12-03-2009, 05:59 PM
I don't know how I could NOT have saved money. If the water was still hot enough to heat up in under 10 minutes (reality figure) from being off for 12 hours, the insulation must have been good (it was in the house, not under it, in an attic or a basement) - and if it was the green thing to do, that's really why I did it.
It was a rare event when it wasn't hot enough for a FAST shower even if it was off for 12 hours, but in
the time it took to make coffee it was hot enough.
As for Legionellae - I'm not a member, so I don't worry about that. And if you did - you could always
flush the tank (big deal - 7 or 8 five gallon buckets), and let it refill and turn the heat up higher for that
first tankful following those temp guidelines above from Davester.
Don't forget - that there will be "Fresh chlorinated/chloramine yummy water" coming in to refill it, and that might also help to kill any rascals. But I'd count on the 180 degree temp.
Health Department wants 140-150 for rinse water in a dishwasher that doesn't heat, with a dedicated
water heater linked to NOTHING ELSE (this was 10 years or so ago). I don't imagine that has changed much. And that requirement was stupid for a dishwasher using chlorine based cleaners, when I could
fill a sink and drop in a tab or 2 capfuls of bleach and THAT was also good enough (no temp requirement).
It was a rare event when it wasn't hot enough for a FAST shower even if it was off for 12 hours, but in
the time it took to make coffee it was hot enough.
As for Legionellae - I'm not a member, so I don't worry about that. And if you did - you could always
flush the tank (big deal - 7 or 8 five gallon buckets), and let it refill and turn the heat up higher for that
first tankful following those temp guidelines above from Davester.
Don't forget - that there will be "Fresh chlorinated/chloramine yummy water" coming in to refill it, and that might also help to kill any rascals. But I'd count on the 180 degree temp.
Health Department wants 140-150 for rinse water in a dishwasher that doesn't heat, with a dedicated
water heater linked to NOTHING ELSE (this was 10 years or so ago). I don't imagine that has changed much. And that requirement was stupid for a dishwasher using chlorine based cleaners, when I could
fill a sink and drop in a tab or 2 capfuls of bleach and THAT was also good enough (no temp requirement).