Mini Water Heater help

[Deadsquiggles]

So I'm having electricity and water run out to my garage. Plumbing wise, Im just gonna pull off the house to the garage with 1/2" pex. It's only feeding a small deep sink. So it brings up the question, what sort of set up do y'all use for hot water in your detached garages. I'm planning on using a small 110v 2.5-3 gallon water heater under the sink for the hot water. Any other possiblities or better ideas?

 

[finn]

That's what I use.

Works fine for washing up, and I can even wash the car, plus it fits under some shelving and requires no fancy wiring or dedicated circuit.

I considered upgrading to a bigger tank, or an instant heater, but came to the conclusion that I'd be fixing something that's not broken.

 

[The Cobbler]

I'm going to try an on demand mobile home heater

 

[greasyfingers01]

Home depot has a 3 gpm tankless water heater for less than $200. My buddy has one in his shop, and I'm planning on putting one in mine soon as I get around to it. I don't want to pay to heat the water throughout the week when I'm not in there.

Sent from my SM-N910V using Tapatalk

 

[silvertop]

The tankless units work very well when installed and adjusted properly. Some have high and low settings you can choose. Have had one in the shop now for over 20 years, It still works great.

 

[Chilliwack Murray]

I was looking and thinking along the same lines for my shop sink. A small tank heater that plugs into a regular outlet and provides full flow until it's exhausted it's supply for a hundred and a bit seems like a better deal for the shop than a tankless for north of 500 bucks. Sitting under the sink in an insulated cupboard it really can't take much to keep it warm especially if you wrap it.

Just can't justify the price of a tankless for something that gets so little use.

 

[Deadsquiggles]

So just for washing my hands, maybe cleaning a part of something, would a 3 gallon hot water tank suffice? I'm thinking I'd rather have the truly instant hot water of a tank vs the 10 seconds later instant hot water of a tankless. Plus I think I'd be more comfortable working a tank if I have to than a tankless. Any brand or model recommendations for a small hot water tank?

 

[Steevo]

I put a small (20 gallon?) electric water heater in my shop. I wanted to be sure I'd have what I need when I need it, but not to be heating 60 gallons of water continuously.
It has been perfectly adequate and costs very little to operate.

 

[redmondjp]

I have an Ariston 2.5 gallon unit feeding two sinks in our main bathroom, and a 4 gallon unit feeding the kitchen sink. Ariston also makes a 6.5 gallon unit as well.

For occasional hand washing, the 2.5 gallon works just fine. The 4 gallon unit will do one pan of hot water for doing dishes. I also use the 4 gallon unit for filling up the wash bucket for doing my cars, and it turns to lukewarm by the end of the bucket.

So it depends upon what else you will be using it for - for a shop, I'd go with at least a 4 gallon, if not a 6-8 gallon unit.

 

[Deadsquiggles]

I found a Bosch 4 gallon on Amazon last night for cheaper than a 2.5 gallon so I'm gonna give that a try.

 

[theoldwizard1]

I would put a timer on it.

 

[Deadsquiggles]

I would put a timer on it.

What would the timer do? Does it let me set it up to only heat the water during certain hours? And how hard is it to install a timer? Are there generic, fits-all timers? This the water heater I ordered: https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B014...=AC_SX236_SY340_QL65&keywords=mini+water+tank

 

[wyliesdiesels]

What would the timer do? Does it let me set it up to only heat the water during certain hours? And how hard is it to install a timer? Are there generic, fits-all timers? This the water heater I ordered: https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B014...=AC_SX236_SY340_QL65&keywords=mini+water+tank

Yes the timer would turn the power on only during the time u set.

However, the water heater takes time to heat the water, so u would need to account for this.

Say the water heater takes 10minutes to heat a tank of water and u want hot water at 5pm everyday. Then u would set the timer to turn on at 4:50pm.

U would also set the time for the heater to shut off.

If the times youre gonna be in the shop vary then a timer wont work.

Yes theyre easy to install. U can get one that plugs into an outlet and then the heater plugs into the timer.

Make sure the timer is rated for at least the same current the heater is rated for.

Of course, u could just use a snap switch such as a light switch to control the heater. Put it by the door then when u come into the shop and turn on the lights u can also turn on the water heater. Of course u would have to wait for it to heat up.

 

[Chilliwack Murray]

In my case, the other reason I figured I'd use a small tank heater in the insulated cupboard was to keep the water lines from freezing so a timer would defeat the intent of this. Trying to kill two birds with one stone.

Unless you pay more than 25c/kWh, the cost of running this is minimal compared to the cost of building the shop and everything else we do in them.

If it's 1500W and ran 3min every hour that's 1.2hrs per day or 36hrs/month. If you pay 10c/kWh, 36x1.5kw/hr is 54kw/hr x .10 is $5.40 a month for hot water and non frozen pipes. 1500w is a huge amount of heat in a small well insulated cupboard so it will not be on much of the time, even less when it is warmer in the shop.

 

[Charlie51]

I pulled a 30 gallon gas fired water tank out of the basement of the shop building and installed a 5 gallon 115 volt water heater under the sink cabinet upstairs. It is so nice to have immediate hot water. The impact on the electric bill was minimal, and I have never run out of hot water while using it.

 

[sberry]

Those little heaters are nice, its what I would do. They were hard to come by when I did my first shop sink.

 

[indyokie]

Assuming you have installed the 4 gallon Bosch you shared a link on ?
Please remember that Mini Tanks are storing hot water ( no matter what the size ) and
thus require that T&P valve - please pipe that down to your floor drain or to the floor so
that if it ever leaks or let's go - no additional damage is done.

Mini tank heaters is installed under the sink are a good solution provided you are sticking with 120v.
Several people mention larger gpm tankless - they work great if people have the power in house, I will upgrade to a tankless electric when I upgrade my electrical panel. They require larger power requirements.

Place that heater as close to your faucet and enjoy, please post some photos after you installed !

 

[HAP]

Here is what I installed.
http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=129882