BajaNomad - Water heater/boiler

Water heater/boiler

LukeJobbins - 10-17-2018 at 09:44 AM

The water heater broke in my girlfriends house in Tijuana and we are looking for recommendations if you guys have any. Right now we have an electric water heater but because it is half full of calcium and junk it is very inefficient and uses a lot of electricity. We were thinking of switching to propane but are not sure what the cost difference is in the long run. I think a big bottle of propane costs 1200 pesos and we don’t know how long that would last for a 40 gallon tank.

Also what type of guarantee has anyone found? We have only asked one shop so far and the tanks are 2000 peso but with only a 3 month guarantee.

Thanks-Luke

bajaguy - 10-17-2018 at 09:54 AM

Purchase a Rheem 40 gallon model at Home Depot, very satisfied

Just have someone competent do the water and propane connections

John Harper - 10-17-2018 at 10:01 AM

Propane and Natural gas have different gas metering orifices. Make sure you by one rated for LP gas, not Natural Gas.

I just replaced my water heater last week. About $600 for a natural gas model 40 gallons. I got a Bradford White brandl from Ferguson here in Carlsbad. Installed myself so just the heater and a couple connector hoses. Took about 30 minutes to change out as I had already designed the system to be an easy swap when the time came. Got almost 18 years out of a 9 year warranty GE water heater. The new one has a 6 year warranty.

John

LukeJobbins - 10-17-2018 at 10:04 AM

I used to work at Home Depot so I know all about those and I have installed a few myself. Super quick and easy, but we don’t want to pay 600 dollars if we don’t need to. Looking for some experience from people buying south of the border. Thanks

willardguy - 10-17-2018 at 10:04 AM

I replaced an old propane tank unit with a Marey tankless, it lasted less than a year. went to a Rheem tank unit, it lasted about a year, now im trying a Rheem tankless again.....it'll probably fail. you'll get plenty of arguments but with the low cost of electricity I'd stick with the ac model

on edit this time I enclosed the outdoor alcove to keep the water heater out of the weather.......hoping it helps.

[Edited on 10-17-2018 by willardguy]

John Harper - 10-17-2018 at 10:08 AM

Quote: Originally posted by LukeJobbins

I used to work at Home Depot so I know all about those and I have installed a few myself. Super quick and easy, but we don’t want to pay 600 dollars if we don’t need to. Looking for some experience from people buying south of the border. Thanks

Yes, I'd buy something south of the border for sure. Just wanted to give you the current prices up here.

I also need to contact your guiding friend about La Grulla in April!

John

David K - 10-17-2018 at 10:38 AM

Filtering the water before the water heater may be a wise move? Calcium and sediment from the source or delivery system will fill up the bottom of the water heater tank. Flushing the tank (annually or ?) may be a wise maintenance move, too?

I used top sell Rheem water heaters... they were preferred by our plumber customers, in Vista, CA.

Edit

bajaguy - 10-17-2018 at 10:58 AM

Purchased the Rheem at Home Depot, Ensenada

Quote: Originally posted by bajaguy

Purchase a Rheem 40 gallon model at Home Depot, very satisfied

Just have someone competent do the water and propane connections

Bob and Susan - 10-17-2018 at 12:20 PM

For a house I would get a 15-20 gallon propane unit
at home depot

a 35kg propane exchange tank costs just under 700 pesos
and lasts 3-4 months

The water in the tank heats really fast

Bigger tanks like a 40 or 50 gallon tank uses much more propane
to heat and keep hot

If you use more than 20 gallons hot water in a shower at one time you
are staying in too long

John Harper - 10-17-2018 at 01:05 PM

Quote: Originally posted by Bob and Susan

If you use more than 20 gallons hot water in a shower at one time you are staying in too long

Depends on who you're sharing your shower with.

John

LukeJobbins - 10-17-2018 at 01:51 PM

Quote: Originally posted by bajaguy

Purchased the Rheem at Home Depot, Ensenada

Quote: Originally posted by bajaguy

Purchase a Rheem 40 gallon model at Home Depot, very satisfied

Just have someone competent do the water and propane connections

How much did it cost and what type of warranty do they offer there? Thanks

LukeJobbins - 10-17-2018 at 01:57 PM

How much use does that tank get from you guys? There is regularly 3-4 people taking a shower every day plus dishes and whatever else. We are just trying to get an idea of cost with electricity versus propane exchanges. Thanks for the input.

Quote: Originally posted by Bob and Susan

For a house I would get a 15-20 gallon propane unit
at home depot

a 35kg propane exchange tank costs just under 700 pesos
and lasts 3-4 months

The water in the tank heats really fast

Bigger tanks like a 40 or 50 gallon tank uses much more propane
to heat and keep hot

If you use more than 20 gallons hot water in a shower at one time you
are staying in too long

Bob and Susan - 10-17-2018 at 02:14 PM

we take 4 showers a day or more

the tank re-heats in 8 minutes

dishes...washing hands

normal use

I don't like a big 45kg portable tank...its too heavy
to replace...I like the smaller exchange one

and the BIG tanks could cost $1000usa to fill
and if you get a leak...that money is GONE...

I don't know WHY we had a 50 gallon tank in the usa
we didn't need it

Paco Facullo - 10-17-2018 at 06:13 PM

Things to consider when changing from electric to gas heaters.

You will need to run a new gas line to the new heater.
You will need to vent the new gas heater. (unless you go with a "on demand" type flash water heater and it's installed outside...

These two typically add a lot to the cost of installation.....

You should get quotes from a few different plumbers and if you can get referral/recommendations for them all the better.

Gas heaters are more efficient than electric ones....

LukeJobbins - 10-17-2018 at 08:33 PM

Ok thanks. I’m doing the install. I’ve done a lot of construction and plumbing work in my life so I’m not worried about that stuff. It’s outside in a termite ridden box so I am building a new box with new insulation so that should also help with efficiency. The current propane tanks for the house are only 10’ from the current location. I used to sell rheem tanks at Home Depot but we only sold one type of propane heater so I never learned much about different types or brands or efficiency of them. I’m now thinking propane is definitely the best option.

surabi - 10-17-2018 at 10:10 PM

I have the most basic gas water heater, a Cinsa. It's a small one, 45 litres. Cost 2500 pesos, only had a 30 day guarantee, but my previous one lasted 10 years (and still worked fine but was getting quite rusted), so I'm not concerned. It's a pretty simple unit, not much to go wrong - I had to replace the pilot/thermocouple parts once or twice in 10 years, but those parts are cheap and easy to change out. A big gas cylinder lasts me for a year,, but I live alone and only light it when I want a hot shower.

BigWooo - 10-18-2018 at 04:27 AM

I was going to suggest what Bob said. In my guest house I have a 20 gallon water heater. Plenty of water for two showers and doing dishes in the evening, it heats up quickly and uses very little propane.

Tankless will work if you have good consistent water pressure. If you have low pressure, or pressure the varies, forget it.

willardguy - 10-18-2018 at 09:34 AM

im back to trying a tankless model but last year when I went with a Rheem tank model I bought a little 38 liter one that I found was perfect for fairly long shower, thing was this little guy would reheat so quickly that when it did run out of hot water the newly heated water was just about the same temperature I started with. im guessing you might have an all electric home this is going in? unless it'll put you in a higher tier i'd stick with electric.....I hate buying propane.

Alm - 10-19-2018 at 04:00 PM

Quote: Originally posted by Bob and Susan

If you use more than 20 gallons hot water in a shower at one time you
are staying in too long

Yep. 10-12 gallons, for one person. This is 40-45 liters of water. Women use more, but 20 gallons per shower seems too much for anybody.

I thought propane "cilindros" come in 45kg and 30kg size, not 35kg, but maybe I'm wrong.

So, what is the consensus on tankless propane heaters? Has anybody found one that he likes, or they all suck?

[Edited on 10-19-2018 by Alm]

surabi - 10-20-2018 at 12:57 AM

Quote: Originally posted by Alm

Quote: Originally posted by Bob and Susan

If you use more than 20 gallons hot water in a shower at one time you
are staying in too long

Yep. 10-12 gallons, for one person. This is 40-45 liters of water. Women use more, but 20 gallons per shower seems too much for anybody.

[Edited on 10-19-2018 by Alm]

Women use more? Is that some kind of universal truth? Neither I nor my other female friends take any longer showers than the men I know do. I'm in and out in 3 minutes, maybe 8 if I'm washing my hair.

John Harper - 10-20-2018 at 05:30 AM

Quote: Originally posted by surabi

Quote: Originally posted by Alm

Quote: Originally posted by Bob and Susan

If you use more than 20 gallons hot water in a shower at one time you
are staying in too long

Yep. 10-12 gallons, for one person. This is 40-45 liters of water. Women use more, but 20 gallons per shower seems too much for anybody.

[Edited on 10-19-2018 by Alm]

I'm with surabi on this one. I had some roommates in college who practically drained the water heater when they showered. If I didn't get up and get in the shower first, I was chit out of luck for any hot water. One roommate regularly took at least 20 minutes. What a kook. All males.

John