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thetankatwaterheaterrescue.com > Forums > The Tank > Is an indirect hot water heater really the most efficient option? |
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thetankatwaterheaterrescue.com > Forums > The Tank > Is an indirect hot water heater really the most efficient option? |
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| Is an indirect hot water heater really the most efficient option? | Rate Topic |
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| Posted: Mon Sep 6th, 2010 12:17 am |
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1st Post |
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musicman-1978 Member
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I have a Phase III 45 gallon indirect hot water heater being fed by a Burnham boiler with a firing rate of 1.36 gph. The system is about 7 years old. I put a timer on the burner, and the system consistantly runs for about 1 hour in a 24 hr period during the summer months, which means at the lowest oil price I can find right now on the CT shoreline of $2.45, it is costing me $3.33 per day or about $100 per month to heat water in a house with just 2 people. Everyone says that the indirect system is supposed to be the most efficient but this seems to be pretty expensive to me considering I know people with gas hot water heaters that are paying only about $30 - $40 per month and using similiar amounts of hot water. I was considering replacing the system this fall with either the new Rheem or GE Hybrid electric heat pump water heater. There is a tax credit going on until the end of the year that would offset some of the cost. Is this typical of what I should expect with an indirect system? Would it be reasonable to assume I would realize any savings with the new system?
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| Posted: Mon Sep 6th, 2010 05:26 pm |
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2nd Post |
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eleent Member 
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Hello: Something here isn't making sense. You're burning a lot of oil and getting very little benefit. I'm no boiler guy, but a lot of good boiler guys spend time on "The Wall" at http://www.heatinghelp.com. Pose your question there and they likely will be able to figure out the problem/s. Yours, Larry
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| Posted: Mon Sep 6th, 2010 07:07 pm |
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3rd Post |
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energyexpert Member
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I know electricity prices vary greatly depending upon location. And some areas have deregulated. In Asheville, NC on the RTOUD rate I heat my water for $0.055/kWh. I have a 105 gallon heater and heat off-peak only (which is currently just under 13 hours/day). WH output at 120 volts is 1125 watts. Running these numbers for 30 days yields less than $24 for the three of us. Of course on-peak electricity effectively cost me $0.124/kWh last month. So depending upon unit cost of primary source, electricity can be a competitive option. David
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