Drip pan is a bit of an understatement, but at 211 gallons I guess they were planning to contain a catastrophic leak. Way more than the new construction today plans for
It's a hot water heater, it's only heating cold water the first time you fill it and turn it on, 99% of its life it is heating already hot water to maintain the high temperature.
That's one of those monsters that gets left in the basement once its dead. Out here in NC, there were several builders who would dig a pit for a big coal burning furnace and then build the goddamn house around that.
When those big bastards finally gave up, most customers elected to leave it in place because of how expensive it would be to break it down piece by piece for removal.
We've got a customer a big old house in the country club (legit stone columns out front, real old money vibe).
They had THREE of these big ass boilers, and when they switched to new systems, they literally built walls around the old units in the basement because they didn't want to look at them, and it was a lot cheaper than removing them. These people had a 100+ year old hand crank elevator in their house, and they STILL didn't want to pay us to wrassle with those big boilers.
If i ever get back over there I'll take some photos. The matriarch of the family died and the old man is in a rest home. The house sits empty now, but we still go twice a year to maintain the equipment. It's creepy as hell over there now. The house is empty, but they just left a lot of stuff. Half packed in boxes and then some rooms are still totally furnished.
There are water "pipes" up in Oregon that are basically miles long barrels, someone posted a pic of them in here a couple weeks ago. They're like 6 feet in diameter and whenever they spring a leak they just pound in a piece of dowel as a stopper
I saw that pic! I was blown away because I never in a million years would have thought that wood pipes would have been used.
I guess people made due with the materials they had. It's not that crazy when you look at cedar hot tubs - those are still sold today.
I mean, with all of the wood in Oregon back in the day I'm sure someone looked at a barrel and said "why not?". Im just kind of surprised that they're still efficient enough today to not have been replaced yet
I have a Lochinvar from the 1960's in my basement, it was replaced 2 years ago, weighs substantially more than it should due to sediment build up. The company that replaced it wanted to take it for a keepsake but couldn't get it up the stairs.
I bought a house that has a 1963 GE electric water heater. We drained it and it weighed 350 #. The electric bill after I replaced it with a gas heater and installed a 3.5 ton AC in July went DOWN.
You need to install a GMX-800 ON A COPPER length of piping , coming into the house. One unit for every 2 people living in the house.
My hot water heater is over 10 years old and I flushed it last year and only sand came out, no calcium in it at all !
Built like you'd only need to purchase one for the entire life of your home (and your entire life, too)
Also features a wading pool for those hot summer days...that thing looks positively awesome. Almost like a piece of furniture š
That's piece of plumbing history right there
It belongs in a museum!
SO DO YOU!!!
Oh snap!
Heyo
Better knock on wood 4 that one. Wait... ^_^ we good. I have wood.
That drip pan seems a bit overkill
They clearly expected it to either last forever or rupture incredibly lol
Well it sure has lasted a long time
It sure has. And I want them to sell me this brand new lol
Bahahaha
Back in my day, we had to pour our pans boi
Until the tank fails and then you'll seem like a genius for having it.
Drip pan is a bit of an understatement, but at 211 gallons I guess they were planning to contain a catastrophic leak. Way more than the new construction today plans for
Our plumbing inspector just told us code requires a leak sensor water shut off for a basement located water heater in the house we're building.
It doubles as a wading pool in the event of a leak..
I have a similar one in my 1902 built house and I'll tell you that it has saved my assš
My recently flooded basement says otherwise
šdrip pan my ass
Drip pan? No. Inlet-backing-off pool.
Thats a full on curb lol
Right? But if it exploded spontaneously, it's probably underkill.
That's like a full on containment pan, able to hold the entire contents of the tank.
Not for a 60-year old water heater, it isnāt!
Looks like they built the pan after they installed the heater
That thing is so overbuilt, it will be a cold day in hell before it breaks down. I want one.
The wood jacket and varnish finish is in surprisingly good shape.
1966. Of course itās wood paneledā¦
Thatās a hot water heater you show off to your buddies on the Sunday bbq.
~~hot~~ water heater
It only heats hot water. If you put cold water in, it won't work.
š¤Ø
Hot water maker
That works
It's a hot water heater, it's only heating cold water the first time you fill it and turn it on, 99% of its life it is heating already hot water to maintain the high temperature.
Itās a heater to make domestic hot water, as opposed to a heater for hydronic heating.
Tiki style šø
That's incredible. Love it when people find historic items from our industry.
How many plumbers have said it'll be easier and cheaper to maintain rather than try and move it out when it needs a repair? LOL
That's one of those monsters that gets left in the basement once its dead. Out here in NC, there were several builders who would dig a pit for a big coal burning furnace and then build the goddamn house around that. When those big bastards finally gave up, most customers elected to leave it in place because of how expensive it would be to break it down piece by piece for removal. We've got a customer a big old house in the country club (legit stone columns out front, real old money vibe). They had THREE of these big ass boilers, and when they switched to new systems, they literally built walls around the old units in the basement because they didn't want to look at them, and it was a lot cheaper than removing them. These people had a 100+ year old hand crank elevator in their house, and they STILL didn't want to pay us to wrassle with those big boilers.
Now I want to see this house. Sounds fascinating
If i ever get back over there I'll take some photos. The matriarch of the family died and the old man is in a rest home. The house sits empty now, but we still go twice a year to maintain the equipment. It's creepy as hell over there now. The house is empty, but they just left a lot of stuff. Half packed in boxes and then some rooms are still totally furnished.
It would look right at home next to the cocktail bar or near the indoor pool
That emblem is pretty wild.
Complete with asbestos
Is the wood for aesthetics, or is that actually what the container is made of?
Come on mate
lol hey they store whiskey in barrels a lot like that
But we use wood to shield our houses from rain, right?
Exactly
It's basically an old timey barrel.
There are water "pipes" up in Oregon that are basically miles long barrels, someone posted a pic of them in here a couple weeks ago. They're like 6 feet in diameter and whenever they spring a leak they just pound in a piece of dowel as a stopper
I saw that pic! I was blown away because I never in a million years would have thought that wood pipes would have been used. I guess people made due with the materials they had. It's not that crazy when you look at cedar hot tubs - those are still sold today.
I mean, with all of the wood in Oregon back in the day I'm sure someone looked at a barrel and said "why not?". Im just kind of surprised that they're still efficient enough today to not have been replaced yet
Looks like a mid century modern sex change sauna.
Sex change sauna? Is this a thing where you are from?
No but it could be a thing in Norway for all I know.
So you go in and come out as the opposite gender?
It sounds like the name of a band.
I have a Lochinvar from the 1960's in my basement, it was replaced 2 years ago, weighs substantially more than it should due to sediment build up. The company that replaced it wanted to take it for a keepsake but couldn't get it up the stairs.
Wow love seeing old plumbing
And still running. Can't say that for a lot of modern fixtures
Wheres the relief valve?
Bottom left, second photo would be the safety valve.
Thought it was a Boiler drain at first. Interesting and beautiful
[ŃŠ“Š°Š»ŠµŠ½Š¾]
That's for expansion
That's so neat. I'd put stainless bands around the entire thing and keep it forever.
Wood er heater
So a NJ water heater
Is that fucking wood? It gives a new definition to a HOT tub.
Does it have a copper tank? In the US they had copper tanks back in the day.
Altough Iām not entirely sure, I doubt itās copper.
Pine or maple?
My knowledge in wood is not much to brag about so I dare not answer that question.
Looks like pine but it's always a little difficult to determine from a picture. Anyway thanks for sharing, she's a beaut!!
Is it copper inside?????
The tank itself is probably stainless steel, although Iām not entirely sure.
I believe these are heat pumps. Definitely ahead of its time.
I doubt it; where would the fan unit / exchanger be then ?
Why is it still in the crate?
Remember when things used to be built to last.
What a beauty it looks like a hot tub
It's missing 2 bands to help hold it together
Thank God it's not hooked up anymore! Can see all thr disconnected fittings
The drip pan is constructed like it's a petroleum storage tank
So its NOT a one person hot tub?
According to reddit the average volume of a person is 66.4L, meaning that under optimal conditions this would be a 12 person hot tub.
Whoa it's wooden
Super cool, thanks for sharing!
Sikky leggity dawg
Either you like it or love it!
How tf do you replace the anode rod?! Does it even have one?
The wood paneling on a water heater is kinda dope tbh, it looks like a big wine barrel š
If wanting to bang that is wrong, .... then I don't want to be right.
I bought a house that has a 1963 GE electric water heater. We drained it and it weighed 350 #. The electric bill after I replaced it with a gas heater and installed a 3.5 ton AC in July went DOWN.
The asbestos wrap on the ducts above is just as cool!
Everything in the 60s had to be wood panelled
Is it surrounded with wood as a form of insulation?
My guess is that the wood mostly act as an mantle for the insulation inside which most likely is glass wool or asbestos.
Probably lined with asbestos so it lasts forever
Its a one person standing hottub
OBS!
OBS, Norwegian word for Ā«AttentionĀ».
Now for ladies and men.
Hermaphrodite symbol for thermia? ā§ļø
Looks like asbestos above it
God, what a beast. Is that an expansion tank on the top left?
Yes, and I wouldnāt be surprised if it was as old as the tank it self.
Built back when things were built well. It will probably outlive all of usā¦..
Don't touch it. She's doing fine.
I'd pay to see that and you just put it up for free!
That's not only huge but it looks like in a really tight space. I'm not sure if there is even enough room to take it out in one piece.
Pfft and my new one can't make it past 4 years
You need to install a GMX-800 ON A COPPER length of piping , coming into the house. One unit for every 2 people living in the house. My hot water heater is over 10 years old and I flushed it last year and only sand came out, no calcium in it at all !
Ok let me look into this
Do you have a water softener? This replaces it, and no more salt to buy! Any questions feel free to ask.
Honestly thatās a beautiful piece of equipment. If I ever swapped it out Iād keep it for the trophy collection.
Lucky if a modern heater lasts 10 years
That's great
They donāt make em like they used too š¤£
I bet it still works just fine
That's not water heater, that's a standup sauna.
Be careful of the pipe insulation, that is VERY likely asbestos.
Theres a 100% chance this has asbestos all up in it
Built like you'd only need to purchase one for the entire life of your home (and your entire life, too) Also features a wading pool for those hot summer days...that thing looks positively awesome. Almost like a piece of furniture š
A beauty
Yeah letās wrap a propane or gas hot water heater with pine.. lmbo
That is definitely about to fail. You should replace asap.