Picture of uninsulated tank water heater

[Billy_Bob]

As promised, here is a picture of my uninsulated tank next to my wood stove.

After testing the first tank, I decided to install a second tank because the test was so successful. I got the water up to 96 degrees F. and was able to take a shower from just the woodstove tank water. Felt quite warm and even steamed up the mirror in the bathroom!

Anyway I added the second tank so cold water will go in the bottom of that tank, then out the top and into the bottom of the 1st tank. Then out the top of that tank for warm/hot water to house. (Cold water stays in 1st tank allowing 2nd tank to have warmer water.)

At this point I have my electric hot water heater disconnected and am just using this warm water. (Still working on all this and will need to re-connect it for warmer weather.)

That is an old steam radiator the tanks are on. This allows the heat from the stove to hit the bottoms of the tanks and allows warm air to circulate under the tanks.

Note that each tank has pipes going through the wall at the top and bottom which go to valves for air escape when filling and drains to flush tanks. My electric water heater is on the other side of the wall.

The tanks are from old 50 gallon electric water heaters. I removed the covering and the insulation, sanded, and then painted black.

 

[KFC]

Hey Billy Bob,

Looks like a great method of reducing the electric bill in winter, have you noticed a savings yet?

 

[mga]

my wife would kill me if i put two tanks in the living room.

 

[AlasKarl]

Very neat set-up Bob, I like it!

I use something similar in my cabin. It works real well.

 

[doubletodd]

my wife would kill me if i put two tanks in the living room.

+1 cabin maybe, momma's living room,nope

 

[Billy_Bob]

Hey Billy Bob,

Looks like a great method of reducing the electric bill in winter, have you noticed a savings yet?

Only had this in for 2 weeks, but have had my electric hot water heater totally disconnected as I have been working on this. Have had plenty of hot water. So it is looking like I will not need my electric hot water heater at all during fall/winter/spring. (I have the water bypassing the electric hot water heater.)

For a shower, I just have the hot on and the cold totally off. Then plenty of warm water and it even steams up the mirror!

 

[Billy_Bob]

my wife would kill me if i put two tanks in the living room.

I was able to do this because I am not married!

I showed the lady next door my handiwork and she looked aghast! (I think it looks cool!)

 

[doubletodd]

+1

 

[mga]

I was able to do this because I am not married!

I showed the lady next door my handiwork and she looked aghast! (I think it looks cool!)

i did something similar years ago in the basement. but, i used it as a "pre-warm" tank to my gas hot water tank.

my theory was that the water sitting in the first tank would be room temp and would feed the gas hot water tank when it had to be filled. instead of using ice cold water from the main line, it would require less energy to heat.