Gas Hot Water Heater

We spent Christmas in Phurua.....our resort room had a Mazuma LPG-10-5CR gas hot water heater. It was in the mid-40's when we woke up this morning, but the shower water was toasty warm......much more consistent than what we get our of our electric hot water heaters.
Has anyone seen these for sale in Udon....or possibly have one of their own? The resort owner told us he bought them for the rooms because he was off the beaten path and electric power was sometimes iffy or substandard. He said since he's installed the gas hot water heaters, he's not received any more complaints about 'cool showers'.

If anyone has any insight, I'm all ears.

parrot wrote:We spent Christmas in Phurua.....our resort room had a Mazuma LPG-10-5CR gas hot water heater. It was in the mid-40's when we woke up this morning, but the shower water was toasty warm......much more consistent than what we get our of our electric hot water heaters.
Has anyone seen these for sale in Udon....or possibly have one of their own? The resort owner told us he bought them for the rooms because he was off the beaten path and electric power was sometimes iffy or substandard. He said since he's installed the gas hot water heaters, he's not received any more complaints about 'cool showers'.

If anyone has any insight, I'm all ears.

I am interested also. We will be building in 2012. We had a propane gas hot water heater when we lived in a house behind the Pardise Hotel in the 70's. The responce time and the tempreture of the heater was very good. I would be interested in the comparision of the cost of operation of Gas Verus Electric hot water heaters. The comment concerning iffy or substandard electric power makes me lean toward gas powered.

I’m assuming you stayed at Phu Rua Resort, and I also liked the idea of hot water, with good pressure. A rare find indeed. Tried a couple times to get the same, but in the end, couldn’t, or it wasn’t feesible, do to storage of large tank of fuel. This some time ago, things may have changed, but in never see them available at the usual chain outlets. You may consider the same as us, and go with a commercial grade electric hot water heater. We use 8000 watt unit, that supplies the whole house, with hot and cold spigots on all faucets. Great for washing clothes and doing dishes. In the hot season, simply cut the hot water with cold water so not to scold yourself, and increases the water pressure considerably. One of the best decisions we made years ago. To the point, we hate going anywhere during cool season, because we got used to hot showers and baths. Even with low temps now, the water temp is hot, even at the far end of the water line. If having a good water pump, you can split your lines at faucet / spigot, though will have to change taps to hot / cold, not just hot, since adjusting the hot water heater would be a hassle, unless just installing one new one at shower. Ours does the whole house, whch required a separate hot water line run, at time of construction. This also requires a different type of PVC.

Easiest install for non new house, would be one unit in main shower, and adjustable temp control. Though personally, I would at least run hot / cold water lines for that shower, so you have very good pressure. You simply can’t push good pressure through any of the units sold here, the internal tubing is just too small.

Parrot I don't know where you can buy the gas shower heaters, but then I've never looked for one, as I am satisfied with our current shower heater, a 4500 Watt Samsung. As far as the water not being hot enough in cool weather, one little trick I discovered (probably everyone in the world already knows this, but hey, I'm always seem to be the last to find out these things ), is to turn down the water volume, way down so it's just enough to kick in the heater. I do it on mine and the water still has adequate pressure but is hot enough that I have to turn down the thermostat. This allows the water a longer transit time in the tank and lets it heat up.

I would always opt for the individual units for a number of reasons. In the States, where they commonly use a tank, usually 50 gallons, unless you are right next to the water heater you have to run the water for a while before it gets hot, as the water sitting in the line cools off rapidly. Of course you've already paid to heat it, now you're going to pay to heat it again. Then you're paying to heat this huge tank of water 24/7, even though you're using it for a fraction of the time. I was going to install a heater in the kitchen and hook it up to the sink for washing dishes, but the wife, being a good Issan girl just gave me "that look" and essentially said the Thai equivalent of "what's the point?". So we compromised, as always, and didn't install the kitchen heater.

Yes, we have a 4500 watt shower water heater in one of our bathrooms. That gives a nice edge on colder days like now.

Ask and ye shall receive:
Yesterday, I sent an email to Mazuma/co/th
Today I received an answer....and map
"Thank you for your interest in MAZUMA product.
The LPG10-5CR is 5310 Baht.
You can buy it from our service center in Udonthani.
Please see the map and contact detail from attached file.
Regards,
MAZUMA (THAILAND) CO.,LTD.
http://www.mazuma.co.th
747/96 Bangkok-Nonthaburi Rd.
Bangsue, Bangkok 10800
Office Number: +662 911 4100
Service Center: +662 911 4155

of course, gas water heaters dredge up memories of nearly 40 years ago and cautions from U.S. military authorities to GI's living "downtown" of a carbon monoxide safety issue. I can remember several cases of GI's and their "tearak" dying of CO poisioning from badly functioning gas water heaters. While I'm sure today's models are far safer, a gas water heater within the confines of a bathroom does present venting/air quality issues..

You are quite correct to add that caution Freeze.
While living in the UK I have often used gas as a water heating system & it has the advantage of supplying instant hot water on demand. However even now there are occasional stories in the newspapers of people dying because of CO2 poisoning.
Good ventilation & annual servicing are a must for anyone considering it.

My 2 cents,,,, the gas company usually adds a chemical so people can smell the gas,,,, but maybe not in Thailand. And it wouldn't help you if you were asleep. You can purchase a carbon monoxide detector for a very reasonable price. And, since the gas is heavier than air, place a vent of some type at the lowest level of the room to the outside (with a screen to keep out varmits). And last, if possible, close off that room with a well sealed door.
Best to all for a great 2012,,,,,,LL

I'll throw in my two cents here having used this type of heater for water and heat for many, many years. Have used both propane and natural gas ones. Boiler was always located outside the house where it was fed by the appropriate fuel source. Generally speaking, they functioned very adequately. Depends upon quality of product. Korean ones were fairly adequate since a lot of house heat is circulating hot water in pipes below the floor. Again, depending upon the quality of the boiler, they tended to be a little touchy regarding regulating hot/cold water. But overall, they work nicely and scalding hot for the most part.

I think i have that type . It is rated about 10kw and works like a breeze . I have it for i think about 9months and bought it in Globalhouse for less then 5000 baht if i remeber correct . You do need to ask as they do not have them on stand ( just ask for gas water heater and they pull out the box ) .

Thanks again for all the feedback. Having seen one in action in Phurua, I'd feel as comfortable using one (that's been properly installed) as I would an electric one.
The big plus for me: instant hot, consistent temperature, and no waste when it's not in use.

John, just had one put into my place here in the States yesterday. A Rinnai 7.4 gpm tankless gas water heater. Mounted externally on the outside wall so no separate flue needed and no carbon monoxide issues since it is outside.. Performance is very good and it is rated to support a two bathroom plus kitchen, plus washing machine set up.. Quite pricey here though. Just google Tankless gas water heaters to get all the info on operation and efficiency. I'm sure you can find similar ones in Thailand that could feed your whole place. At my place in Udon we've got a tankless electric which provides good support for 2 showers and the kitchen sink.. We bought it downtown at the hardware store by Ha Yaak..

parrot wrote:Thanks again for all the feedback. Having seen one in action in Phurua, I'd feel as comfortable using one (that's been properly installed) as I would an electric one.
The big plus for me: instant hot, consistent temperature, and no waste when it's not in use.

My gas heater , instant hot , very consistent temp , and flame goes on and of on demand . Water temp can be from boiling hot till warm depending on your setting and regardless of flowsize . I'm very happy with my waterheater and i would not change it for a electric one .