I need a small water heater!

[patrick66]

In my shop, I have a 50-gallon electric water heater. I installed a 50-gallon initially, because we happened to be using the shop as living space while our house was being built (we had our RV parked inside the shop), and a larger bathroom was necessary for a family of four! Live in a fifth wheel RV for ten months and you'll see what I mean!

Anyway, the 50-gallon is not needed anymore. I have a full bath out there (shower/stool/sink); but since we don't use the shop as living space, the big water heater is not practical. It's an energy hog, comparitively speaking. What I'm looking for is a nice, electric FIVE-gallon water heater. I'll have the water I need when I need hot water, and use a lot less electricity, in the process. The on-demand tankless heaters are too expensive for shop use, so a conventional electric tank heater is what I'm looking for.

Any recommendations?

 

[CNGsaves]

You're in Oklahoma . . . . WHY are you using Electric ??

Fuel of choice is Natural Gas !!

 

[patrick66]

The house is natural gas, but the shop is all-electric. Could go gas, but I would rather replace the big 50-gal unit with a 5-gal electric unit. Simplicity, and I don't have to plumb for gas.

 

[CNGsaves]

Just kidding you know. Only reason I threw out NG idea is that I think there are incentives from ONG (Okla Natural Gas)for you to install NG water heater! Also, I'd sure use NG to heat garage if you don't have any heat out there yet.

If you stay 100% electric, then I'd leave the 50 gal electric all in place in case you change your mind later. You may get by with small under sink water heater.

Search prior GJ threads on small shop hot water heaters. Use Google to drill into GJ past threads if you can't find much using Advanced Search of GJ. Example:
. . . . small shop water heater site:garagejournal.com

Here's an example of "small" electric that Steevo has in his shop (post 16). May still be too big as Steevo says his is 27 gal:
http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?p=2958558

 

[Erampu]

You can take a shower in 5 gallons of water?

 

[justsam]

I have an Ariston GL-6 under the sink in my garage. It is a 6 gallon capacity.

I find it fine for my use, and I am out in my garage every day. It is great for washing hands, will fill a 5 gallon bucket of hot water for clean up etc.

I also have a small emax type unit in a different location where water is just flowed thru, like a mini-tankless. I do not recommend this as to get HOT water the rate of flow must be little more than a trickle, which is to be noted in the specs.

Idle the Ariston GL-6 unit perhaps uses 0.5KWh per day, and typical usage more like 2 KWh per day. Power is 120VAC, 12.5 Amp, regular plug in. It has been in service about 7 years now with no issues.

http://www.globaltowne.com/bosch-ariston-gl6-plus-s-point-of-use-electric-mini-tank-water-heater.html

 

[kenfain]

You're in Oklahoma . . . . WHY are you using Electric ??

Fuel of choice is Natural Gas !!

I use propane for my house water heater since I'm in a rural area. Gas isn't affected by temporary outages like electricity, and we like it well enough.
But in our unattached laundry room, we use a small electric,19 gallon water heater. The beauty of using electric, in a small w.h. that's not used 24/7, is it can be put on a switch, or timer.

 

[tractordude]

I just scored a 12 gal electric for free.
The little water heaters are just as pricey as the larger ones. This 12 gallon one is short and fat, probably would fit under a sink.

 

[uniballer]

What about instant water heater?

 

[patrick66]

I found a 12-gallon gas and a 12-gallon electric both at Lowe's this evening. And yes, the damn thing is nearly as expensive at the big heaters! Holy ****!

@CNGsaves - I'm looking at a radiant gas heat system for the shop. It's fairly large (38' x 63') with 14' sidewalls and an 18' peak.

Ideally, I'd love to do a solar panel on the south-facing roof to run the house and shop both, and retain the gas heating system. A bit of money there.

 

[patrick66]

You can take a shower in 5 gallons of water?

I did that all the time when I lived in Germany. The kitchen and the bathroom both have their own water heaters - the kitchen had an on-demand unit, and the bathroom had a 25-liter stand-alone unit; both electric.

 

[Charles (in GA)]

A Rheem electric tankless, RTE 13, is $179 plus shipping from Amazon. Cheaper than the 2 to 6 gal tank models. It requires 6/2 w/grd wire and a 60 amp breaker but will bring 50°F incoming water up to 105°F at about 1½ to 2 gpm. Decent enough for a occasional shower if you keep the flow restricter in the shower head.

Charles

 

[Highbeam]

I own and use one of the under sink 5-6 gallon water heaters. I ran a switched GFCI outlet for it and only charge it up when I'm going to need it. It is super easy to plumb and install and has plenty of water for washing dishes, hands, etc.

I would not want to use it for a shower. Even washing the (small pug)dog in the sink can blow through the hot water supply if I'm not frugal with the water.

I have the thermostat set to the max output temp to try and extend the dogwashing time and have been very happy with the whole setup.

If you feel your 50 gallon tank is eating too much then flip it off at the breaker or insulate the heck out of it. I doubt it is really costing you much.

 

[patrick66]

There is a closet in the bathroom where the current water heater resides, so the power and the room available is no issue.

The big reason I'm looking at a possible replacement heater is age. I've yet to have a water heater bought after 2000 to last more than six years, with the exception of the one in the shop, which will be 11 years old in November. It heats water just fine right now. I have an insulation blanket around it, and I have a space heater that I use in that bathroom when the temps are below freezing, so I've never really worried about a weather-related failure. I keep the temp set to the "coolest" hot water, so it's not on all the time. Plus, I flush the heater out once per year, which helps longevity.

With a smaller heater, I can utilize the available space in the closet for a small amount of stuff, too.

@Charles - I have a 50A breaker on the current heater, but that Rheem unit you quote sounds like a very good possibility!

 

[whatuusay1]

I just put one of these in and its working great - 4 Gallon 120V too..
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B009JW42YU/?tag=atomicindus08-20

They have 2.5 / 4 / 6 Gallon models. Seems to work well for our needs (kitchen and bathroom sinks in an office).

- Andrew

 

[Plump]

I use this little guy and it's perfect for cleaning up hands, washing some dishes, etc. It heats up really quickly so even when I run out, a new batch of hot water isn't too far behind.

Got it free from a friend who needed a bigger one for their doggy day care business!

 

[venturesomerite]

I got a used 10 gal guy at a local swap meet for $10. Cleaned the heating element a tad and it's good to go. Maybe just keep your eye on craigslist and such.

Kinda thing where I wasn't gonna go buy a new brand one, but for $10 I'll plumb it in.

 

[theoldwizard1]

I got a used 10 gal guy at a local swap meet for $10. Cleaned the heating element a tad and it's good to go. Maybe just keep your eye on craigslist and such.

Kinda thing where I wasn't gonna go buy a new brand one, but for $10 I'll plumb it in.

Does it have a replaceable anode ? That would be a worthwhile replacement.

 

[venturesomerite]

Yeah It does. I will replace it in the future, but I looks to have sat somewhere empty for a majority of it's life. It's fine for right now.

 

[volleyball]

Any electric is worth replacing the anode rod in, that is if you can get the old one out. Mine is so rusted in, if I tried any harder, it would break the tank.
I would look into an instantaneous also, the small ones can be had cheaply enough and they will last a long time. Maybe a LP model off of a small tank.

 

[Charles (in GA)]

With a smaller heater, I can utilize the available space in the closet for a small amount of stuff, too.

@Charles - I have a 50A breaker on the current heater, but that Rheem unit you quote sounds like a very good possibility!

There is probably no. 8 wire run, so you would need to make sure its no. 6 and replace it if necessary. Stay away from older models of this heater. The reviews on Amazon in '10 and '11 were terrible, apparently it was prone to turning itself on when there was no water flowing thru it. Several people reported this. Rheem would not admit to this at all. The reviews are much better now, and I suspect they fixed a flow switch problem.

Charles

 

[patrick66]

I've decided to go with a natural-gas unit, when I get around to replacing the shop water heater. Since my gas hookup is just six feet away from the water heater closet, that is going to work out well. Still researching gas heaters, in the meantime. But, I've decided to wait until Spring to do this, since the monster in there now is working just fine. Thanks for the inputs!

 

[Jim Sperry]

- I've decided to go with a natural-gas unit -


One more opinion:

I just set a 20-gallon Bradford White for a customer, replacing a 40 gallon gas (that wasn't getting much use). Relocated the 20- to a better spot as well.

Beautiful unit. One element. 120V. Energy Saver model. Excellent jacket and fittings.

They have the capacity for the once-a-year heavier demand; with today's insulation, can't imagine it would cost much more to run than a 5-gallon.