> Help Sourcing Home Hot Water Heater?

[Skid Row Joe]

Looking for the best source on Internet/drop ship to me price nationally:

Rheem/Richmond 85Gal Electric Water Heater Mr85245

Gawd they're high - but the efficiency and longevity is what I'm looking for.

I'm trying to beat this price from The Toolworkshop:

MSRP: $1,233.98
Price: $986.18
You Save: $247.80 (20 %)

[TheDon]

you might just have to eat the cost. Soon as you start getting over 55 gallon size prices go sky high.

http://www.google.com/search?sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8&q=Rheem/Richmond+85Gal+Electric+Water+Heater+Mr85245#q=mr85245&hl=en&prmd=ivs&source=univ&tbs=shop:1&tbo=u&ei=hjzLTJT5LYL78AaIp6UW&sa=X&oi=product_result_group&ct=title&resnum=1&sqi=2&ved=0CCsQrQQwAA&fp=ddfbf15c2e2f4021

3 seconds on google

[Skid Row Joe]

Originally Posted by TheDon

you might just have to eat the cost. Soon as you start getting over 55 gallon size prices go sky high.

http://www.google.com/search?sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8&q=Rheem/Richmond+85Gal+Electric+Water+Heater+Mr85245#q=mr85245&hl=en&prmd=ivs&source=univ&tbs=shop:1&tbo=u&ei=hjzLTJT5LYL78AaIp6UW&sa=X&oi=product_result_group&ct=title&resnum=1&sqi=2&ved=0CCsQrQQwAA&fp=ddfbf15c2e2f4021

3 seconds on google

That's true, Joe.....

Years ago, before Home Depot/Lowe's you had to know someone in the plumbing business to get some plumbing parts at dealer cost from the distributor. Or you couldn't buy them at all. I'm glad the Internet has opened-up the access of items like this to the whole country.

[TheDon]

If I was in the market for a hot water heater, which my parents were since ours sprung a leak, I'd search for the best deal.

I did find use a replacement for a really good price. Nothing wrong with scratch and dent items lol.

[kerry]

Would 2-40 gallons be cheaper?

[Skid Row Joe]

Originally Posted by kerry

Would 2-40 gallons be cheaper?

Well, (I heard from a buddy) the draw to the large gallonage is that the mass is supposed to help keep the mass warm/hot, versus a smaller tank.

MY buddy that bought one, stated that it only varied by a one degree drop in temperature, in 24 hours, if left untapped - if that's true, then I thought I'm on-board.

I'm sure Brian Carleton will trash the theory that I heard about this particular model. If I'm all wet so to speak....

But for the energy efficiency - I just don't see any smaller tanks constructed and offered for sale in the fashion of this Marathon. This "Thermos style construction," and low-grade temperature of water heating, offers some sort of longevity on the tank's life expectancy.... It's a 4,500 watt draw, btw.

BTW, there is plenty of room for the tank in my home's space for it - (I think.....)

[Stoneseller]

When my 5 year water heater developed a leak (5 years 2 months old) I went with a brand Grainger sells, as the convenience of Graingers is a huge plus for me. I chose this one:
http://www.grainger.com/Grainger/VANGUARD-Water-Heater-3WA76?Pid=search
The price was pretty comparable to other options.

[Brian Carlton]

Originally Posted by Skid Row Joe

Well, (I heard from a buddy) the draw to the large gallonage is that the mass is supposed to help keep the mass warm/hot, versus a smaller tank.

MY buddy that bought one, stated that it only varied by a one degree drop in temperature, in 24 hours, if left untapped - if that's true, then I thought I'm on-board.

I'm sure Brian Carleton will trash the theory that I heard about this particular model. If I'm all wet so to speak....

Well, BC screwed up big time. He bought one of the 40 gallon electric units for the rental house..........nothing special..........one of the higher line models from Lowes, IIRC...........about $300.

The rental house has been empty for a couple of months...........one single 60w bulb on..........that's it.

The consumption at the house for 45 days was 534 KWH.

So, BC suggests that you buy a much more efficient unit in terms of insulation and the capability to maintain temperature without energy input. If that unit costs $1K, it's worth it.

However, after seriously questioning the capabilities of the tankless heaters, I'm somewhat convinced that is the better choice if the gas is available for it. The cost is similar to the cost of that premium tank unit and you don't need to suffer with the tank.

BTW, why would you need 80 gallon capability?

[SwampYankee]

Originally Posted by Brian Carlton

BTW, why would you need 80 gallon capability?

That'd be my question, too. I just bought a 45 gal. HE gas Kenmore and with 6 of us and all the related baths/showers, laundry, dishes (with 2 often occuring at the same time) we've yet to run out of hot water.

[Billybob]

Originally Posted by Skid Row Joe

Looking for the best source on Internet/drop ship to me price nationally:

Rheem/Richmond 85Gal Electric Water Heater Mr85245

Gawd they're high - but the efficiency and longevity is what I'm looking for.

I'm trying to beat this price from The Toolworkshop:

MSRP: $1,233.98
Price: $986.18
You Save: $247.80 (20 %)

If efficiency, i. e. operating cost is a serious consideration why wouldn't you consider something like a GE Hybrid unit, 50% more up front but you'll make that up over time.

http://www.geappliances.com/heat-pump-hot-water-heater/

http://www.google.com/products/catalog?hl=en&q=GE's+hybrid+water+heater+cost&um=1&ie=UTF-8&cid=16203948784313965804&ei=alHLTLCmAcT58AaZ8_T3AQ&sa=X&oi=product_catalog_result&ct=result&resnum=3&ved=0CDQQ8wIwAg#

[t walgamuth]

Around here the cost of operating with Gas is very much more economical than resistance electric.

yes A larger gallonage will lose heat slower. It will have less surface area per gallon.

Ever since I kept running out of water about 17 years ago I have had a commercial grade 75 gal gas with a 40,000 btu burner (IIRC) which is tough to run out. It was expensive but I have never regretted it since. I don't remember ever being stuck with a cold shower since (unless by choice) and now that the kids are mostly gone I can turn down the temp and it loses heat even slower.

Even at that I spend more to heat hot water than to heat my superinsulated passive solar home.

[Skid Row Joe]

Originally Posted by Brian Carlton

Well, BC screwed up big time. He bought one of the 40 gallon electric units for the rental house..........nothing special..........one of the higher line models from Lowes, IIRC...........about $300.

The rental house has been empty for a couple of months...........one single 60w bulb on..........that's it.

The consumption at the house for 45 days was 534 KWH.

So, BC suggests that you buy a much more efficient unit in terms of insulation and the capability to maintain temperature without energy input. If that unit costs $1K, it's worth it.

However, after seriously questioning the capabilities of the tankless heaters, I'm somewhat convinced that is the better choice if the gas is available for it. The cost is similar to the cost of that premium tank unit and you don't need to suffer with the tank.

BTW, why would you need 80 gallon capability?

I don't - but peruse any other whole-house electric HWHs. Nothing is constructed in the fashion of efficiency as this Marathon is.

I had originally thought I'd go with a tankless Energy Star Bosch 115 electric on-demand HWH from Lowe's. Cost - approx. $490.00 (includes tax).

However, I have heard so much negative about longevity capability of tankless electric - (again scuttlebutt) that I thought go efficient - go Rheem/Marathon 85 GAL.

BTW - the drop of one degree in 24 hours is only scuttlebutt from my buddy who bought one from a distributor in Mpls. MN. and had it drop-shipped to his home in Omaha, NE. I have a hard time believing the one degree drop, without an electric draw. Also, according to my buddy, the Marathon only heats the water to 120* - perhaps that's why it needs to have the mass, to provide for multiple faucet usage in the home?

I'm certainly no expert - but this Rheem/Marathon looks like the real deal to get - it's certainly got the energy efficient bells and whistles look.....

[Brian Carlton]

Originally Posted by Skid Row Joe

However, I have heard so much negative about longevity capability of tankless electric - (again scuttlebutt) that I thought go efficient - go Rheem/Marathon 85 GAL.

I think you're correct..........most of them are crap. However, there were a couple of threads on them in the last year and one brand seems to be a standout in terms of durability.

Do a search on the forum for them and see what you think about that specific brand. IIRC, some folks had them for over 10 years without issues.

BTW, the tankless electric usually won't work without a massive infrastructure improvement to handle the current.............hardly worth the expense. If you don't have gas, I'd concur with your choice for a more costly and more efficient unit.

[Skid Row Joe]

Originally Posted by Brian Carlton

I think you're correct..........most of them are crap. However, there were a couple of threads on them in the last year and one brand seems to be a standout in terms of durability.

Do a search on the forum for them and see what you think about that specific brand. IIRC, some folks had them for over 10 years without issues.

BTW, the tankless electric usually won't work without a massive infrastructure improvement to handle the current.............hardly worth the expense. If you don't have gas, I'd concur with your choice for a more costly and more efficient unit.

I spent $1,100.00 for a licensed electrical contractor to install a 100 AMP wire from my electric breaker box to cover the 80 AMP the Bosch electric tankless 115 says it needs on the Bosch literature/website. - At the same time, I had a 30 AMP outlet run and mounted to the brick side of my house for the coach to plug-in at the same time. Love it - runs the roof AC great on the coach when off the road and it's a quick and easy plug-in.

The wire is run to the HWH location - all I need now is a new HWH.

And no, there's no natural gas run to this home. It's 1/2 block away, and I got a quote 15 years ago to run a line to my home - doable, but this home is not the re-sale to put just a lot of money in.

Open for all suggestions - 'appreciate the replies. This is a guy thing - this fuel efficiency theme....

[Brian Carlton]

Originally Posted by Skid Row Joe

Open for all suggestions - 'appreciate the replies. This is a guy thing - this fuel efficiency theme....

I really like the concept of that GE unit that BB suggested above. The combination of a heat pump to do the heavy lifting and a heating element as a backup can really save some KWH.

The quoted efficiency certainly depends upon placing the unit in a heated area. However, the quoted efficiency ignores the additional demand on the space heating for the house due to the absorption of the heat from the surrounding room.