Water heating using ONLY the pilot light

[busypaws]

Hey, We need an "on-demand" water heater thread. I live here in AZ. My water inlet is never below 55F and sometimes as high as 75F. I only need 25-45 degree increase to shower. In my new garage/shop I put a 30 amp on demand heater and saved space (no hot water tank). We are going to work on the house now that we can live in the garage/shop for a few weeks at a time. I'm thinking about getting rid of the hot water tank and putting on-demand units in each Bathroom.
We here in AZ have to save more water then power. So I'm trying to only heat the water I use and not waste water waiting for it to warm up at the faucet.
P.S. We change our body chemistry when we move to AZ. We only sweat when it's above 105.

[luvit]

Originally Posted by Christ

...I also have low blood pressure, so in the shower is nearly the only time I'm truly...

the blood flows south at those times... or north. something like that.

[Xringer]

Since I don't have gas and heat my hotwater with a 30 year old boiler (oil).
I'm thinking of converting to a hybrid water heater. Oil and PV panels.

Dump the plumbing and use PV to heat water? - EcoRenovator

[mrindianajones]

Maybe it would be worth inventing a flute to do both so that it would trap the heat of the pilot light and open when the full flame was needed via a remote or manifold setting. I.E. your having a party and you know you will need a lot of hot water, a remote switch or a switch on the heater could open the flute full and allow a full burn during the period of heavy use time and then resetting itself back to pilot use only.

I have heard of heaters that only heat on demand somehow which may be financially the same viable option as a remote such as above.

[stevey_frac]

what you are discussing doing would be significantly more expensive, significantly less reliable, and of negligible thermodynamic improvement.

The on-demand water heaters are fairly good, however, they burn a LOT of natural gas, or power. The best solution, in my opinion, is a high efficiency condensing water heater combined with a waste water heat recovery unit. This system is less expensive and more efficient then a tankless/on demand unit.

[Turbo Dan-O]

What a great thread! I am on day two with my pilot only mod. Haha, no cold water needed tonight in the shower but it is still warm enough. Hopfully this will put a dent in my gas bill.

Dan-O

[Xringer]

Hi Dan-O
I was heating my hotwater today with 107 watts of solar PV power.. But, not by choice..
Within a week, I hope to be heating with a full 500 watts of PV.. (1,706 BTUh).

Solar Tracker Project - Page 7 - EcoRenovator

That 107w ~ 367 BTUh might have made up for some of the losses,
because my oil burner hasn't come on today (yet)..


Good luck with your gas bill..

[nibs]

We live full time in a converted greyhound bus, our old propane water heater was left on pilot only, much of the time, unless we were working and needed to shower before going to work. The pilot only setting provided hot water for our two showers daily, hand washing and dishes. Those times we needed extra hot water we just changed the setting. Now we have electric ignition HW, it is no longer possible for us.

[Turbo Dan-O]

[QUOTE=Xringer;177105]Hi Dan-O
I was heating my hotwater today with 107 watts of solar PV power.. But, not by choice..
Within a week, I hope to be heating with a full 500 watts of PV.. (1,706 BTUh).
QUOTE]

I am jealous! Nice work!

Dan-O

[Xringer]

I am jealous! Nice work!

Dan-O

Thanks! The resistive loads came in today. I'm all excited about getting
them installed, so we can see if this idea has any merit..

I'm sure it's going to work, I just don't know how well it will work..

I'm going to get over to the metal store tomorrow or the next day
and pick up the heater plate from their DIYer scraps room.