Questions on propane stove and dryer...

[kalakoa]

One issue with gas dryers: they are a "high-flow" appliance, and so may not be able to completely empty smaller tanks, especially the 20# size.

[GuyinHPP]

We just bought a new gas range, gas dryer and gas on demand water heater. The water heater was installed by a plumper with no problem. The other appliances were initially bought at Lowes in Kona. They delivered them but would not convert them, if we converted them they told us it would void our warranty (which we didn't find out about until after they delivered them) We sent them back and Lowes ended up giving us a $300 gift card because they knew they screwed up (no disclosure). We then bought them at Sears who WOULD convert them but said it would take two weeks. They were finally delivered, the dryer was fine but range had not been converted and almost caused a fire. Sears then admitted THEY screwed up and took off another $250. I was happy to get the discounts but would rather to just have had my appliances delivered and working. Both stores tried to make it right, but just be aware you make sure they do what tell you you are going to do. I don't think they should even be allowed to sell gas appliances on the BI without already being converted.

[terracore]

Just curious, is there any advantage to having an on-demand hot water heater over solar hot water?

[missydog1]

quote:

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Originally posted by terracore

Just curious, is there any advantage to having an on-demand hot water heater over solar hot water?

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1) Cost of set up is much less.
2) If you live in an area too overcast for solar to work as much as you want.
3) It's instant. If you wake up and the solar water isn't hot, it won't be hot right away.

I currently have solar and have had solar and on demand in the past.
Overall I prefer solar, because I don't like having flame around.
But then, I didn't pay directly out of pocket for the solar. Prior owners did. It's a chunk of change.

[Tink]

Solar has its drawbacks as mentioned, but you do have a "storage tank" that needs constant re-heating as well. As with any hot water system, it is the distance the hot water has to go from source to tap. The closer the hot water source is to the tap, the better on any system, as that is the biggest heat and water loss. The tankless water heaters have their own faults. "On demand" water heaters use quite a bit more fuel to heat (198,000btu) than a standard water heater, (40,000 btu avg.) as it "flash" heats your water as it passes thru the heater unit on its way to the tap. Also, a "standard" fuel piping system is not sized large enough for the gas to be delivered for proper burn on a tankless, about 1/2 the pipe size needed. So again, if you choose to install one, tap off a direct line, sized for the btu amount, from the propane tank directly to the tankless unit. Just some points I have learned on water heaters I would like to share, good luck on choosing which system works best for your families needs.

Are you a human being, or a human doing?

[ericlp]

Another draw back on solar. If you have company over, depending on the setup solar can't accommodate for extra guests.

A lot of people that have solar hot water also have on demand tankless as a backup. In case of company, or cloudy conditions. For about 100 - 200 bucks you can easily put one in line for the shower. If need extra hot water just flip the igniter switch and you're in business.

I just use tankless in beaches because out tank lasts about 6 months on a 20# cylinder. But our water a lot of times is preheated in the street.

[pander75]

Lots of good information here! The only thing that I will add is if you really want to save money with your gas dryer - try drying on a good old-fashioned clothes line first! If you have space to rig one up (maybe under a carport or somewhere out of the rain) you can get your clothes 90% dry then finished them off in the gas dryer. I can do a load of towels in my dryer in about an hour, or put them on the line and only in the dryer for 15 minutes. HUGE savings! Sheets and other thin fabrics work even better.

[birdmove]

We do use a clothesline for all of our drying. We have an old electric dryer also, that we are hanging onto, but don't hardly use it. These questions I have asked pertain to a house we just bought (a repo), and our daughter and grandaughter are going to live there. She has a new, in the box gas dryer that still needs to be converted (and a new electric washer never used too). Our thoughts were, since there is going to be a gas dryer already, and since the house has no stove or refrigerator (or washer and dryer), then maybe we should buy a gas range, since we will already need a plumber to come in and plumb the place for propane. I will also put up a clothesline or two for my daughter, but she does like to use a dryer. In fact, she often does her laundry at our house and uses our old dryer.

The first plumber I called to discuss setting the place up for a propane stove and dryer has yet to return my call. Anyone know of a plumber that can convert gas to propane appliances and do the needed plumbing for a propane line, tank setup etc?

Jon in Keaau/HPP

[GuyinHPP]

We just had gas installed for an on demand water heater, gas stove and gas dryer. We used Ronnie Harris, he was great, we was there when he said he was going to be there, he was fast and very reasonable. His number is 808-769-0303.

[bluesboy]

Gerry Madie G&G Plumbing. He's based out of HPP. Highly recommended.