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questionsgirl · Feb 4, 2009, 01:18 PM

We have just moved into a new house and have 2 large water heaters. I'm not totally sure but I think they are parallel as both are the same size. After having a huge utilities bill, I would like to switch off one of the heaters as there is only 2 of us living in the house. Can anyone advise? Thanks!:confused:

21boat · Feb 4, 2009, 01:34 PM

No problem with that. Just make sure you switch off the one that's closet to the water service so the second tank is where the hot water comes from. And not the first in line or the water will get chilled on the demand.

If the bills are high wrap the heater with insul kit and hot water pipes insulated.

You might be able to turn down the heater.

Also purge your heater to clean out sediments in the bottom and that will help keep the Elements clean if this is electric.

If all goes well for demand you can plum past first heater is the hot water seems to get to stagnant and doesn't seem fresh. I doubt that will happen

Signed 21 Boat

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Stratmando · Feb 4, 2009, 01:37 PM

To eleminate 1, you need to remove power from 1, and reroute the water so the hot water is not fed through the disabled tank.
I suppose you could get away with removing power to the first one in line to eleminate the hot going through the dead tank until a plumber can permenately eleminate/bypass.

questionsgirl · Feb 6, 2009, 01:44 PM

Thanks for your speedy replies. In your opinion would you say that by shutting off one of the heaters would make a significant difference to my utilities bill? I'm weighing up whether it' s worth paying for a plumber...

jlisenbe · Feb 6, 2009, 02:42 PM

Follow 21's advice and see what your bill does. However, if I'm reading your comments correctly about the heaters being "parallel", each heater is independent of the of the other. So, if that is true, if you switch one off, you will lose water to whatever faucets that heater supplies. 21's advice is dependent upon one heater "feeding" the other.

Others will know more about this than me, but my experience is this. Hot water is not a huge addition to the electric bill. If a plumber has to come in and reroute pipes to allow the use of just one heater, then I would question whether it will pay off. The advice about insulating the water heaters and hot water pipes would probably save you at least some money.