[Shop-talk] anode rods-- was the air saga continues

[old dirtbeard]

________________________________
From: "eric at megageek.com" <eric at megageek.com>
To: shop-talk at Autox.Team.Net
Sent: Sun, June 5, 2011 7:25:40 PM
Subject: Re: [Shop-talk] anode rods-- was the air saga continues

Ben writes...

>> It takes about an hour to replace it and the last 
>>one I bought was under $300. 

>My motivation for just replacing the unit every ten or fifteen years or so 
>is that the technology to make them more efficiency is also increasing 
>with each replacement.  Sure, the old ones are built like tanks, but the 
>new ones use a fraction of the energy.  That is a net gain in my book.

Although there is some increasing efficiency for water heaters (flue capture, 
better insulation, etc.), it is not huge. Gas water heaters are a mature 
technology and have been regulated/mandated for sometime. You also need to think 
about the energy/materials/landfill required to create, transport and dispose of 
the replacement tank.

>BTW, I'm also in the process of installing a total house solar system. 
>Should be done this week.  Once I gauge how well it works, I'm going to 
>convert my two gas water heaters to electric (maybe.)  I'd love to get rid 
>of the gas systems on my outbuildings (one for the guest house and one for 
>another building.)

>We'll see how it goes.


I converted my house to photovoltaic (6kWh array) a little over five years ago 
and we now generate a surplus (Edison now sends us checks). You would be further 
ahead to continue to use gas to heat water rather than use PV to do it (I still 
have a gas fired water heater and furnace even though I run a surplus on 
electricity). Using electricity to create heat generally will be more expensive 
than using gas to generate heat regardless of the source of the electricity.

best,

doug