Hot water heater for the shop - exploring options

[poppinjohnnies]

I have a small bathroom in my shop with a shower, along with a sink behind the bar. I’m getting ready to finish the bathroom and shower, and the current 1 gallon water heater under the sink barely makes enough hot water to wash a pair of beer mugs.
So I’m debating whether to run wire and 2 breakers and install a 18kw tankless heater, or swap the little tank heater for a 120v 10 or 20 gallon tank heater in place of the current one. My water is fairly soft. Any opinions on this?

 

[u2slow]

18kw is a substantial load. Do you have the headroom on your electrical service?

I would do a tank heater. On a timer or switch.

 

[The Cobbler]

I would do a tank heater. On a timer or switch.

or a relay operated by the lights

 

[PCustoms]

I have a small bathroom in my shop with a shower, along with a sink behind the bar. I’m getting ready to finish the bathroom and shower, and the current 1 gallon water heater under the sink barely makes enough hot water to wash a pair of beer mugs.
So I’m debating whether to run wire and 2 breakers and install a 18kw tankless heater, or swap the little tank heater for a 120v 10 or 20 gallon tank heater in place of the current one. My water is fairly soft. Any opinions on this?

Why do you need to heat hot water?



Go with a larger tank heater

 

[Crazyjake8493]

We use 120-volt point-of-use water heaters at work in bathroom or small break room additions when necessary, usually around 7-10 gallons. Plenty for washing your hands or washing some dishes. For a shower, you may want to go with a larger tank.

 

[BurtEggley]

If you are the only one who will be using it, a small one that has a long recovery time is all that is really needed.

 

[mike93lx]

I'd do a tank unit.

How often is the shower used and does it need to be able to run for long times? I'd probably lean to 20gal, but 10 gal of 140 degree water can give a plenty good shower if you use a flow restricted head and don't take your time

 

[The Cobbler]

if you use a flow restricted head and don't take your time

and throttle it down when sudsing up

 

[coldh2o]

Why do you need to heat hot water?

To make it hotter?

 

[PCustoms]

To make it hotter?

Username checks out...

 

[poppinjohnnies]

18kw is a substantial load. Do you have the headroom on your electrical service?

I would do a tank heater. On a timer or switch.

Yes. I have a 200 amp box and it’s less than half full.

 

[mike93lx]

Yes. I have a 200 amp box and it’s less than half full.

What size is the feeder? 200a panel doesn't mean you have 200a available

 

[poppinjohnnies]

What size is the feeder? 200a panel doesn't mean you have 200a available

It has a 200A breaker on the pole that feeds the shop.

 

[tarmy]

I have a 6 gal for the shop bath and 20 gal 120v for the garage upstairs full bath. Works great.

 

[finn]

Why do you need to heat hot water?



Go with a larger tank heater

The water in my late mother’s Florida condo was what I considered hot, but not hot enough to take a “hot” shower.

Hence, the condo needed a hot water heater.

Same with our house in Tucson, at least in the summer .

 

[That Guy Scott]

I have a 13kw heater in my shop and it works great. I have 2 sinks and a shower off of it. The biggest thing is to make sure you have the correct gpm faucets in order to slow the water down enough to heat it. Or buy an oversized unit.

 

[lolaetype]

and throttle it down when sudsing up

I hated taking a "Navy Shower" when I was on carriers.

How far is the nearest existing hot water line in the house? Is tapping into one an option?

 

[Danno1]

Why do you need to heat hot water?

.

To wash beer mugs! Duh...

.

 

[dcg9381]

I have a small bathroom in my shop with a shower, along with a sink behind the bar. I’m getting ready to finish the bathroom and shower, and the current 1 gallon water heater under the sink barely makes enough hot water to wash a pair of beer mugs.
So I’m debating whether to run wire and 2 breakers and install a 18kw tankless heater, or swap the little tank heater for a 120v 10 or 20 gallon tank heater in place of the current one. My water is fairly soft. Any opinions on this?

I did a 3-4 GPM "tankless" propane heater. It was <$400.



In the "converted" cargo trailer, I get by with 3 gallons of hot water in a tanked heater. Good enough for a quick shower, which is outdoor only... Certainly no reason an 18kW tankless won't get it all done, but that's a lot of power. 10 gallons of hot water in an RV is "luxury".



Part of it is the "incoming" temperature of the water. 3 gallons of 120F hot water lasts a lot longer when the cold water temp is 70 degrees... If it's 40-60F, showers get a lot shorter.

 

[Norcal]

I lived with a 10 gallon electric water heater many decades ago learned to shower quickly with a low flow shower head would have been better but was not a option, a 10 gallon WH on a timer would work well.

 

[SouthernIllinois]

I put a 30 Gallon electric in my tool room.
I have a deep sink in the shop and a double deep sink on the patio end of the building.
It gives me enough hot water to wash my hands, wash dishes on the patio and wash the car, truck and the Gator.

 

[nadogail]

My shop has a small 125 Volt under sink water heater maybe 3 gallons. No shower but plenty enough for hand and paint brush washing.
It would be big enough for a shower if I showered like on a Submarine.

 

[Two Speed]

Why do you need to heat hot water?



Go with a larger tank heater

Because its not hot enough. The only time it is a cold water heater is during initial fill, after which point you are mainting the heat of the hot water, hence, hot water heater.

 

[mike93lx]

The hot water heater posts are as funny and helpful as the responses to them

 

[PCustoms]

The hot water heater posts are as funny and helpful as the responses to them

Ain't you a ray of sunshine today

 

[mike93lx]

Ain't you a ray of sunshine today

 

[Worsedog]

I put this one in place of 30 gal tank style.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07GZ1WK29?tag=atomicindus08-20

According to the size charts it is oversized for 3/4 bath in the garage. Besides the expected GJ overkill is our friend mantra, there was also practical reason for going this route. The proper size one required a 50A circuit. The one I bought required two 30A circuits. It was much easier to run a second 30A and I already had the appropriate wire on the shelf.

It's been in place six years without issue. Granted it doesn't run everyday but it works. The reviews were generally good, so I took a chance.

 

[Hellpig]

From how far out of the box do i.you entertain ideas?

Military M67 Liquid Fuel Fired Immersion Heater.

Think I still have a few milsurp NIB still
laying around

 

[Lumpy102]

The water in my late mother’s Florida condo was what I considered hot, but not hot enough to take a “hot” shower.

So what you needed was a warm water heater?