Any Plumber's? Hot Water Heater Question!

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  • audioluvr
    audioluvr Posts: 5,432
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    Recirculating pumps are awesome for long runs but they are best if you insulate the hot line going to the far spigot. There are basically two ways to do it. One is have a pump on your HWH and have sensor valves attached to the farthest sink.

    https://www.homedepot.com/p/Watts-Hot-Water-Recirculating-System-with-Built-In-Timer-0955800/100426993

    https://www.homedepot.com/p/Watts-Hot-Water-Recirculating-System-Sensor-Valve-Kit-Sensor-Valve-Kit/100493462

    This way if you have multiple bathrooms a long ways from the HWH you can put a sensor valve in each room. The other is to have one under the kitchen sink (or any sink that has an outlet next to it) that is a pump and sensor all in one like this.

    https://www.ebay.com/itm/AquaMotion-One-AMH3K-R-Hot-Water-Recirculation-Kit/254007743514?_trkparms=aid=111001&algo=REC.SEED&ao=1&asc=40719&meid=ad1f0fd56225489cbe433764b6533512&pid=100675&rk=4&rkt=15&mehot=none&sd=223714195741&itm=254007743514&pmt=1&noa=1&pg=2380057&_trksid=p2380057.c100675.m4236&_trkparms=pageci:96c6817a-3a8e-11ea-b277-74dbd1802106|parentrq:bcbc7fa016f0aa48c3e265d0fffaad04|iid:1

    With the ladder the pump only runs when the temp drops and it's recirculating and you can program it to only run at certain times. The previous version is probably best for large homes with multiple bathrooms with long runs.
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  • verb
    verb Posts: 10,176
    edited January 2020
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    Thank you sir! I was looking to most likely get the Watts kit. Easy installation too! :smile:

    The long runs in the house are all insulated too. Helped a little bit.
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  • gudnoyez
    gudnoyez Posts: 8,060
    edited August 2022
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    Well 7 1/2 years in and the A.O. Smith is leaking guess they dont make them last anymore. I'm guessing the replacement wont be a A.O. Smith. S.O.A.B.
    Post edited by gudnoyez on
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  • charley96
    charley96 Posts: 306
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    They're mostly all crap nowadays. Just get a cheap Menard's one and maintain it cause I doubt there's anything better. Total crap shoot on those.
  • Emlyn
    Emlyn Posts: 4,369
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    One thing I noticed when I bought a new water heater last year is there are models with a 5 or 7 year warranty and models with up to a 12 year warranty. The main difference I noticed was the models with a longer warranty have two sacrificial anode rods in them instead of one. Apart from that they looked about the same.
  • VR3
    VR3 Posts: 28,020
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    When i bought my last water heater I purchased from a plumbing supply house.

    The biggest difference is everything seemed to be just slightly nicer. The drain at the bottom was brass versus plastic, longer warranty, just little things here and there that showed higher quality.

    Has performed well so far 3 years in. I drain it once a year and flush it as well
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  • audioluvr
    audioluvr Posts: 5,432
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    I had my 5 year one for 23 years. I flushed it annually. Not once did it ever failed me. Only replaced it because I wanted an on demand system.
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    Harman Kardon T65C w/Grado Gold. (Don't laugh. It sounds great!)


    There is about a 5% genetic difference between apes and men …but that difference is the difference between throwing your own poo when you are annoyed …and Einstein, Shakespeare and Miss January. by Dr. Sardonicus
  • pitdogg2
    pitdogg2 Posts: 24,559
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    Longer warranty= better bigger (usually) burner, two anodes, brass drain and usually better insulation.
    You can get more years out of one by changing the anodes every few yrs depending on water type. Eventually if you have a gas one the burner is going to burn through the bottom. I've never had an electric one so I can't speak to those I don't think I will ever have one.
  • motorstereo
    motorstereo Posts: 2,049
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    Knock on wood first.......I'm at 12 years here now on mine which is by far the most I've ever gotten. I've also never flushed this tank and there's no doubt in my mind that flushing was shortening my tank's life by 2/3s.
  • Gardenstater
    Gardenstater Posts: 4,182
    edited August 2022
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    My 12 yr Rheem Performance Platinum only has one anode unfortunately. Also has a plastic drain valve but I plan on flushing it once a year and I'll swap the brass one that I removed from the old Rheem, which lasted 20 yrs with only one flushing that I know of and no anode replacement. Very hard water here too. The plumber friend up the street I talked to said he was of the belief that the tanks were the same regardless of warranty. I made sure I installed it with the proper dielectric unions and a catch basin underneath so that any future seepage leaks can be directed by hose to the sump pump until replacement. I had to order a short one which not all places have in stock, because of the low plumbing above that I didn't want to have to redo. Also, installed a 2 gal expansion tank which I didn't have which may help with longevity (hoping).
    George / NJ

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  • Toolfan66
    Toolfan66 Posts: 16,895
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    I have never flushed my HWH, nor have I pulled the anode, lived here for 22 years, and have replaced the HWH one time, its a Rheem, this one is 8 years old from HD. I would never replace parts on a HWH, I would just replace the unit..
  • Emlyn
    Emlyn Posts: 4,369
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    Toolfan66 wrote: »
    I have never flushed my HWH, nor have I pulled the anode, lived here for 22 years, and have replaced the HWH one time, its a Rheem, this one is 8 years old from HD. I would never replace parts on a HWH, I would just replace the unit..

    Same here. At least for a gas water heater. I just replace the whole unit every ten years or so and check for water in the pan once in a while. Other than that the only time I touch the heater is to turn it down low when I travel and then shut off the water in the house.