I wondered about this because basically your circulating hot water, so you have it instantly.
Guywholikestoshare did you compensate for price increase of said kwh from year to year, you probably did that and I'm an idiot for stating the obvious.
oh yea and what are you a rocket scientist to make graphs?
So me running the kitchen or master bathroom sink for 1 1/2 minutes to finally get some hot water is still a way cheaper (albeit frustrating) way to goSo - here's the effect of my gravity loop. The green usage is "normal" electricity meter - and the orange is the off-peak meter that measures only my water heater (in the winter anyway).
Guess what day I turned the valve on for my gravity loop?
Turns out that 3/4" return line is maybe overkill - Ima close the valve part way and see if that doesn't calm things down. ;:;rofl
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January 2021 we used 7 KWH/day on water heater. = $21.12
January 2022 we used 14 KWH/day on water heater. = $33.40
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looks like my gravity circulator uses more hot water to heat the house than we use each day to shower, wash cloths, etc. ;:;rofl
In the winter... meh, I don't care (it's heat). But in summer I'll be heating the house and then cooling it with AC. That'd be dumb.
So I'll either valve things down OR install a smart scheduled valve (shut it down most of the day and open it for typical shower and hot water usage hours).
I just compared the two Jan bills for water heater meter $$. So no.
Oh OK I just figured with everything else that has gone up in price electricity would also, so you are using more hot water by means of loss of heat through your pipes I presume. Since hotwater is being circulated constantly through pipes the water is losing just a little bit of its heat hence higher bill?
don’t think electricity rates have gone up much like gas has
right - even though the hot water and return line are both insulated they lose a lot of heat - so you end up heating the house with your hot water heater - which in the winter isn’t too big a deal but come summer it’d be a total waste
I partially closed the ball valve and will monitor the temp of the return line with a bbq wifi temp probe
it returns at 95-100F w valve open - probably way hotter than necessary
I’ll share any findings later
don’t think electricity rates have gone up much like gas has
right - even though the hot water and return line are both insulated they lose a lot of heat - so you end up heating the house with your hot water heater - which in the winter isn’t too big a deal but come summer it’d be a total waste
I partially closed the ball valve and will monitor the temp of the return line with a bbq wifi temp probe
it returns at 95-100F w valve open - probably way hotter than necessary
I’ll share any findings later
I am still just running the sink for 1.5 minutes each morning, and the same afternoons in the kitchen to get hot water.
I am guessing my water waste is costing less than what guy is going through
I am still just running the sink for 1.5 minutes each morning, and the same afternoons in the kitchen to get hot water.
I am guessing my water waste is costing less than what guy is going through
Have that same issue, takes forever to get hot water. My basement is partially unfinished and only part of it heated. I bought some foam pipe insulation that did helps little bit. The part that is finished, the drop ceiling ( only about 1" below floor joists ) makes it a pain in the ass to do those lines.