Manual water tank heater hose: see update in first post

bguy, I thought about the relief valve as a source of hot water. But I did not want to mess around with that valve, for one thing -- it has a job to do, and I want it available if it is ever needed. Plus, in order to get water out of the valve, I would have to go out into the sub-freezing night and push down on the little lever. I'd rather stand at the kitchen sink. ;)