water heater: difference between open and close outlet design?

[tangcoral]

I currently have a stiebel DHC 6 (i think multipoint) which is a close outlet design that needs to be replaced.

Can I buy a open outlet design and use it in its place? Do I need to buy another multipoint or can single point be okay?

Hopefully a simple swap of heater is all thats needed. Reason I ask is that my wife purchased an single port closed outlet design and wondering if it would work.

My condo bathroom has a separate cold and hot pipe which feeds into the sink and shower.

I have zero knowledge regarding plumbing so I am hear asking you guys.

Edited July 29, 2013 by tangcoral

[Crossy]

The open outlet type cannot be used if your shower has any form of tap (the shower head is the safety blow off route).

Like for like is safest, multipoint heaters are all of the closed outlet type and not expensive.

We got a couple of 7kW Redring branded units (element made in the UK if that's any recommendation), small and effective.

[tangcoral]

Just to clarify, when you say "tap" your referring to a shower head thats connected to a faucet with a lever (in my case)?

Can redring be purchased at homepro? Might I ask you how much was the cost of your unit?

Crossy you are an asset to the TV community! Thank you for the countless helps over the years.

Edited July 29, 2013 by tangcoral

[Crossy]

Just to clarify, when you say "tap" your referring to a shower head thats connected to a faucet with a lever (in my case)?

Correct, the open type can have no obstruction between the heater and the head.

Our Redring units came from HomePro (they do 2 sizes), sorry, can't remember the cost

[tangcoral]

The reason were replacing the water heater is because we only get cold water or hot water and nothing in between like warm.

The maintenance worker for the condo suggested the heater is at fault. Something doesnt sound right?

Just out of curiosity, how unsafe is it to use a open outlet heater on a tapped shower head? I'm assuming any malfunctions the unit would explode? Whats the likely hood on that? What are the consequences in terms of safety issues?

Edited July 29, 2013 by tangcoral

[Crossy]

Is the heater or it's inlet/outlet pipe bunged up?

You may not be getting enough flow to keep it going when you mix cold water.

Check the flexible pipes and any inlet filter gauze.

[tangcoral]

Thanks for that tip on checking the flexible pipes and any inlet filter gauze.

But I'm confused on the part of getting only hot water? We have good cold water flow.

I

[Pacificperson]

Does you bathroom sink run off of this water heater? If it does, try a simple experiment. Turn the sink on pure hot water and let it flow, then see if you can regulate the temperature in the shower.

Edited July 29, 2013 by Pacificperson

[tangcoral]

So if I can't get it to regulate it would mean..?

and if the result is the same as the issue I was having it would mean?

[Pacificperson]

Assuming that the same heater services both sink and shower.

Hot water in sink and no regulation in shower - bad plumbing to or in the shower.

Hot water in sink and regulation in shower - Crossy is right in post #6 about the flow switch in the heater.

Try it and report back. It will only take 5 minutes.

Edited July 30, 2013 by Pacificperson

[bankruatsteve]

^Yah, and does the sink have regulation? It sounds like you might not have enough flow/pressure thru your hot water unit and the cold water pressure takes over - and that is if your water taps are one unit - if separate this does not make sense. Maybe check flow control into/out your heater.

[sotsira]

Can redring be purchased at homepro? Might I ask you how much was the cost of your unit?

Redring water heaters come under the Mazuma brand name.

They do two types 6kw & 8kw Homepro do sell them for around 7000bt.

If your in Pattaya you can also purchase them at the Mazuma service centre

for 6200bt. The new models also have a temp control knob.

[Crossy]

^Yah, and does the sink have regulation? It sounds like you might not have enough flow/pressure thru your hot water unit and the cold water pressure takes over - and that is if your water taps are one unit - if separate this does not make sense. Maybe check flow control into/out your heater.

That's what happened to our heater in the old condo, replacing the tubes and cleaning out the filter gauze made things much better.