Electric Shower Head Advice Please

mountainannie

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Dec 11, 2003
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elizabetheames.blogspot.com
I throw myself once more on the collective wisdom of the community...

ok - so in "upgrading" the place - I figured why NOT see if there was a better electric shower head.. And the Haitian "ingenerio" who does all things in the 'hood said - well indeed I could spend more money and get one with a hand held unit...

SUCH undreamed of Luxury!!

Well, no, actually since the tubing to the hand held is metal and no matter how many times Bite (The Haitian) stood on the outside of the cast iron tub with his shoes on and held the the tubing, it did not convince ME that I had not gotten a shock when I touched it,

My Solar Energy Specialist from France - now from LT- visited and said - well, yeah.. duh..there was always going to be a little electricity in the water

(Now DO NOT ask me -- I think electricity is generated in the wall or somewhere by little mice going around very fast in a circular aparatus)

So I suppose if you were getting into a plastic tub liner or something, or standing on the TILE floor, outside the tub, with your thick rubber soled shoes on-- you would not get a shock.

OK so I did not make Bite take his shoes off and get into the shower - I just had him disconnect it. After I read this article http://articles.cnn.com/2008-05-28/us/soldier.electrocutions_1_electrocuted-shower-painful-death?

which I found while googling for info on a shower head..

Now the cold shower routine has been fine through the summer

but now it is getting a bit cooler and more "bracing" shall we say -- to get into that cold shower....

So can anyone give make and model number of a heating shower head - preferably with a hand held -- that will work? And where you got it?

(and no, I am not going to repair the water heater since that -- according to the French expert - is also going to involve repairing all the pipes -- and there has to be a limit for a renter!)

mesi davant.

(thanks in advance -Kreyole- which I think is one of the BEST phrases !
 

SKY

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Apr 11, 2004
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I can only tell you that a very accomplished electrician along with a German plumber told me they would have nothing to do with these gadgets.

I know that a lot of people use them with no problems, but it only takes one.

A good alternative is a coiled heating system using electricity that is placed Outside of your residence.
 

AlterEgo

Administrator
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Jan 9, 2009
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Annie, we bought one for our house in the campo a few years ago, and initially I was in heaven. It lasted only a few DAYS, one day when I was showering I heard a POP noise and that was the end of it. Big waste of money buying it, running the electricity for it, etc. I won't ever get another one. Now we have a big plastic tank on the roof that keeps the water lukewarm and bearable.

AE
 

cobraboy

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Jul 24, 2004
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For RD$10,000 or less plus installation, you can get a tankless electric water heater that can be installed in such a way you can take it with you when you leave the apartment.

Go to Americana. They have a huge display of different models.

The electric ones are not as efficient as the gas ones, but require no venting to the outside.

The operating costs are much less that a tank heater because it's only on when you twist the hot water knob in your shower or sink.
 

SantiagoDR

The "REAL" SantiagoDR
Jan 12, 2006
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mountainannie, the link does not work for me.......

I just have the wife hold a large magnifying glass near the bath room window and have it aimed at me.
cjms9.gif
lol

Don
 
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Hillbilly

Moderator
Jan 1, 2002
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Annie: I have been using Lorenzetti shower head water heaters for more than 40 years with outstanding results. Ihave three of them currently working in my house(s).

All you need is a decent electrician to hook them up properly. There is nothing metalic for you to touch and you graduate the heat by the volume of water. They have a little hand held unit which I usually tie off...

Check one out...

HB
 

bienamor

Kansas redneck an proud of it
Apr 23, 2004
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This is the way to go

Annie: I have been using Lorenzetti shower head water heaters for more than 40 years with outstanding results. Ihave three of them currently working in my house(s).

All you need is a decent electrician to hook them up properly. There is nothing metalic for you to touch and you graduate the heat by the volume of water. They have a little hand held unit which I usually tie off...

Check one out...

HB

Had 3 in 3 different apartments. All worked great just make sure they are installed correctly and GROUNDED. like HB I always tie off the hand held device.
 

granca

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Aug 20, 2007
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Well I've had two different ones, neither lasted very long and didn't produce hot water properly. Never again. I've got a tankless gas water heater now and I'm well pleased.
 

sylindr

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Nov 29, 2007
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tankless gas water heater

that's what i have and I love it also! never out of hot water
 

AlterEgo

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Well I've had two different ones, neither lasted very long and didn't produce hot water properly. Never again. I've got a tankless gas water heater now and I'm well pleased.

How much do they cost in DR? How much for installation?

AE
 

mountainannie

Platinum
Dec 11, 2003
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elizabetheames.blogspot.com
Annie: I have been using Lorenzetti shower head water heaters for more than 40 years with outstanding results. Ihave three of them currently working in my house(s).

All you need is a decent electrician to hook them up properly. There is nothing metalic for you to touch and you graduate the heat by the volume of water. They have a little hand held unit which I usually tie off...

Check one out...

HB


OK Off to Americana

Any reason you are tying off the hand held?

I have the water pressure of a spitting garden snake (Although I do not know ?WHY? The kitchen and back sink have great pressure!!)

ALSO if there is anyone in SD with the number of a good electrician please PM me..

Now let us move on a bit and

explain how the unit would be "grounded" ????

I am assuming that does not involved sitting in a full lotus and chanting

(Ok yes i do at least know something about the three little prong plugs and the two little prong plugs)

This is making me feel very very stupid.

I know that there are some things that I am very smart in

just cannot remember what
 

suarezn

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Feb 3, 2002
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I've always been scared of those things, but now I'm reconsidering as I've tried to have a gas tankless water heater installed and never got it to work and that water can get really cold around December when I visit down there. The other issue of course is that when there's no power they don't work as they shouldn't run on inverter power...
 

suarezn

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Feb 3, 2002
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Any ideas as to why? They are simple devices, pretty much...

That's what I thought, but I wasn't there when it got installed and had a crappy plumber do the work. I really think is due to a lack of water pressure. I believe these devices need at least a certain pressure to turn on and the water pressure in my house sucks (again bad plumber). I would like to do it myself, unfortunately as you know all those pipes are within the walls (cement walls) which have deterred me from undertaking the job.

I think what I'll do when I go back home is take the unit out and test it out independently. The plumber kept saying that it didn't work, but I don't believe him because I do hear a clicking noise when you turn the water (like it's trying to turn on).
 

donP

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Dec 14, 2008
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No-Ground Connection

I think those electric shower heads are only sold in certain countries and cannot be bought in the US and various European contries.
I can imagine, however, that they are promoted by funeral homes... :cheeky:

15f29u.jpg



donP
 

cobraboy

Pro-Bono Demolition Hobbyist
Jul 24, 2004
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That's what I thought, but I wasn't there when it got installed and had a crappy plumber do the work. I really think is due to a lack of water pressure. I believe these devices need at least a certain pressure to turn on and the water pressure in my house sucks (again bad plumber). I would like to do it myself, unfortunately as you know all those pipes are within the walls (cement walls) which have deterred me from undertaking the job.

I think what I'll do when I go back home is take the unit out and test it out independently. The plumber kept saying that it didn't work, but I don't believe him because I do hear a clicking noise when you turn the water (like it's trying to turn on).
Have you considered a pump with a pressure switch and pressurized cannister? That's what we have here and it works well.

The cannister is pressurized by the pump then the pump shuts off. It offers pressure for routine uses of sinks, faucets and toilets; when the pressure drops below a threshold the pump comes on until the cannister is pressurized, usually just seconds after the tap is turned off.

When you shower, the pump comes on for the duration of the shower.

Chances are your heater has some sort of pressure switch that will turn on the flame when the pressure shows water is flowing at a prescribed rate. It won't heat stagnant water (i.e. pressure below the threshold) for risk of causing too much heat and internal pressure.

Just a thought.

Good luck.
 

waytogo

Moderator - North Coast Forum
Apr 3, 2009
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Santiago DR
That's what gives me the heebie jeebies...

cb, I've been using them for 2 years and never had a problem. Dons photo is really extreme. As long as everything is wired, sealed, and taped correctly you won't have a problem. Bang for the buck, they do a great job for a shower.

B in Santiago....
 

suarezn

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Yeah I do have a pump, but it doesn't work as well - I need to revise the whole setup. My setup is as follows. Have a large cistern, pump and pressure tank sit atop, from there pipe goes out to tinaco on top of the house and then from tinaco comes out the pipe that distributes water to the rest of the house. I'm not a plumber, but it seems that with the tinaco in the middle of the setup the pressure is going to be lost. The plumber assured me that's the way it's supposed to be, but it doesn't make a lot of sense to me. Is this how you guys have it if you have a Tinaco?