Waterheatertimer.org
is a self-help website
Troubleshoot storage-type electric water heater
 How much hot water for bath and shower 9 ways to save with water heater Pro-n-con: Tank vs Tankless Do-it-yourself

Preheat cold water using tempering tank
Staging tank
If electric water heater is not working:
Electric water heater troubleshooting steps
How electric water heater works
How to wire water heater thermostats
How to replace thermostats
How to test water heater elements
How to replace element and clean tank
How to remove rusted element
Water heater forums: 1 2 3 4 5

Staging tank in basement or crawlspace warms cold water using ground temperature see groundwater temp map

Use old water heater or buy scratch-n-dent 20-30 gallon water heater for staging tank. Do not connect electricity. Insulate pipes.

Net energy gain when staging tank heats from natural ground warmth or heat-pump exchanger or sun exposure


Copper tubing can be used to make tempering reservoir. Copper lasts longer than steel tank <> 2.5 gallons per 100 feet of 3/4" tube
Staging tank

Staging tank for tankless water heater

Many tankless heaters are underpowered so they meet customer price objective.

Winter time, customer discovers tankless can not heat water fast enough.

Staging tank can solve problem by pre-heating water before it reaches tankless. 

Problem with tankless heater
1. Contact manufacturer's web site
2. Post problem on plumbing forum:
Tankless turns-on after toilet is flushed
Difficult to diagnose noise in tankless
1-year-old tankless is blowing breaker
Compare tank vs tankless parts
Undersized gas meter causes problems
More forums: 1 2 3 4 5

            Troubleshoot Rheem tankless

Troubleshoot Bosch tankless
flue pipe heat exchanger

Flue Pipe Heat Exchanger

Roll flexible copper around solid PVC pipe to make heat exchanger. 

Flue pipe gets hot each time gas water heater turns-on.

Check Local Codes may prohibit heat-exchanger on flue pipe
<> cold water in copper tubing could reduce flue gas temperature to point where flue gases may not properly draft up chimney read
<> do not obstruct air draft opening on top of tank
<> flue pipe must maintain upward tip so gas draws through pipe = minimum 1/4" per foot
<> insulation near flue pipe is fire hazard
<> if flue pipe comes apart see, extreme danger of  CO carbon-monoxide poisoning read wiki

<> rusted flue pipe may not be venting properly > check for obstructions in pipe > check flue cap on roof > raise angle of pipe and reduce number of elbows
heat exchanger heat exchanger
Make heat exchanger using lathe or manually wrap copper around PVC pipe
heat exchanger
Bock heat exchange water heater see larger
heat exchangerlarger
State high efficiency gas
Heat Exchanger inside water heater

Bock heat exchanger connects with exterior pipes. Customer can use 2 ways. Remove heat from tank for hydronic baseboard heat read1 -or- input heat from external source to increase temperature of water inside tank read2 read3

State high efficiency gas water heater recycles hot gas from combustion chamber.For high-consumption households.

Options vary with no guarantee of net energy gain.

See new water heating ideas 2010

Related links

http://www.whrc.org/building/conservation2.htm

http://www.energysavers.gov/your_home/water_heating/index.cfm/mytopic=12840

http://www.aecinfo.com/1/resourcefile/00/23/80/brad03.htm

http://www.radiantcompany.com/system/closed.shtml

http://homerepair.about.com/od/heatingcoolingrepair/ss/heating_types_4.htm

http://www.aimradiantheating.com/store/Slimline-Baseboard.html

http://www.radiant.co.nz/baseboard.htm

http://www.builditsolar.com/Projects/WaterHeating/water_heating.htm		 heat pump water heater

Other sites using coiled copper

http://www.engineeringtoolbox.com/copper-tubes-heat-capacity-d_476.html

http://webpages.charter.net/rcalley/html/kegs.htm

http://www.neon-john.com/Induction/heater.htm

http://www.coppertubecoils.com/ctcg/tube-coils/copper-tube-coils.html

Rotating dipole

http://www.earthtech.org/experiments/purify/report.html

http://www.gare.co.uk/amplifier/dxpedition_amplifier_rf_deck.htm

http://www.insectscience.org/7.41/ref/fig3.html

http://home.comcast.net/~wa9wfa/vintage_1920.htm

http://www.sky-chaser.com/tcpart6.htm

http://www.instructables.com/id/Homemade-Spot-Welder/

 counter for gas water heater
Counter for gas water heater
flue pipe hazard