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Boost my Hot water temp by 20DegF?

16 years ago

Ok - when I replaced my 1995 water heater in 2006, I should have known that the new ones didn't put out as hot water as the old ones (energy efficiency, etc), and gotten a larger tank. Is there anything i can buy (sort of a mini-tankless) that will just raise the output temp of the current water heater by 20DegF or so? Right now I have the temp on the current (bradford-white) turned up to max and we still run out sometimes

thanks

/j

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Comments (8)

mr_havac
16 years ago
If I were you I'd make sure that water heater is working the way it should. Energy efficiency has nothing to do with your water heater not being able to heat the water up to temperature. If it's electric maybe one of the elements are N/G, or its wired wrong, T Stat not working properly, dip tube broken, etc.
jeffw_00
Original Author
16 years ago
ummm, emergystar has reduced the 'normal' (and thus, the 'max') operating temperature by 20DegF (to 120Deg). the unit can't heat any hotter than the stat will let it. I can't fathom how you can make the statement "Energy efficiency has nothing to do with your water heater not being able to heat the water up to temperature".
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mr_havac
16 years ago
OK then change the t stat,, problem solved. :-)
dan_martyn
16 years ago
You could reduce your consumption.
suburbanmd
16 years ago
Jeff, which Bradford-White model do you have? Glancing at various Bradford-White and AO Smith water heater manuals online, I can't find a reference to a 120-degree limit on any model. Some of them do label the 120-degree position as "Hot", but that isn't the maximum.
Brewbeer
16 years ago
Jeff, how large was the old heater, how big is the new one, and what appliances are you running when the hot runs out. Also, were both the old and new heaters fired the same way?

And you are right - how efficient a water heating appliance(whether a hot water boiler or water heater) is, is in part dependent on the the temperature you are heating the water to.
jeffw_00
Original Author
16 years ago
I'd love to replace the stat with one that gives greater range, but are all the components in the unit designed for higher temp? old and new were both 40g, and no appliances are running when the hot runs out, they were both gas.
zl700
16 years ago
There is a plastic stop behind the knob. There was a time when you could order a higher temp knob and replace it. I know people that have just shaved the stop off but, be careful, do that, turn it up too high and around 150-160, the internal ECO inacts and the valve is useless and not repairable.

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