If it is one circuit, they should be in series. If there are two circuits they must remain in parallel. I had one yesterday where they had one electric water heater and one gas-fired water heater in series. The house was to small to require gallons of hot water. In this set up, they could shut off the gas water heater but not the electric. I recommended that if they did not need gallons of hot water in storage they should have a plumber install a bypass valve so they could use the gas water heater by itself.
With the electric water heater down stream, if you shut it off you get 50 gallons of cold water before the hot water arrives at the faucet. Turning off the upstream water heater if they are the same has no effect on operation, but will save energy loss by not storing unnecessary amounts of hot water. Dual Water Heaters - parallel or series Quote: Originally Posted by gmelien Had a call from someone that just had there home inspected.
Kelly Visit Brian E. Kelly's Web site Find all posts by Brian E. Dual Water Heaters - parallel or series Series has an advantage I think. A shower becomes increasingly cooler because the hot water that is used from the water heater is replaced with cold water at a rate faster than the water heater can heat it up. By putting a water heater in between the cold supply and the other hot water heater, you can warm the cold water first so that the final water heater need only heat up already-warm water.
This series scenario could potentially be setup where you would never run out of hot water while only paying for the energy to "warm" the water of the upstream tank.. So it isn't quite the cost of keeping two tanks hot like you would have to do if they were parallel. Dual Water Heaters - parallel or series One should note that in predominantly colder climates, it doesn't matter anyway. The energy loss from heating up water on a parallel system that isn't immediately used doesn't disappear.
FIRST PROBLEM: Turning off a hot water heater.
It is lost to the air eventually, which someone is paying to heat anyway Turn off your water heater, go on vacation, come home and feel the water Most of the heat loss is suffered in the piping to the fixtures. Originally Posted by dandersen I guess it would all depend if they service two separate circuits or one. In some areas where they have ultra lower electric charges in the night use a timer for the middle on the Night.
This could be a great idea it the electric heater was the upstream and gas down stream. Nick is correct heat is not lost from water heater for about 8 months when we heat our homes. Roy Roy Cooke Roycooke sympatico. Cooke, Sr Visit Roy D. Dual Water Heaters - parallel or series If I installed two 50 gallon tanks in parallel, during times of low usage could I not turn off the water to one and just let the pilot burn or turn off the gas as well.
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Oh, also turn off the hot water outlet. Then, when I've a houseful of people using three showers I could just reconnect and fire up the second of the heaters. Any problems with this plan? All thoughts are appreciated. It depends upon the design intention. Obeserve and note accordingly.
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Dual Water Heaters - parallel or series You must keep the main water at F if not you will have a chance of building bacteria in the tank. If you plan to use a tank in series this is OK but not parallel. Originally Posted by kwood You must keep the main water at F if not you will have a chance of building bacteria in the tank. Dual Water Heaters - parallel or series Here is temperature info about the survival of the legionella baterium, which can cause the legion or pontiac fever: They can survive but are dormant You'll find pretty much the same info as what Roy posted if you go to this: Misegades Visit William T.
Misegades's Web site Find all posts by William T. Dual Water Heaters - parallel or series Thank you for your comments. I hadn't thought of bacteria. What if the "off" tank were drained during periods of non-use? What problems would you anticipate there? Or, find a home inspector anywhere in the world with our inspection search engine.
Set container under TP overflow tube, open TP valve on each heater and get baseline temperature using cooking thermometer, then average two temps. Run Hot tap at bathtub and measure temperature How you would correct the difference, and possibly balance heater, is to keep adjusting thermostats until average is reached. Which is the best design, Series or Parallel? First off, Parallel is a challenge getting each water heater to balance into equal draw.
It might be impossible unless heaters are identical BTU rating and gallonage, and there is no guarantee that the pair will stay balanced over time.
Water heaters in series
Does this means Series is better? In my opinion yes, because heater 1 can be turned off except during peak usage times. This gives Series a clearcut advantage if higher usage is just occasional, such as weekends or filling a large bathtub now and then.
Sales manager from Lochinvar pointed out a disadvantage for Series that should be noted. He says 'if both tanks are used continually, then tank 1 is doing most the work, and will wear out sooner than tank 2, possibly twice as fast if usage is very heavy. The continual influx of cold water into heater 1 will produce more moisture and cause more stress on the steel tank. The flue tubes, baffles, and burners are susceptible to hydrocarbons in condensate moisture created inside the vent and carbonic acid. Continual exposure will weaken the flue tubes.
Condensation can also spoil combustion and produce a carbon monoxide hazard. Read about CO detector and vent test This means an overworked heater 1 in Series configuration will fail sooner, and need more maintenance. Meanwhile, Parallel heaters do equal work and each heater should last equally long IF the Parallel heaters are balanced.
Dual Water Heaters - parallel or series - InterNACHI Inspection Forum
My opinion is that reducing consumption is best strategy for long term. That is not always possible with high density living, or over-consuming households with Niagara-size shower heads, in which case if water heaters are in Series, then heater 1 should be expected to fail sooner, and need more maintenance. The problem with Series also gives a choice for people who are using old heater with a new one: Use newest heater for heater 1 so the old one can last a bit longer, or use old heater for heater 1 and replace it when it gives out.
The information gives options, but not an answer for which is best. Resources How to maintain water heater How to troubleshoot gas water heater. Effect of water softener on two water heaters -One softener can supply soft water for two heaters, any configuration. It must be installed on cold water. Hot water will damage softener. Use expansion tank if line has check valve or pressure reducing valve.
Expansion tank is installed on cold water line. Identify and repair water heater valves Effect of water softener on water heaters in general -Softener can cause odor problems on rural water well.
Multiple Hot Water Heaters
Turn down the softening, or remove softener, or replace anode rod frequently, or install power anode rod, or add hydrogen peroxide frequently. How to replace anode rod Expansion tank and two or more heaters: A single expansion tank will work, depending on valves and other plumbing factors such as check valves. Purpose of expansion tank is to prevent problems created when pressure from heated water inside tank is confined and not allowed to expand due to installation of valves and check valves installed on the hot water line.
Too much pressure can damage tank, cause pipes to burst, cause TP valve to drizzle or weep hot water.