"Matt" wrote in message
oups.com...
Steve -

I already admitted it would work, and that this fact was news to me.

As for the rest, I was just quoting from the source you provided - and
if you re-read it, I think you'll see the consensus is to not go
series.

Now go untwist your panties and come back when you have cooled down a
bit.


I have read all the posts and any links and I see nothing that said that
hooking them up in series is a poor way to go. just that the first heater
will be doing most of the work, and will not last as long as the second.
So my question is, "what is not as long?". Say you normally get 15 years on
a water heater. Will the first in serries last only 7, the second 15 years?
Or, will the first last 15 years, and the second 25 years?
No where did they say it would shorten the life of the heater, just that it
would not last as long as the second heater. My bet is it may shorten the
life of the first heater slightly, but greatly extend the life of the
second. In parrallel they would run close to the same life. Also your
statement that hooking heaters in series will cost more is rediculous. It
will cost you the same to heat a gallon of water either way, one way will
not heat water more efficiantly, (cheaper), than the other. The second
heater in a series set up may never run, depending on water usage, other
than to re-heat the water if it cools during times of no hot water use.

I have seen quite a few homes with two heaters hooked in series. The second
heater in most cases was not even connected to electricity, it was just a
storage tank. A small circulating pump was connected to circulate water
between both heaters.
I also have seen homes with one gas, and on electric heater, again hooked in
series. We have "off peak" electric in our area and the electric utility
will shut off the power to the electric heater in high demand times, and the
gas heater will take over.
Greg