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Old 09-30-2022, 02:31 PM   #92
DickR
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Quote:
Originally Posted by SailinAway View Post
You make it sound like I can just heat the top 5 gallons in 20 rminutes and get a 10-minute shower. Is that really how a water heater works? Of is all the water mixing inside it such that ALL the water has to reach 140 degrees?
A typical electric water heater of any size has two heating elements, upper and lower, with two thermostats. My 40 gallon tank has two, 4.5 KW each. The upper element and thermostat are located somewhat below the top of the tank, and not right at the top. Starting cold, the upper thermostat turns on that element, and the lower element is off. When the upper thermostat is satisfied, with enough hot water above it to take a shower (for most people), that thermostat turns off the upper element and sends power to the lower thermostat. The lower element heats water from there up to the upper element. When the lower thermostat is satisfied, that element is turned off. Power remains available at the lower thermostat, to turn that element back on after some use of hot water. If enough hot water is drawn, the upper thermostat switches off power to the lower thermostat and turns on its element again.
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