Shop Hot Water??

[foamer01]

Just curious on thoughts regarding hot water in the shop. My needs are hot water at the wash tub sink for hand washing and some other light duties. What would be the best way/economical both short term (install costs and long term operational costs) to accomplish this? Again I would be using very very low volume. Your comments would be appreciated.
Thanks!

 

[Falcon67]

I was in a restaurant on the coast this weekend, and in the phone booth size bathroom they had the smallest cutest Rheem electric hot water heater. It was maybe 12" in diameter and maybe 18" tall.

Found specs here:
http://www.rheem.com/documents/point-of-use-spec-sheet

 

[sberry]

Back when I did mine there were not the shopping options there are now but for hand washing there is a small electric in Home Depot for under a hundred bucks, am sure you could check on line too. Turn the temp down so it isn't super hot, mount right under sink if you wanted. I have full facilities but have small electric on sink at far side of shop, could get by without it but back then it was a labor to find a good used small one at less than a small fortune. Nothing beats a place in the shop to wash up with warm water especially in cold weather and for removing grease.
Was one of the first things I hooked up, the other day a bud stopped to do something and as he was leaving I mention,,, want to wash your hands,,, ha So used to working where that was problematic.

 

[sberry]

yes, those are nice, I see models 2.5 and the 6 gallon is in a different class, both voltages are nice, if was installing there is no reason not to use 240 other than it takes up an extra breaker space. The one I use was wired 120 so I used it and spaces were at a premium. I would prefer the 6 gallon, takes only a bit more space and power to keep a little water warm but could fill a bucket with hot if needed. My choice for sinks is a common laundry tub modified with a kitchen faucet.
Ideally installed as close to the point of use as possible and in my set up I violate code a bit as to pipe sizing in a couple places, a 1/2 with couple fixtures on them that are not used at same time anyway, just on the hot side, smaller pipe delivers hot so much faster than a 3/4. My kitchen has about 6 ft of 3/4 to it and if I was doing again would run a separate piece of 1/2 but not that big of deal. One shop sink is about 18 ft, kept that line 1/2 on the hot, about 10 or 15 seconds till hot.

 

[Charles (in GA)]

One would wish the small under cabinet was under a hundred bucks. The price of water heaters has skyrocketed.

These are referred to a "point of use" water heaters.

There is a 2-1/2 gal that is round and white, looks like a regular water heater, is about $237, made by GE. 1400 watts/120v.

Somewhat better deal is the Ariston GL2.5 that is also 2-1/2 gal and 120v, in a neat rectangular plastic housing and can be wall mounted or in a under sink cabinet, $160, and its 4 gal brother is $224. I have a unit similar to the Ariston 2.5 that is a Titan.

The best deal is a GL6+ which is an Ariston 7 gal under cabinet, for $204. I haven't found it in the stores. It is a little large but I wished I had more capacity for filling buckets with hot water in the winter for car washing, etc.

Short of that, a 20 gal hung on the wall is my other option when I upgrade.

For similar money, a "on demand" Rheem 13K watt, 240v for $228 is a decent consideration, except for the need to run a 240v circuit. This requires 54 amps, which is considered a continuous use item, so a minimum of a 70 amp breaker and circuit is needed.

Rheem on demand water heater

HERE is that same Rheem 13K watt unit for $188 with free shipping.

HD point of use water heaters

Ariston 2.5 and 4 gal units

Ariston 7 gal unit

GE 2.5 gal unit

Charles

 

[TWX]

One would wish the small under cabinet was under a hundred bucks. The price of water heaters has skyrocketed.

These are referred to a "point of use" water heaters.

<snip>

For similar money, a "on demand" Rheem 13K watt, 240v for $228 is a decent consideration, except for the need to run a 240v circuit. This requires 54 amps, which is considered a continuous use item, so a minimum of a 70 amp breaker and circuit is needed.

Rheem on demand water heater

HERE is that same Rheem 13K watt unit for $188 with free shipping.

Sorry about the threadjack, but what do you think of this for a kitchen? I currently have a 40 gallon hot water heater for my kitchen, that also supplies water to the workshop. That's all it does. I could spend $400 and get two, one for the workshop, one for the kitchen (shame they're too far apart to supply both) and then I could keep my current 40 gallon unit as a spare for when the other 40 gallon unit for the bathrooms fails, or just get rid of it...

 

[sberry]

Well you can see how many I bought lately, ha. I collected a spare and haven't had to use it. How economical the instant would be is varied, if it was close to good power or wanted to drain it, etc, lots of factors. If I am using this frequently might not want a 50A load coming on my electric every time I rinse my hands. Couple bucks a foot for wire.

 

[StaggeringGoat]

In my shop I have a 3600w demand style water heater. It's plenty of hot water for washing hands, even a shower. Only takes a 30A breaker and 10 gauge wire at 120 volts. Way happier than with the tank I had in my old shop I always had to turn off when I wasn't using it...

 

[foamer01]

Just another thought however I have zero knowledge; What does the RV industry use for hot water?

 

[StaggeringGoat]

Just another thought however I have zero knowledge; What does the RV industry use for hot water?

Generally they are small <6 gallon tanks with both propane and electric heat sources.

 

[djjsr]

I have a small electric water heater in my workshop but I only turn it on in the winter. It feeds this utility sink and the bathroom.

Upper left in the picture.

View media item 7212

 

[Charles (in GA)]

I think the instant units "ramp up" to whatever is needed. If the flow is low, say a sink running slowly, it doesn't put full heat into it, and if a washing machine filling, it puts out more........ not sure, they don't really say, other than "max amps" which hints that there could be a lower amp draw on that unit? On all of them, you have to flow at least .4 gal per minute to activate the heater.

http://www.wamhomecenter.com/productcart/pc/viewCategories.asp?idCategory=6802

What I'm looking at is prices vs what you get.

3000 watt, $169
7000 watt, $175
9000 watt, $175
13000 watt, $188
18000 watt, $399
27000 watt, $675

The 13000 watt is the most bang for the buck if you have the power to run it It will give you a 50 degree temp rise with a 2 gal a min flow, not unreasonable filling a bucket in the shop sink, in the winter when the incoming water temp might be 45°F or less.

You are going to have to run a circuit anyhow, even the 3000 watt unit requires a 30 amp circuit. In my case, it would take about 40 ft or so of 3/4 conduit and the two #6 THHN wires and a #10 ground. Not cheap, but its a one time expense.

I have a 200 amp service dedicated to the shop. The lighting, all on, plus the air compressor, and the shop heater (blower, combustion blower, oil preheater, etc) combined draw about 110 amps. So a 54 amp load on the water heater is doable..........

Oh, I hate you'all, got me thinking............ hot water for....ever.

Anybody want to buy my 2.5 gal Titan water heater???

Charles

 

[Jackfre]

Depends upon how far away the sink is from the house water heater. If, as you say, you have very infrequent use, I'd install a no-freeze hose bib off the nearest hot water line to the garage and run a hose to the sink. Keep it simple.

 

[NUTTSGT]

In my shop I have a 3600w demand style water heater. It's plenty of hot water for washing hands, even a shower. Only takes a 30A breaker and 10 gauge wire at 120 volts. Way happier than with the tank I had in my old shop I always had to turn off when I wasn't using it...

That looks a bit more doable than some that I have seen. Do you have anymore info on it ?

 

[Plump]

I was going to go the tankless route despite some misgivings from plumber friends about their effectiveness. Luckily, as most projects in the garage turn out to be, my buddy was demo-ing his new business and had this little water heater to get rid of.

I can't tell you how perfect it is! Just enough water to wash some dishes (we do a lot of cooking, prep, and eating in the garage), hands, etc. It only takes 5 minutes to get hot so I don't even leave it plugged in all the time. Yes, that's right, a simple plug in job so no electrical work!

Couldn't be happier, especially for free!

 

[MartyO]

I was in a restaurant on the coast this weekend, and in the phone booth size bathroom they had the smallest cutest Rheem electric hot water heater. It was maybe 12" in diameter and maybe 18" tall.

Found specs here:
http://www.rheem.com/documents/point-of-use-spec-sheet

I had one of those and found that while it might be handy for washing your hands after you tinkle, it ran out of hot water before I could get my greasy hands clean.

I replaced it with a 6 gallon under sink unit and have been happy I did.

It was money well invested in my shop as I like to leave relatively clean and it makes momma happy that I don't come into the house with greasy mitts.

 

[StaggeringGoat]

That looks a bit more doable than some that I have seen. Do you have anymore info on it ?

Here it is at Grainger, I'm sure it's available cheaper elsewhere.
http://www.grainger.com/Grainger/CH... Heaters-_-6DXT2&ci_src=14110944&ci_sku=6DXT2

 

[Eagle Point]

I had the Ariston 2.5 at my previous house in the detached garage and it worked great for washing hands, cleaning paint brushes, etc. Very compact, fits under the sink.

 

[NUTTSGT]

Here it is at Grainger, I'm sure it's available cheaper elsewhere.
http://www.grainger.com/Grainger/CH... Heaters-_-6DXT2&ci_src=14110944&ci_sku=6DXT2

Thank you sir.

 

[trainer]

12 gallon 120v conventional water heater. Mine runs on a 15a circuit. Cost was around $ 130 cdn