[Greenbuilding] Max Temp Storage Water Heaters+Temperature Sensors

[natural building]

Eli, this begs the question: if you are already replacing the water  
heater, why not get an on-demand electric tankless system that  
supplies water to the bathroom only when you want it?  More compact  
than any tank so you can put it somewhere convenient and it would  
eliminate virtually all the unavoidable standby losses associated with  
a tank?

Regards,
Steve Satow

www.naturalbuildingsite.net
naturalbuilding at shaw.ca

On 2-Feb-11, at 7:41 AM, elitalking wrote:

> I am replacing a water heater that is in a location that is  
> inaccessible for servicing.  We have been in the practice of turning  
> the heater on when we are getting ready for a bath to avoid the  
> standby heat losses
> (Energy $$) from continually heating the water.
>
> I want to know the maximum temp that typical storage electric water  
> heater can safely accommodate.  Since we are not storing the heat,  
> the higher temperature is not an energy penalty.  The higher temp  
> allows for a smaller tank.  We are separating the kitchen use from  
> the bathroom.  Tank will located next to the bathtub.  We will have  
> an on off switch at the tank.
>
> Does anybody know of a heat sensor and or sound indicator when the  
> water reaches a set temperature? Currently we allow more time than  
> is necessary because we want to avoid being too cool.  It sure would  
> be nice to know what is going on.
>
> We could use a 20 gal tank for 20 gal bath and set at temp for  
> bath.  However, we use a cistern.  During dry spells (most of the  
> time) we mix creek water in bath to reduce water usage off of  
> cistern.  Results of my spread sheet below show that 20gal bath can  
> be supplied with 10gal HW tank at 185F.  Can a normal temperature  
> relief valve store that kind of pressure-temperature?

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