Second Water Heater?

myredracer wrote:
If you haven't got one, get an Oxygenics shower head. They use a lot less water.

I don't see how this will solve the OP's problem. This will only increase the time it takes for hot water to get to the shower. I think you misunderstood his problem.

If you haven't got one, get an Oxygenics shower head. They use a lot less water.

A 2nd HWT would have to be a lot of work and expense. The recirc. line sounds interesting.

I would consider the recirc. method but if you remove the underbelly material, I would use a recirc. pump and line like they do in commercial buildings. They draw water from the HWT and recirc. it back to the tank's cold water inlet so you have instant hot water. You'd need a pump that could handle the temp. like a solar hot water pump. You could mount a switch somewhere so you would turn it on only when needed. A rotary timer switch would also work.

A recirculation pump would be a lot less work and $$ and would not add much weight in comparison to a 2nd HWT.

While you have the underbelly material off, I would replace the OEM tank sensor probes with Horst Miracle probes.

Here's how I added a hot water recirculation system. Link

AYRTIME wrote:
Collect the water in a pail until warm. Use this water to flush the toilet.

x2

Collect the water in a pail until warm. Use this water to flush the toilet.
We rented (for 10 months) a cottage with a holding tank and found this to really help reduce the frequency of tank pumpings. It took 1.5 to 2 gallons of water to get water warm enough to shower.

You know Don that might just be the idea I was looking for. I wouldn't have to worry about venting or anything. Just put it in the basement plum into existing
lines down there and bingo done deal. Thanks for the idea.

Hi,

Measure the amount of water. You may be surprized how little is in the lines.

It would be possible to use a 120 volt point of service electric heater.

A better approach may be to install a "return" line that allows the water to go back to the fresh water tank until it warms up.