Had an issue with the local Gas Company when it cam time to turn the Gas on at My other House. No Gas means there was no Hot Water (gas Hot Water Heater not even 2 years old).

My Wife had been trying to live at the other House because she got a job in that County and obviously wanted Hot Water.

Buying an Electric Hot Water Heater would be a large expense and would incur wiring issues.

So I was thinking of going to a Tank-less Water Heater. But, they can also be expensive and because they have to heat the Water right now they also in general need to be 220-240 Volts which means wiring issues.
Last are Point of use Electric Water Heaters. In general they are miniature electric Water heaters that have a 1.5-6 Gallon tank but can be had using 110-120 Volts and the amperage is low enough you can use a regular wall socket (you need to read the specs).

The disadvantage is that once the 1-6 gallons in the Tank are use the you need time to recover.

There is also on demand electrically heated shower heads. But, of you need one for each shower and it does no hot water anyplace else.

So I trolled eBay and found a used ECOSmart 1.5 gallon point of use water heater that was being auctioned. I did not think 1.5 gallons was going to be sufficient for a shower and it takes 8 minuets for 1.5 gallons to get up to 140 degrees F so the tank is not going to recover fast enough.

I went to the ECOsmart site and they said that you can combine their product with a lager external Tank; and, I have a useless 40 gallon Water Heater attached to the House that I could use as a tank.

So I bid on the used ECOsmart and got it for less then $50 and that included the shipping. (They are a little bit pricy if you pay the full retail cost.) When it arrived it looked new with things like the Pressure Relief Valve still in the sealed Bag. I don’t think it was ever used though it was sold as used.

Please note that the ECOsmart had a Safety Pressure Relief Valve on it so that means if you remove the one off of the Gas Water Heater and connect the ECOsmart to it is still safe.

So I connected the Cold inlet of the ECOsmart to the Gas Water Heater Drain Valve and removed the Pressure Relief Valve from the Gas Water Heater and attached the hot Water outlet from the ECOsmart to it and plugged it in.

And, so far it has worked and seems to have a recovery time close to the heating of 1.5 gallons per 8 minuets of time. Or 3.5-4 hours to heat 40 gallons of Water if the cold water started off at 60 degrees F.

Another advantage of an Electric Water Heater is that you can wrap a lot more insulation around it and not have to worry about venting or having the insulation catch fire from a flame.

After that success I looked to see if their was any sort of conversion kits to convert Gas Water heaters to Electric and I would like to do the same at my other House.
All I found was a Kit for about $75 to turn Motor Home Propane Hot Water Heaters in to Electrics. The users ratings say it saves money but the Heater Elements are only 400 Watts (110-120 Volts) so recover time is slow. The ECOsmart heater element is 1440 watts/12 amps. The other disadvantage is that you need to remove the Tank Anode and put the Heater Element in that place.
Although some removed the Pressure Relief Valve, installed a T, put the element straight in and installed the Pressure Relief Valve on the side of the T.

But, if you have a Motor Home I guess it would be a good deal.

You can go to Amazon and see reviews of the Products. http://www.ecosmartus.com/
　
In the Picture of the ECOsmart the Pressure Relieve Valve is not shown attached; it goes in the middle top between the 2 outlets. The Eletrical Cord is also not shown.

Attached Thumbnails

   

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84 300D, 82 Volvo 244Gl Diesel

The motive force for circulation between the tanks is just convection from heated water and that is fast enough?

It has been fast enough so far.
My Wife takes a shower in the evening and does not take another till the next evening so there is lots of time for it to get hot again.

Right now the Washer is not working so that is not a factor right now and of course if i was working you can was warm or cold.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thermosiphon

When Automobiles were new and Engines were small some of them used the Thermosiphon principle to cool the Engine.

At some point in time I would like to make a Solar Collector and hook it up in a similar manner. Also when the 140 temp is reached the thermostat shuts the heating element off. That means on a sunny CA day the heater element would likely be off during the day.

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84 300D, 82 Volvo 244Gl Diesel

Interesting.

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1977 300d 70k--sold 08
1985 300TD 185k+
1984 307d 126k--sold 8/03
1985 409d 65k--sold 06
1984 300SD 315k--daughter's car
1979 300SD 122k--sold 2/11
1999 Fuso FG Expedition Camper
1993 GMC Sierra 6.5 TD 4x4
1982 Bluebird Wanderlodge CAT 3208--Sold 2/13

Seems like changing the original water heater over from natural gas to propane might have been another possible solution. Swap the burner orifice and plumb it to a 100 pound tank you own and refill as needed, keep a 20 pound tank as an emergency reserve.

It is not economical (hence the kit to conver RV hot water tanks to electric) and you either use small tanks that you exchange or a big Tank and have a large Truck come to your house to fill the Propane.

I also did not want to dea with any sort of building permits and even I think the installation of a Propane Tank in a residential area should be inspected.

I did what I did because it was easy, fast and cheap. I was amazed that it worked out as well as it did.

I actually wanted to go all Solar but I have no time to build a Solar Collector and even in CA there are days when it may not be sunny enough for it to work.

Also putting a Solar Collector on the Roof is going to involve permits and a Pump.
Putting it on the ground in the back yard where the Sun Shines all day and cannot be viewed from the front yard; out of site likely would not need the Pump but would require a really long lengths of Hoses and/or Pipes that would need to be inslulated or there would be too much heat loss.
That makes the installation more expensive and more complicated.

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84 300D, 82 Volvo 244Gl Diesel

I started this thread because someone might just need to do something similar as a temp solution.

When you are done with the ECOsmart 1.5 gal Unit if you like you can use it for what it is made for; to provid an under the Sink or wall mounted hot water for a Sink for dish or hand washing.

Also in My House I had to turn the Gas Stove and Oven off becuase My Wife would frequently burn stuff because she would go in the other Room to watch TV and forget she was cooking or baking.

All our cooing is done by Microwave, Electric Oven (which has a timer built into it) or an Electrick Frying Pan. You can still burn stuff in the Electric Frying Pan but the heat is limited to 450 degrees F so it is at least more difficult.

My old House only have a gas Heater in the living Room and all of the Heat goes from there into the Kitchen. So I have always used Electric Space Heaters.
In the New House it has a Gas Forced Air Heater but I never liked it when I grew up in that house and My wife does not liked it because of Allergies. So I am guessing we will still be using Electric Space Heaters in the new House.

Note with the Electric Space Heaters we only heat the Rooms we are going to be in. We don't heat the whole house.

That lifestyle is not for everyone. But, you can see the only need I have for Gas is for the Water Heater.

Now I need to find another cheap Unit like the ECOsmart for the old House. Then I can have the Gas shut off there too.

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84 300D, 82 Volvo 244Gl Diesel

This is a great thread! Could see this as a permanent, so long as done safe. Almost wish had known about two years ago, as has an electric unit go bad (still in the back garden if anyone in Arizona wants it). But, I love my hybrid gas water heater, and even with the dishwasher and the washing machine going, never ran out of hot water for a shower. Because the space is very limited in the garage, nice to have the water heater take up less space, especially the floor.

With a tank (40 gallons), at the home I grew up in, with us three children, hot water could run out, so, the rule was a 10 minute shower maximum.

With your home, could see it being fairly simple to offset your energy with solar electricity and water. Hot water is a larger demand, so with California allowing one to use the grid as a storage system, it back you up on days the solar water system was unable to heat. I would think those electric space heaters be the largest consumers and be fantastic to get those covered with solar. If done right, could be close or net zero. This is the kind of work my degree is in, so just couldn't help myself.

As for long lengths of pipe, was surprised how little it is to rent a trencher. Bet if you could run the pipes at least, offset a lot of the extra expense. Heck, you are so handy, why not build your own solar water heater? (Being silly, of course. )

If y'all like electric space heaters, bet you like electric mattress pad. That is how I address a lot of my heat, as during the day, can bundle up and/or move more. Plus, being a student, not here a lot of the time, and the coldest time is when sleeping. Mine is 12 volts D.C., so not harmful like those 120 volts AC blankets. Also have a bad back/joints/sore muscles, so helps a good bit, so even run it on low in the warmer months (use it all year round and set the A/C to 76 to 78 degrees at night (up to 84 during the day).

When I finally truly own the home, plan to put solar electric on, as by then, the technology will be so much better. I am really blessed, as the back of the home faces south southwest (believe I.I.R.C., 10 degrees to the west of solar south) and has a lot of roof. My home used to have solar water (can see the rust spot from the huge 80 gallon tank) and does have advantages, but don't have the space inside for such a huge tank.

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Current fleet:

1985 Mercedes-Benz 280TE - Waiting for heart surgery.

1985 Mercedes-Benz 300TDT - Rear ended 23 September 2016 and now looking for a new home.

1979 Mercedes-Benz 300TD - Parted out.

1964 Volkswgen Beetle - Vater's since September 1968 and undergoing a restoration.

1971 Volkswagen Sunroof Squareback with F.I. - in need of full restoration.

1971 Volkswagen Squareback automatic with F.I. - Vacationing with her caretaker until he is in better health.

This thread makes me wish I lived in an area where I could use solar panels. Western PA isn't known for it's high amount of sun, and where my house sits, I only get direct sun for about 2 hours a day, from 4-6pm in the Summer...it sits on the side of a hill, with the front facing West, due South is the Allegheny River, North is uphill and East is facing trees and a creek. The sun hits the house on the Western side, which is the living room. It makes for a warm room in the summer during the sun. 2 hours of sun isn't enough to offset the cost of electricity or gas here. Maybe if I lived on top of the ridge, but not here.

When I lived in Utah, we had solar panels on the house which made for very cheap electricity for us. Having an electric water heater worked out well for us there...plus we always had sun.

I've considered putting a windmill on the roof due to the amount of breeze we get moving through the valley. Maybe I should investigate it more...

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1987 560SL
85,000 miles

Roof might not have the structural design, go tower.

I did not know there was electric mattress pads.

The Peole that lived next to the new House had their House Solarized and 3 years later moved out. So the new owners got a good benifit.

The Bedrooms in my old House were 10'x10' and I put some thick insulation up between the Cieling and the Roof. We watch TV in the Bed Room so we are not trying to heat a Living Room with Electric Space Heaters.

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84 300D, 82 Volvo 244Gl Diesel

Think y'all be good candidates since I also have the only tele in the bedroom. Never checked the consumption, but can as the electric company gave me one of those meters. Bet be the same or less than the space heater since it is only heating the direct space y'all in versus a whole room. I turn on mine about a half hour before climbing in, as the pad has high heat for that time, then goes to the setting (shuts off after 10 hours). Such a luxury to climb into a warm bed!

Here: Amazon.com: Soft Heat Micro-Plush Top Low-Voltage Electric Heated Queen Mattress Pad, White: Perfect Fit: Home & Kitchen

Those folks sure did! Solar has about a 10 year return, I.I.R.C.. That is why I have to wait. I don't consume all that much electricity, so for now, alright. But, the rates are only going to go up.

Good idea on insulation where it is needed! Know my attic insulation needs improvement, but not sure can afford all 1248 and the garage (here they cheap out and put no insulation above despite it sharing two walls and getting hotter inside than outside). What fun taking care of a home...

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Current fleet:

1985 Mercedes-Benz 280TE - Waiting for heart surgery.

1985 Mercedes-Benz 300TDT - Rear ended 23 September 2016 and now looking for a new home.

1979 Mercedes-Benz 300TD - Parted out.

1964 Volkswgen Beetle - Vater's since September 1968 and undergoing a restoration.

1971 Volkswagen Sunroof Squareback with F.I. - in need of full restoration.

1971 Volkswagen Squareback automatic with F.I. - Vacationing with her caretaker until he is in better health.

True...especially with this old house. If I were to do it, it would take a few years to pay for itself. The system I've been looking at for the past year or so is the Liam F1 Urban Wind Turbine. It's composite glass fiber, conch inspired turbine design is lightweight enough to spin with the slightest breeze, and has some fairly impressive test numbers. The bad thing is that I cannot find this in operation in the US as of yet. I would love to physically see it in operation before allowing my thoughts to go any further...

If I were able to build a pole tall enough, the Butterfly, which is a hybrid turbine/solar cell system that could generate enough electricity to possibly come off the grid completely. However, since the borough I live in is also the electricity supplier for the borough, I highly doubt they would allow either to be installed.

Here's an article on it... Screwy-looking wind turbine makes little noise and a big claim

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1987 560SL
85,000 miles

I thought if you were off the Electric Grid you had to have the Charger (Wind or Solar) charge into a bank of Batteries and they invert to AC for use in your Home.

The Bank of Batteries is expensive and eventually needs to be replaced.

I read a brief article on a Solar Powered Shed and the Authors of the article were surprised the Batteries only lasted about 1/2 of the projected life.

What they found out is that if the Batteries are discharged below a specific Voltage (sorry I can't remember) it cut the life of the Batteries.

They re-did the project with more Battiest so that the Battery Voltage did not drop below the amount that caused decreased life and got close to the max Battery life.

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84 300D, 82 Volvo 244Gl Diesel

Using the existing insulated 40gal tank was smart-good job!

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$60 OM617 Blank Exhaust Flanges
$110 OM606 Blank Exhaust Flanges
No merc at the moment