last one. I could replace and run my conventional 50 gal tanked 4 times (~25 years) before I ever covered the cost of one on-demand tankless system. I can live with running the water for a few seconds to get hot water too.

Daaaang!
I ran very different numbers i guess. Regular tanked gas water heater is about $900 (box store price), this one is $1200 or $1600 for the recirculating model. I am about $200 in parts (gas, vent, electric). I figured for an extra few hundred, it was worth the upgrade. And i dont have to listen to my kids whine about the other having used all the hot water at bath time. But, that is all self installation.

 

[08TRDOFFROAD]

Daaaang!
I ran very different numbers i guess. Regular tanked gas water heater is about $900 (box store price), this one is $1200 or $1600 for the recirculating model. I am about $200 in parts (gas, vent, electric). I figured for an extra few hundred, it was worth the upgrade. And i dont have to listen to my kids whine about the other having used all the hot water at bath time. But, that is all self installation.

I can replace my tanked myself. My family friend that does HVAC quoted me $5700 for a tankless installed.

 

[UncommonSense]

$5700 for a tankless installed.

Is he building the water heater from scratch?!?

In all seriousness though… it’s not a massive job, assuming you’re directly replacing a tanked heater with tankless in the same location!

 

[Red_Beard]

I can replace my tanked myself. My family friend that does HVAC quoted me $5700 for a tankless installed.

That does line up with the average install cost. I was looking around at some estimate averages after your comment. If that was what i was looking at, i would definitely just put in a 50gallon tanked one.