Heatin' Water on the Cheap..

[12vman]

A friend of mine turned me on to an idea that I just had to try..

He installed a solar power system this last fall. He has a mobile home.. everything standard.. with a propane water heater. During the period of time of getting things changed over, he had to shut down his water supply. He figured that he might as well shut the water heater down too. (He set it to the vacation setting on the temperature control)

Anyhow, after all was working again, he forgot to set the water heater back up to the prior setting. He noticed the water wasn't as hot as it was before and it dawned on him what he had done. He said "The water was hot enough straight from the tank to shower with!" I said..Hmmm..

On the vacation setting, the burner won't turn on. Just the pilot light will stay on. (Unless it get close to freezing temperatures)

I've been heating my shower water with kerosene for years. I figured what the heck, I'm gonna try that!

Bought me a propane water heater and hooked it up. I precharged it with a tank of water I already had heated with the kerosene. I lit the pilot light and started playing with the flue pipe. I didn't vent it outside because the burner will never turn on. (I left the valve on "Pilot") They give you a hood to put on the top to connect the flue pipe to. I didn't use that either. I covered the top opening with tin foil and set an ellbow fitting over that to hold the foil in place and to deflect any heat that does come out away from my plastic fittings. I punched 2 pencil sized holes in the foil because the pilot light needs to breath some. After punching 2 more holes in the foil, the pilot stayed burning. The idea for this was to keep the heat from the pilot in the tank as long as possible..

I let it set over night fearing a cold shower in the morning but I was very happy with the results! The water was close to the steaming temperature! Not too hot to get under but very comfortable! I took one that evening and had the same results! It recovers well enough for my needs. I used a bunch of the water in the evening (15 or so gallons) just to see how well it does come back. The next morning it was fine. Just that little 1/2 in. flame heats that water very well. I'm impressed!!

My water storage tank is inside of my living area so the input water is at least room temperature. (68 to 72 degrees) I don't know how well it would work on a well or city water because that water would be much colder. (50 to 55 degrees) I'm sure it would work but the recovery time would be much longer..

Thanks Tim for a great idea!!

[GRANDMA COW]

um 12vman, Now that is interesting

[12vman]

Tell ya what.. It works pretty good! Hot enough to do dishes in. Could be hotter but.. Just boil a small pan on the stove and it heats it up real good..

[olhillbilly]

Yanno, they got insulated jackets to go round yer hot water tank. wunder if that'd help hold in the heat better for ya.

[12vman]

I bet it would help. I see I'm losing some of the heat at the blow off valve that hangs out of the side. It's made out of brass and it heats up. I should cover that with something..

I put (2) 3/4" metal nipples in the top because I didn't know just how hot it would get. I see now I can change that out to plastic. I am losing some heat there too..

Still, I'm using far less energy than I used to..

[12vman]

Update:

It's been working great so far. I had to take the baffle off of the flue this summer 'cause the water got too hot to get under! As It's getting colder outside, I'll replace the baffle and let 'er heat up again for the winter..

Didn't notice any more propane usage this summer. I still got 3 months out of a 100# cylinder..