How much did the contractor want for both the 40 gal. and the 50 gal.?

"Jim Redelfs" wrote in message
...
In article .com,
" wrote:

Boy I wouldnt downsize! The larger tank costs so little more.

Oh, rats! I thought I had made-up my mind, now I'm not sure (again).
Thanks to everyone that replied. As a newbie to this NG, I was pleasantly
surprised to read so many prompt replies and not a flame among them - or
between them. Good show!

the bigger tank you can leave the water cooler saving energy costs

Has anyone REALLY "done the math" when considering: Lowering the water
heater
storage temp, I must then turn ON the dishwasher's heating elements to
achieve
the recommended dishwashing temp? I would chose to lower the tank
setting.

[larger] tanks last longer [and] are thermally stressed less

That makes sense. I am very disappointed in the relatively short life of
my
current water heater. It went into service November 1, 1991. Lessee...
That's about 14-1/2-years. Hmmm... Maybe that isn't so poor a life span
for
a minimally (never?)-maintained unit.

A good way to save $ is adding a hot water heater blanket, and
insulating the hot water lines too.

I plan to buy a unit with R16 insulation. It will live in our heated
laundry
room. (Dog house with utilities!) Subsequent heat loss is of little
concern,
even considering that I electrically cool perhaps four months/year. Only
a
few of the overall footage of piping COULD be insulated, so that's not
much
help in my case. I just wish I'd done it when the place was being built.

Now, on to the selection of a furnace. A first-time thing for me.
--

JR