My 6 year old Rheem 50 gallon gas hot water heater is seeping water out
the top and about to die. The warranty expired last month, of course.
It is installed in a corner of my garage and vents out the roof of our
second story house. We have 3 1/2 baths and a family of 8 and often
run out of hot water. We are considering upgrading to a 75 gallon gas
model, with higher BTU and larger first hour recovery specs.

I have found a number of places that sell 75 gallons models, home
depot, sears, lowes, and many different brands, etc. No one seems to
have 75 gallon in stock since it is not a common size, and all say 2 -
3 weeks to special order.

Most of the specs list a 4 inch vent. Currently I have a 3 inch vent
as far as I now. Does this mean the vent size all the way up and
through the roof will have to be upgraded? or can it just be adapted
above the heater from 4 back to 3 inch? I assume that would be unsafe
and violate some codes.

I have thought about a tankless but have pretty much ruled that out due
to higher initial cost and concerns about its ability to keep up with
my family's usage patterns.

Does anyone have any advice on how I can get a 75 gallon in short
order? or any suggested alternatives or advice? I like traditional
gas hot water heaters and I am relunctant to try anything unusual.
Thanks,
Tim C.

"Tim C." wrote in message
oups.com...
My 6 year old Rheem 50 gallon gas hot water heater is seeping water out
the top and about to die. The warranty expired last month, of course.
It is installed in a corner of my garage and vents out the roof of our
second story house. We have 3 1/2 baths and a family of 8 and often
run out of hot water. We are considering upgrading to a 75 gallon gas
model, with higher BTU and larger first hour recovery specs.

I have found a number of places that sell 75 gallons models, home
depot, sears, lowes, and many different brands, etc. No one seems to
have 75 gallon in stock since it is not a common size, and all say 2 -
3 weeks to special order.

Most of the specs list a 4 inch vent. Currently I have a 3 inch vent
as far as I now. Does this mean the vent size all the way up and
through the roof will have to be upgraded? or can it just be adapted
above the heater from 4 back to 3 inch? I assume that would be unsafe
and violate some codes.

I have thought about a tankless but have pretty much ruled that out due
to higher initial cost and concerns about its ability to keep up with
my family's usage patterns.

Does anyone have any advice on how I can get a 75 gallon in short
order? or any suggested alternatives or advice? I like traditional
gas hot water heaters and I am relunctant to try anything unusual.
Thanks,
Tim C.

If you live in a larger metropolitan area, there should be plumbing supply
shops that keep such heaters in stock.
By pumbing supply shops I mean those that deal mainly with the trade - not
the Lowe's/Home Depots.

Doug

"Tim C." wrote in message
oups.com...
My 6 year old Rheem 50 gallon gas hot water heater


Why would you want to heat hot water?

You must replace the smoke stack or die. Unless you want to invest a little
more money and have a direct vent model installed. Everywhere you are
looking only carries low end water heaters, you would be much better off
dealing with a reputable plumber who can get you a better brand of water
heater, will have it in stock, will safely install it, demand a 10 year
parts and labor warranty, and enjoy a safe and comfortable 10 years. At
that point, without thinking about it, replace you water heater again!

Good Luck,
Bob P.

"Tim C." wrote in message
oups.com...
My 6 year old Rheem 50 gallon gas hot water heater is seeping water out
the top and about to die. The warranty expired last month, of course.
It is installed in a corner of my garage and vents out the roof of our
second story house. We have 3 1/2 baths and a family of 8 and often
run out of hot water. We are considering upgrading to a 75 gallon gas
model, with higher BTU and larger first hour recovery specs.

I have found a number of places that sell 75 gallons models, home
depot, sears, lowes, and many different brands, etc. No one seems to
have 75 gallon in stock since it is not a common size, and all say 2 -
3 weeks to special order.

Most of the specs list a 4 inch vent. Currently I have a 3 inch vent
as far as I now. Does this mean the vent size all the way up and
through the roof will have to be upgraded? or can it just be adapted
above the heater from 4 back to 3 inch? I assume that would be unsafe
and violate some codes.

I have thought about a tankless but have pretty much ruled that out due
to higher initial cost and concerns about its ability to keep up with
my family's usage patterns.

Does anyone have any advice on how I can get a 75 gallon in short
order? or any suggested alternatives or advice? I like traditional
gas hot water heaters and I am relunctant to try anything unusual.
Thanks,
Tim C.

On Sun, 30 Jan 2005 21:48:47 GMT, "Oscar_Lives"
wrote:


"Tim C." wrote in message
roups.com...
My 6 year old Rheem 50 gallon gas hot water heater


Why would you want to heat hot water?

maybe it's not hot enough??

Tim C. wrote:
My 6 year old Rheem 50 gallon gas hot water heater is seeping water
out the top and about to die. The warranty expired last month, of
course. It is installed in a corner of my garage and vents out the
roof of our second story house. We have 3 1/2 baths and a family of
8 and often run out of hot water. We are considering upgrading to a
75 gallon gas model, with higher BTU and larger first hour recovery
specs.

I have found a number of places that sell 75 gallons models, home
depot, sears, lowes, and many different brands, etc. No one seems to
have 75 gallon in stock since it is not a common size, and all say 2 -
3 weeks to special order.

Most of the specs list a 4 inch vent. Currently I have a 3 inch vent
as far as I now. Does this mean the vent size all the way up and
through the roof will have to be upgraded? or can it just be adapted
above the heater from 4 back to 3 inch? I assume that would be unsafe
and violate some codes.

I have thought about a tankless but have pretty much ruled that out
due to higher initial cost and concerns about its ability to keep up
with my family's usage patterns.

Does anyone have any advice on how I can get a 75 gallon in short
order? or any suggested alternatives or advice? I like traditional
gas hot water heaters and I am relunctant to try anything unusual.
Thanks,
Tim C.

You could have a demand high enough to be running out of hot water, but
frankly I doubt it. I suspect the heater you had either was not up to par,
maybe a dip tube problem or just low recovery rate. I suspect that a good
50 gallon is going to handle your needs. The added capacity of 75 vs 50 is
really not going to help that much in my opinion. A good 50 gallon with
better recovery is going to do better in my opinion.

Some other ideas, that will also save you some money. Get some good new
water saving shower heads and monitor where all that water is going. You
could save a lot more than the cost of the water heater if you are really
using that much water.

--
Joseph Meehan

26 + 6 = 1 It's Irish Math

Have you thought of running two 40 gallon units?

From: "Tim C."


My 6 year old Rheem 50 gallon gas hot water heater is seeping water out
the top and about to die. The warranty expired last month, of course.
It is installed in a corner of my garage and vents out the roof of our
second story house. We have 3 1/2 baths and a family of 8 and often
run out of hot water. We are considering upgrading to a 75 gallon gas
model, with higher BTU and larger first hour recovery specs.

I have found a number of places that sell 75 gallons models, home
depot, sears, lowes, and many different brands, etc. No one seems to
have 75 gallon in stock since it is not a common size, and all say 2 -
3 weeks to special order.

Most of the specs list a 4 inch vent. Currently I have a 3 inch vent
as far as I now. Does this mean the vent size all the way up and
through the roof will have to be upgraded? or can it just be adapted
above the heater from 4 back to 3 inch? I assume that would be unsafe
and violate some codes.

I have thought about a tankless but have pretty much ruled that out due
to higher initial cost and concerns about its ability to keep up with
my family's usage patterns.

Does anyone have any advice on how I can get a 75 gallon in short
order? or any suggested alternatives or advice? I like traditional
gas hot water heaters and I am relunctant to try anything unusual.
Thanks,
Tim C.

They're probably giving you a worst-case senerio for the timeframe. IE:

If the plumbing "special order" was just placed, and there won't be another for
a week, *and* there isn't enough special order in that week for the warehouse
to make a special pick & delivery to the store, it could take as long as 3
weeks.

They told me my "not-in-stock" Anderson windows could take up to 4 weeks, but
they came within 1 week.

As for your stack size problem, a 75 or 80 gallon wouldn't need to be "high
recovery" and therefore require a larger diameter stack, this is a home not a
motel. I'm sure with up to 8 kids you're used to showering in shifts anyway.

"Tim C." wrote in message
oups.com...
My 6 year old Rheem 50 gallon gas hot water heater is seeping water out
the top and about to die. The warranty expired last month, of course.
It is installed in a corner of my garage and vents out the roof of our
second story house. We have 3 1/2 baths and a family of 8 and often
run out of hot water. We are considering upgrading to a 75 gallon gas
model, with higher BTU and larger first hour recovery specs.

I have found a number of places that sell 75 gallons models, home
depot, sears, lowes, and many different brands, etc. No one seems to
have 75 gallon in stock since it is not a common size, and all say 2 -
3 weeks to special order.

Most of the specs list a 4 inch vent. Currently I have a 3 inch vent
as far as I now. Does this mean the vent size all the way up and
through the roof will have to be upgraded? or can it just be adapted
above the heater from 4 back to 3 inch? I assume that would be unsafe
and violate some codes.

I have thought about a tankless but have pretty much ruled that out due
to higher initial cost and concerns about its ability to keep up with
my family's usage patterns.

Does anyone have any advice on how I can get a 75 gallon in short
order? or any suggested alternatives or advice? I like traditional
gas hot water heaters and I am relunctant to try anything unusual.
Thanks,
Tim C.


This is Turtle.

Yes i can get a commercial 75 to 200 gal. hot water tank in short order but get
your bilfold out when you order one. Now there is very little difference in the
price of a 75 gal. and a 150 gal. models. Now when we said the magic word
Commercial Hot water tank you said well I have the need and the money to pay
good money for a commercial hot water tank. I'm not in the hot water tank
business but i can order them over nite but i would venture to say it would be
north of a $1,000.00 + installation to start with the regular models. Then it
would travel farther north when you said I want QUICK recovery ability.

Now let me pull out my United warehouse CD and look you up one.

Hummm i see here a very nice one Residentiual Gas Water heater by Bradford White
ML75S6FBN with 75 gal. tank / Natural gas / flow rate 76 G.P.H. / Shipping
weight 264 # / and a nice price of $1,732.66 but i do get some discount here but
the shipping will eat that up.

Now here is a very nice one that i like and it's a Commecial type and will feed
hot water just about as fast as you can use it in about 2 or 3 bath rooms. It is
a Brad Ford D100T2503NA / 98 gal. tank / 250,000 btu burner / 242 G.P.H. /
Shipping Weight 609 # / and is a little high at $9,226.36 .

Now these prices can be beaten if you shop around but it is hard to do as a
customer dealing with the Commercial warehouses.

Now if you just want all the hot water you want for 3 bath rooms and never run
out 24 hours a day 7 days a week and run the water all the time at a flow rate
of 8.5 G.P.M or 510 G.P.H. and this being 2 times the ability of any Commercial
hot water tank you can buy less than $10,000.00 . The local prison uses these
type water heaters for they need hot water for 3,000 inmates taking showers and
just about running water 24 hours a day. the have a show bank of 18 shower heads
and hook up 6 rinnai heater to the show head piping bank and 18 inmates can use
all hot water at 140ºF each and run the water contenously 24 hours a day and
stay at 140ºF water coming out Non-stop. Just get you a Rinnai Instant Natural
gas hot water system which has a 10 year warranty on the whole unit. The best
part of this things is if not in use it will turn it's self off and burn NO gas
at all and only burn gas if you ask for water by opening a focet and start a
flow rate. If you don't open a hot water focet it will not cost you nothing to
keep the hot water ready to go on demand but will have a multi-gas heat BTU
rating depending on the flow rate from 1,500 btu's to about 200,000 btu heating
rate. Also it has anti-freeze thermostat that will turn on the heat just a
little to keep the water above 40ºF and even hung on a outside wall. Also it has
no pilot lite and has spark ignition. Here is the Website to look at them.
http://www.foreverho****er.com/products.shtml For about $1,000.00 to $1,500.00
you can buy all the equipment [ it being two different types ] but will have to
pay to have it installed. Now this thing can be installed by yourself for it is
just really just can hang it on the wall and pipe to it if installed outdoors.

Now with all this said. the flow rate that your looking for will not come from a
hot water tank but a instant hot water system.

TURTLE

"Tim C." wrote in message
oups.com...

Does anyone have any advice on how I can get a 75 gallon in short
order? or any suggested alternatives or advice? I like traditional
gas hot water heaters and I am relunctant to try anything unusual.
Thanks,
Tim C.


Get on short order? Talk to a plumber, most wholesalers will stock them.
Also your 3" vent is going to be a problem. With a larger heater you will
need to upgrade the venting too. If replacing the venting is impractical you
can buy sidewall vent, and power vented units that you can vent out the
nearest wall.
Greg

On Sun, 30 Jan 2005 16:50:17 -0500, colt Steele colt
wrote:

On Sun, 30 Jan 2005 21:48:47 GMT, "Oscar_Lives"
wrote:


"Tim C." wrote in message
groups.com...
My 6 year old Rheem 50 gallon gas hot water heater


Why would you want to heat hot water?

maybe it's not hot enough??

Poor Oscar... He searches daily for "Hot water heater"
posts....everyone needs some kind of hobby....

Greg,

Regarding venting, the outside of the house is brick. The current vent
is on the roof. I realize that a hole could be knocked in the brick
for side vent, but I prefer to use the existing path out the roof, just
a bigger vent.

If we put in a 4" vent, and later some year down the road get anothe
water heater that only need a 3" vent, can we use the 4" venting system
with that heater? I assume that would be OK, just not the other way
around.

Thanks.

With a proper valve arrangement, it would be possible to run two fortys in
series -- and be able to valve off one or the other in case one broke.

--

Christopher A. Young
Learn more about Jesus
www.lds.org
www.mormons.com


"Phisherman" wrote in message
...
Have you thought of running two 40 gallon units?

Tim C. wrote:
Greg,

Regarding venting, the outside of the house is brick. The current vent
is on the roof. I realize that a hole could be knocked in the brick
for side vent, but I prefer to use the existing path out the roof, just
a bigger vent.

If we put in a 4" vent, and later some year down the road get anothe
water heater that only need a 3" vent, can we use the 4" venting system
with that heater? I assume that would be OK, just not the other way
around.

Thanks.

In most cases yes. You just should not keep a 3" when a 4" is called for.

ChrisGW

Dual Takagi gas tankless or one high recovery tank system would be
best. You need to know Btu and recovery rate. A good 50 will do it.

On Mon, 31 Jan 2005 06:38:26 GMT, Chuck wrote:

On Sun, 30 Jan 2005 16:50:17 -0500, colt Steele colt
wrote:

On Sun, 30 Jan 2005 21:48:47 GMT, "Oscar_Lives"
wrote:


"Tim C." wrote in message
egroups.com...
My 6 year old Rheem 50 gallon gas hot water heater


Why would you want to heat hot water?

maybe it's not hot enough??

Poor Oscar... He searches daily for "Hot water heater"
posts....everyone needs some kind of hobby....


That line was popular with my HVAC instructor in High school shop
class LOL LIke 20 friggin years ago.

"Tim C." wrote in message
ups.com...
Greg,

Regarding venting, the outside of the house is brick. The current vent
is on the roof. I realize that a hole could be knocked in the brick
for side vent, but I prefer to use the existing path out the roof, just
a bigger vent.

If we put in a 4" vent, and later some year down the road get anothe
water heater that only need a 3" vent, can we use the 4" venting system
with that heater? I assume that would be OK, just not the other way
around.

Thanks.


Down the road you may be able to vent a smaller heater through 3", but it
will depend on the heater. Most manufacturers will include venting
requirements in with the heater.

How much trouble is it going to be to replace the 3" vent with 4"?
If the vent goes up through an attic area it would be pretty easy. If it
goes up through finished space you may have a problem! "B" vent typically
needs 1" of clearance to combustibles. So 3" will fit in a minimum 5" wall
cavity. 4" will need a minimum 6" wall cavity. It probably will not be as
easy as stuffing 4" vent up where the 3" vent was! You may be ripping out a
wall to install the vent!
A power or side wall vent may be a less expensive option, but power vent
heaters can be troublesome, so I would avoid one and go with a natural draft
heater like you have.
Greg

To all, I have been out sick for a few days but am back to working on
my hot water heater. After doing some shopping around and getting with
some plumbers, I have decided just to replace the 50 gal I have with
another 50 gallon. Apparently it is too much trouble / expense to
update my entire vent system from 3" to 4" - - one plumber didn't want
to take the work on, and another very reputable plumber is going to
charge me a lot, so I will just replace like with like.

I have bought a 50 gallon and have a couple of installation questions,
which I will post in a new thread.

Again, thanks to all.

Tim C.