My wife tells me that back in the old country, their water heaters had thermometers built in so you could tell when the temperature had recovered enough after one shower for the next person to use it. Anybody ever hear of that being available here? Perhaps a piece of data to be fed to the home automation system?
— J.S.
Replies
The upper range faucets have a temp guage in them. That could work.
If at first you don't succeed...try again! After that quit! No sense being a dam fool about it! W.C.Fields
Yes, but not in that market.
There is all kinds of them used in process equipment. And also transducers used for cars.
You want to add one.
My local plumbing supply store has a well-type thermometer that I've installed in several locations. A 3/4" copper 'T' is sweated into the system, then a brass well bushing is sweated into the 'T' and becomes the pressure boundary. The thermometer slides into the well. I have them at the outlet of my boiler, water heater, and in the hydronic zone going up to my attic air handler.
You can never have enough data on mechanical systems.
I am looking forward to installing a historic valve assy that came out of a sanitorium/convent that had been demo'ed (picked it up at an architectural salvage place).
Very, very cool:
there is a great big dial thermometer above the valve that registers the water temp (so that the care-givers can monitor their patients) and a big temperature control valve that the patient operates for hot/cold mix, but can also be adjusted by removable T wrench by the maintainence staff to also prevent scalding temps. A beautiful piece of equipment that must have cost plenty when new, and after cleaning up is still as good as new.
I think that the person above who described how to install a commercial thermometer into plumbing has the information you want.
I believe that the reason why water heaters in this country have no gage is because they are located in basements and closets where no casual usuer would see the gage. In europe, lots of bathrooms have the heater located right there, where you can see a gage.
Norm
Thanks -- Is there a manufacturer's name to ask for when looking for the thermometer?
-- J.S.
John,
I have one of the thermometers with me (pulled it from its well.) The only markings on the dial face (other than the temperature in degrees fahrenheit and centigrade) are the initials, 'ENFM'.
When I needed the thermometers (a few years back) I just went to the supply house and asked if they had well thermometers that could be sweated in. They produced these. I can't remember the price, maybe 15 -20 bucks, but that's a guess.
If you can't find them, let me know, I'll see if they still stock them here and send you one.
I never met a tool I didn't like!
Thanks for the info -- A Google search on "ENFM thermometer" turned up Jayco in Oklahoma City, which has the thermometers.
-- J.S.
John, hopefully a picture (blurring though it may be):
I never met a tool I didn't like!