Water heaters.

Seeing our monthly propane bill, we decided to switch off the water heater when not in use. This has created two problems for me.

The first is that sometimes I inadvertently move the switch from ON to OFF rather than to STAND-BY. When that happens, the heater needs to be re-lit, and 1) I've no idea how and 2) I'm scared stiff of lighting water heaters; I've heard and seen the results of too many accidents with the things (I've also ahd a few close calls with the stove). Fortunately this problem gets solved quickly by calling the maintenance guy and tipping him 20 pesos.

The second is that I don't seem to get the water hot enough. Typically I'll tunr it on, wait for 25 minutes, then turn on the shower. Usually the water comes out warm rather than hot.

Should I wait longer, say 35 minutes? Or should I wait for the appliance to turn off, meaning its reached max temp?

It didn't matter til a few weeks ago, when the weather was still warm. Now it's beginning to get a bit chilly in the evening, making warm water insufficient for a shower. Especially so after the shower, when there's no residual steam to keep the bathroom kind of warm.

Three suggestions:

(1) Yes, let the heater run until the burner shuts off if you really want the water at full temperature. It's too hard to guess when there is an adequate supply "hot enough" for your shower.

(2) Put a piece of tape or string or something on the switch in a manner that makes it awkward to turn it to "off", just as a reminder to yourself.

(3) I'm not sure just what your situation is -- rent, own, whatever -- but here is one option, if it is applicable in your case. Install one of those in-line, tankless water heaters. They are intended to be able to heat water to an appropriate temperature as fast as you use the water. The objective is to avoid the cost of the heat losses from the tank when you are not actually using the hot water. I have only used one of these myself at a house where I stayed in Egypt in 1981, and I didn't think it worked very well. However, I have seen them advertised much more recently in the US, and I suspect that what is being marketed here and now would perform much better than what I saw then and there.

See:
Electric 110/240V Point-of-use water heaters

I live in a condo and the water heater is in the closet in the living room. I work from home usually and about three years ago I started feeling tired a lot. I would sleep about 16-20 hours a day. This went on a couple weeks until I decided to have friends over. They all started getting sick and so I had a feeling I might have a gas leak or something. The gas company came and said my water heater was leaking carbon monoxide. I never fixed it or replaced it. I love not having a gas bill since thats the only thing that runs on gas in the place and in southern california I dont need to use the heater. It sucks taking cold showers in the winter especially when I can see my own breath (also huge shrinkage/freightened turtle) but I dont notice it in the summer. Everyone should have carbon monoxide detectors in their dwellings.

Quote: Nareed

Fortunately this problem gets solved quickly by calling the maintenance guy and tipping him 20 pesos.

OMG I'm not the only one! Seriously, Mexican water heaters and propane tanks are both items that you have to deal with on a regular basis living in Mexico that scare the hell out of me. For some reason they are normally mounted outside, in your "service patio" (not sure how to say in English), so the pilot lights sometimes blow out. And, yes, you give the gasman your pocket change to deal with them for you if you're anything like me. For those who haven't been south of the border, the gasman is the guy who wakes you up in the morning yelling "GAS!" Not to be confused with the waterman and the milkman, who both do the same thing. Also there's the guy who rings a bell to let you know that the garbage truck is coming. And roosters. Yeah, sleeping in in Mexico is probably restricted to the tourist enclaves....

Quote: Paigowdan

See:
Electric 110/240V Point-of-use water heaters

Yep, except that I think Nareed (in spite of her anxieties about lighting pilot lights) would prefer to continue to use propane, perhaps for cost reasons.

I was making a recommendation; Nareed fully decides. If Nareed's house has electricity, it's just another option, and very inexpensive.
At 1.5KW for a ten-minute shower, the tankless version uses 2.5 cents of electricity, at 10c a KWH. (0.167 * 1.5KW = 0.25KWH). $179 and up to puchase a unit, plus shipping.

Quote: Doc

Three suggestions:

(1) Yes, let the heater run until the burner shuts off if you really want the water at full temperature. It's too hard to guess when there is an adequate supply "hot enough" for your shower.

I should have realized that on my own....

Quote:

(2) Put a piece of tape or string or something on the switch in a manner that makes it awkward to turn it to "off", just as a reminder to yourself.

I placed a tape on the off position with "OFF" on it. I still managed to turn it off. I'm like that.

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(3) I'm not sure just what your situation is -- rent, own, whatever -- but here is one option, if it is applicable in your case. Install one of those in-line, tankless water heaters.

We own the apartment, so we can do pretty much anything. I've heard that recomendation before, too. Back at the house we had two heaters (long story) one of which was very small with a tiny tank to match. That one reached max temp in five minutes or so. Anyway, people with in-line heaters swear by them, but I've heard some concerns about them as well. I'd hate to switch and find out it's worse.

Quote: heather

OMG I'm not the only one!

Oh, far from it. In large households invariably someone learns to do it, but getting a pro, or at least an amateur, to do it for you is as mexican as, well, tamales. :)

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Seriously, Mexican water heaters and propane tanks are both items that you have to deal with on a regular basis living in Mexico that scare the hell out of me. For some reason they are normally mounted outside, in your "service patio" (not sure how to say in English), so the pilot lights sometimes blow out.

When we lived in a house, the patio was on the roof (odd house). At the appartment now there isn't one, but there's a service area indoors where the washer, drier, service room and water heater are. It's well ventilated, but it doesn't blow out the pilot light. It's been all me both times (thus far).

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And, yes, you give the gasman your pocket change to deal with them for you if you're anything like me.

See above.

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For those who haven't been south of the border, the gasman is the guy who wakes you up in the morning yelling "GAS!"

Acutally it's "EL GAS!!" And, man, are those guys loud!

They're not so common in certain areas. In the better off sections of Mex City people have stationary gas tanks, which are refilled every two weeks or so by a big gas truck with a a very long hose. At our building, there's a big, communal tank by the exit gate. In some parts, too, they have gas lines now, but that's rather rare still.

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Not to be confused with the waterman and the milkman, who both do the same thing. Also there's the guy who rings a bell to let you know that the garbage truck is coming. And roosters. Yeah, sleeping in in Mexico is probably restricted to the tourist enclaves....

Roosters are almost absent now from most of the city. Some people like keeping them as pets. The water guy usually rings the doorbell. The milk trucks aren't as common since ultrapasteurized milk began to be sold at stores. Those things keep unrefrigerated for up to 8 months. The trucks from Alpura have a horn that sounds like a mooing cow (I think that's cute). The trash bell is stil a classic. Fortunately they don't work on weekends in my area, and this time my room doens't face the street.

Quote: Paigowdan

I was making a recommendation; Nareed fully decides. If Nareed's house has electricity, it's just another option, and very inexpensive.

Thank you.

Still, "if Nareed's house has electricity"? Come on. Where do you think I live? New York City? :P

Quote:

At 1.5KW for a ten-minute shower, the tankless version uses 2.5 cents of electricity, at 10c a KWH. (0.167 * 1.5KW = 0.25KWH). $179 and up to puchase a unit, plus shipping.

I really don't know what the rates are for electricity. Not to mention the complications resulting from the closure of one government-owned electric company and its replacement by another government-owned company. Charges often don't match use, for one thing. it's a bit of a mess. Anwyay, I've no idea which option is cheaper just now.

There are other costs, too. Do we keep the old heater alongside the new one or replace it? Either way we'd need to pay a pro to do the work. There's also the matter of importing the equipment. It can get stcuk in customs for weeks. It might require the use of a customs agent (you never know with these things). it might require payment of import duties (doubtful given NAFTA, but again...). it might require some sort of permit. Well, it's not as easy as it looks when you cross a border.

But it's a thoughtful suggestion and I appreciate it. I had not considered electric heaters at all.