Hot Water Heater Options

[Eagle4x]

I installed an 80-gallon jacuzzi tub in a bedroom converted to a master bath. I have a 40-gallon electric hot water heater, so when filling up the tub, the water gets cold about 1/3 full. Options I'm considering:

1) Install a point of use electric.
2) Replace the 40 gallon with an 80 gallon.
3) Install a propane tank in the back yard and install a propane heater in the shed in the back yard and digging a trench for the water lines to the house (about 50 feet away), this is because I have a phobia with a propane heater exploding inside the house even though I know it's rare. I do not want a propane tankless because of the maintenance required which I understand is more than with an electric tankless.

Which option is better? If #1, what are the optimal specs, such as gpm? If #3, what is minimum tank size?

I'm not interested in hybrid electric heaters because of the bad reviews.

 

[Breplum]

a propane Navien or equal tankless will last 20 years. But, in your case a giant waste of money.
you will never get that durability with a point of use electric (which takes a s-load of amps btw). often main panel upgrade is required.
a tank water heater will only give you 70% of the listed gallon capacity before the incoming cold water mixes with the hot.
with a tank WH,
you can add a mixing valve on top and then turn the thermostat up way higher. That will immediately get you closer to being able to enjoy the giant tub and still not scald you at the tap.

 

[Sponsor]

 

[Eagle4x]

a propane Navien or equal tankless will last 20 years. But, in your case a giant waste of money.
you will never get that durability with a point of use electric (which takes a s-load of amps btw). often main panel upgrade is required.
a tank water heater will only give you 70% of the listed gallon capacity before the incoming cold water mixes with the hot.
with a tank WH,
you can add a mixing valve on top and then turn the thermostat up way higher. That will immediately get you closer to being able to enjoy the giant tub and still not scald you at the tap.

Excellent idea! There's different configurations of mixing valves. Would you reply with a link to the configuration you recommend? Is the kind with the adjustable temperature better? Also, I have to replace my 40 gallon water heater because of it's age. Would same size with a mixing valve be sufficient for filling the 80 gallon tub or buy a little larger such as a 50 gallon?

 

[Fitter30]

He is a hot water mix calculator just touch boxes to change to f and gpm. When water temp is raised it will drive more minerals out of the water. Hope tub has its own water heater to keep water hot.

Water Mixing Calculator | Spirax Sarco

This calculator will help to consider the mixed temperature of two water streams, its flowrate, percentage flow and actual flow of each stream.

www.spiraxsarco.com

 

[Eagle4x]

He is a hot water mix calculator just touch boxes to change to f and gpm. When water temp is raised it will drive more minerals out of the water. Hope tub has its own water heater to keep water hot.

Water Mixing Calculator | Spirax Sarco

This calculator will help to consider the mixed temperature of two water streams, its flowrate, percentage flow and actual flow of each stream.

www.spiraxsarco.com

View attachment 101756

Yeah, it has an inline water heater. Thanks for the info.