Hot Water for a small bathroom

[Classic Bronco Guy]

I just built a small loft apartment in my 24x42x14 detached garage. I need to create hot water for my full bathroom that will be used by one person daily. I have gas and electricity available to me.

I’m looking for the most cost effective and efficient way to provide hot water - electric, tankless, gas fired?

I also need to know what size/capacity I need.

It will just be one sink and a full bath shower.

Thank you in advance for your responses.



Sent from my iPhone using Garage Journal

 

[Shiftless]

Will that apartment have a full time occupant or just occasional use?

Most people seem to go with an electric point of use unit. With a normal limited flow shower head you won’t need more than 2-3 gallons per minute.

Can you run a dedicated 30 amp 240 volt circuit that one of those requires?

.

 

[3rdgenplumber]

Gas or electric water heaters are good. It all depends on what utilities are more expensive. You’re probably better off going electric if you are doing it yourself. Personally I would get a combi boiler that heats your water and also heats your garage. But that’s alittle more expensive

 

[Classic Bronco Guy]

The apartment will have a full time occupant. I have room for a point of use in the box, was kinda hoping to save it. How efficient are they?


Sent from my iPhone using Garage Journal

 

[mike93lx]

Having gas available and not using it seems kind of crazy to me and that is even with low electric rates.

Point of use electric requires a lot of power

 

[nadogail]

I have owned tankless gas water heaters, fueled by Butane, serving three adults, never ran short of hot water. On the other hand, we kept a spare 10 Kilo Butane bottle handy.

 

[PhantomEB]

Thanks for the idea on my next shop.... I wanted water out there as well Power, cable and natural gas if not propane. This would be a great little idea for a short run of hot water!

 

[kj_mustang]

If you don't have to worry about water scale build up or have issues running a exhaust vent, a gas tankless would be hard to beat.

 

[u2slow]

How efficient are they?

Any resistive electric heating is 100% efficient.

Your usage and energy rates determine the cost. If you place unreasonable demands on your water heating equipment, the water won't be warm enough, and you still used the energy.

EDIT: IMHO, use natural gas for any heating if you have it available.

 

[BigGarage]

I just built a small loft apartment in my 24x42x14 detached garage. I need to create hot water for my full bathroom that will be used by one person daily. I have gas and electricity available to me.

I’m looking for the most cost effective and efficient way to provide hot water - electric, tankless, gas fired?

I also need to know what size/capacity I need.

It will just be one sink and a full bath shower.

Thank you in advance for your responses.

Sent from my iPhone using Garage Journal

All installs and needs are different but I used a Rheem model electric heater. It's only used in a 2nd floor 1/2 bath but has plenty of flow for a shower. I accidently bought the 240 volt unit so I used it. I think it cost about $185 in 2015.

It works great for what I use it for.

Dennis

 

[nadogail]

IMHO, Because you are posting from Huntington Beach, your most efficient hot water system will be Solar with an Electric Backup element in the storage tank.

Solar Water Heating Collectors are technologically very simple and lend them selves to workshop fabrication from components harvested from Craig's List and scrap piles.