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Question: I just bought a house that has two NEW 40-gallon water heaters in the basement. To save energy and money, I'd like to shut one off; one water heater should suffice for the needs of four people (two adults and two young children). Are there any potential problems that could develop in the water heater if I shut one water heater off for months or years, and then later decide to turn it back on? Is there any maintenance or prep-work I should do when I'm not using it for long periods, like draining it, or turning it back on for a few hours every month or so? What will happen to the water heater deterioration-wise if it sits there unused for a few years, as opposed to the identical one standing next to it that will be employed during that same time? Background: I live in New Hampshire, and the water heaters use propane gas.
Answer: -Are you sure they don't service seperate lines? IE: one services kitchen/washing machine while the other services baths? If so, shutting one off will eliminate hot water to those faucettes. - Are you sure they are not hooked up in series. If they are in series, the above is still true ie., opening a spigot anywhere would cause water to be drawn simultaneously from both. It is common to hook up water heaters in series. A friend just built a house and wanted a 100 gal hot water heater. The plumbing contractor said it is better to put 2 50 gal in series. The first in the series is set to a lower temp from the second (e.g., 100 deg for the first 150 deg for the second). Since heat loss is proportional to T^4, there is energy savings in doing this. And I think recovery time is faster.
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