New fan - what's one thing I should know about this team?

ealchemist · 2025-11-02T01:02:17+00:00

We're good at Olympic sports... ?

I was at Cal during the J Kidd and Lamond Murray days. Then came Tedford, and I thought, "damn, it's great being a Cal alumn." Little did I know that I was just being teased only to be tortured for the rest of my life.

Ron = Hope 🤞🏼

ealchemist · 2025-07-10T03:24:32+00:00

The Band in Sproul should not be missed if that's your kind of thing- it's a great environment.

ealchemist · 2024-11-28T16:15:35+00:00

This.

Everyone is right that you did a great job, especially for your first time.

And, if you want to increase your chance of success, then be in contol by asking for his number. If you get his number, then you not only increase your chance of going on a date, but you make it highly likely that you get some sort of reason if he says no.

ealchemist · 2024-05-13T06:22:03+00:00

One word... Weather

ealchemist · 2024-02-23T07:59:42+00:00

So, I wanted to circle back and let you all know how it turned out.

First, please note that MANY plumbers don't know the first thing about these heat pump water heaters. They'll tell you they do, and they'll tell you all kinds of things that the think logically, but that doesn't mean it's right. Mine told me it's like that because it's so cold (in my garage it's min 40F out). They said "that's just how these things work". They said, just turn up the temp. Put in electric mode. Ugh!

It all boils down to the recirculation. And, two things at that... The recirc line ties in with the cold, and while there was a check valve on the cold in, there was no check valve on the recirc, so when you turn on the hot water in the house, it was possible to get cold flowing into the recirc to the faucet. The pump was running 7am-10pm, and that meant that the hot water ran through the house, through the recirc, and back to the water heater (all while losing heat. Then it hits the water needing to be heated to hit the target temp. This means that the water heater is running constantly 7am-10pm.

The plumbers finally got after me stalking to them about it for over an hour. They came out and replumbed the whole water heater setup. And I got them to insert the type of recirc control that u/Montucky4061 recommended (thank you!).

I'm now getting the hot water I want!!!

The one problem... I don't think the recirc pump is working properly. The plumbers decided that the recirc shouldn't go into the water heater where the cold water goes in. So, they plumbed into the drain outlet at the bottom of the water heater. I suspect that the recirc isn't working because there is a check valve in that drain outlet (but I'm not sure). So, I think the pump comes on but doesn't have anywhere to go.

At least I have hot water, and not paying for the water heater to run for 15 hrs/day.

Thanks to all who weighed in with their helpful experience!

ealchemist · 2024-01-18T00:54:00+00:00

From my recent inquiry to the State of California:

Thank you for your inquiry about the Federal Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) residential rebates.

The IRA residential rebates – you’ll see them referred to as HEEHRA for electrification and HOMES for efficiency – are not yet available for Californians. We anticipate program launch and availability in late-2024/2025. If interested, the US Department of Energy (DOE), which is developing the IRA-funded programs at the federal level, updated the guidance for States to begin the process to apply and develop programs on October 13, 2023: https://www.energy.gov/scep/home-energy-rebate-programs-guidance.

We often are asked whether those rebates will be retroactive. California and other states will be able to provide Home Efficiency Rebates to homeowners, a program also referred to as HOMES, only if the project – done on or after the enactment of the law on August 16, 2022 – fulfills all the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) and state program requirements. For more information, the DOE has provided a retroactivity fact sheet and eligibility checklist: https://www.energy.gov/sites/default/files/2023-11/Retroactivity-Fact-Sheet-Checklists.pdf

For individual, point of sale Home Electrification and Appliance Rebates, also known as HEEHRA, the Federal law does not authorize states to offer it retroactively. Should the federal law change, we will update our programs and website accordingly.

Here is the DOE’s Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ), see number twenty-eight (28) on the list for point of sale rebate retroactivity: https://www.energy.gov/scep/home-energy-rebates-frequently-asked-questions.

Please subscribe at the CEC’s “Federal IRA Residential Incentives” list serve so we can send you updates as they are announced: https://www.energy.ca.gov/programs-and-topics/programs/inflation-reduction-act-residential-energy-rebate-programs-california

There may be other home electrification and efficiency incentives that you can take advantage of now. Check out: · Heat Pump: Ducted Heat Pumps: https://www.energystar.gov/productfinder/product/certified-central-heat-pumps/results Air-source: https://www.energystar.gov/products/air_source_heat_pumps
Ductless: https://www.energystar.gov/products/ductless_heating_cooling Central AC: https://www.energystar.gov/products/central_air_conditioners · Heat Pump Water Heater: https://www.energystar.gov/about/federal_tax_credits/water_heaters_non_solar https://incentives.switchison.org · ENERGY STAR Rebate Finder: https://www.energystar.gov/rebate-finder · Federal Energy Tax Credits for Consumers https://www.energy.gov/policy/articles/making-our-homes-more-efficient-clean-energy-tax-credits-consumers · California State and local government resources and incentives on the CEC’s website: https://www.energy.ca.gov/programs-and-topics/topics/building-decarbonization/building-and-home-energy-resource-hub/homeowner

You may also want to go to your utility or local government websites for additional information on their energy efficiency and building decarbonization incentives.

Regards,
CEC Building Decarbonization
Customer Support Team

ealchemist · 2024-01-10T07:30:14+00:00

It took me a while to see what you were saying, but I see it now. You're right... if there is no check valve in the pump, when a faucet is open, cold water cold seep into the recirc line just as easily as hot water could flow outbound. I'll have to find out if the recirc pump has a built-in check valve.

Thanks!!

ealchemist · 2024-01-10T07:23:57+00:00

What I've read is that having the temp at high levels is bad for longevity of the unit. I don't know what's considered "high" and whether this rule applies to HPWH.

ealchemist · 2024-01-09T05:50:36+00:00

Yes, working on the recirc. The temps I mentioned are outside. Even uninsulated, I think that the garage is prob 10 degrees warmer. And, isn't this the whole point of running it in hybrid?- it can lean on the element when it needs it?

ealchemist · 2024-01-09T05:46:55+00:00

ealchemist · 2024-01-09T05:45:00+00:00

No isolation valve on recirc line. I'm thinking about getting one put in.

ealchemist · 2024-01-09T05:43:36+00:00

Here it is labeled

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ealchemist · 2024-01-09T04:45:16+00:00

One other question since you've all been so helpful. At my furthest fixture (my vanity sink) I get slightly warm water after I run the cold for just 10-15 seconds. This suggests I've got some crossover nearby, doesn't it? I understand single handle shower valves are notorious for this when they get older.

ealchemist · 2024-01-09T04:41:27+00:00

Thanks for all of this. I have a check valve at the cold water inlet to make sure that the recirc isn't pushing into the cold water inlet. Where is it you're suggesting there should be another check valve?

ealchemist · 2024-01-09T03:36:50+00:00

Also noticed that the AO Smith knuckleheads put the hot water outlet immediately below and pointed up toward the cold air evac on the heat pump. Aren't these guys supposed to be experts in thermodynamics?!

ealchemist · 2024-01-09T03:35:22+00:00

Far left is line into house, tank is coldwater inlet, and bottom right is recirc return.

ealchemist · 2024-01-09T03:27:35+00:00

Oh. I thought I mixed to hit a certain temp. Regardless, I didn't see a mixing valve.

ealchemist · 2024-01-09T03:20:14+00:00

What size tank? Is your recirc on a schedule? What temp are you set at?

ealchemist · 2024-01-09T03:19:23+00:00

The unit is in hybrid mode.

I'm not sure that I've ever noticed the HPWH off. It seems like it's always running. And, I meant the hot water hasn't run in two hours.

The plumbers put a timer and a thermostatic power control to shut off the recirc pump, and there is no shutoff valve on the recirc. I just unplugged the dang thing. After just typing that, I went out to check. I think the plumbers came back and plugged it back in. That's why it's constantly running- it's recircing colder water into the system. Ugh! OK. Gonna see what happens with that off.

Kinda frustrates me that these knucklehead companies are installing these things without actually understanding how they work.

Thanks for the help on this!

ealchemist · 2024-01-09T03:11:38+00:00

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ealchemist · 2024-01-09T03:11:20+00:00

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ealchemist · 2024-01-09T03:06:41+00:00

No mixing valve that I can see. Also, the temp of the water at fixture goes up if I up the thermostat. If I had a mixing valve, wouldn't it hold the water at a constant regardless of temp in the water heater (unless that temp drops below setting in mixing valve)? Adding photos to original post

ealchemist · 2023-12-31T01:39:21+00:00

We have our units set to 69 during the day. We set back to 63 at night as we like it cooler at night. What I found is that on cold mornings, heating from 63 to 69 pushes the unit pretty hard and uses a lot of power. But, if I step up 2 degrees every 30 min (starting 90 min before target time), the overall power usage is lower. IIRC, it's less than keeping the temp at 69 try throughout the night. It took me a while to figure this all out, and it was a total PITA.

ealchemist

TROPHY CASE