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stoneturtle
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# Posted: 22 Jul 2017 12:22am
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Hello everyone! It's been a long time since I posted. We ended up getting a 12x40 shed that we are fixing up instead of building from scratch because of time constraints. We're living in the cabin full time now.
We had an Eccotemp L5 water heater for camping purposes and we have mounted it on the outside of the cabin. It has been surprisingly satisfactory. It is providing all the hot water we need for showers and washing dishes and laundry. It's great.
However, our installation was more for expediency and frugality than permanency. We used what we had on hand. However, we really like how it's working and would like to see if we can just stick with it instead of spending money for a different heater that we could use for something else.
How can we prepare it for a Kentucky winter? Not as brutal as farther north but it does freeze.
Here's a picture of our installation. That's PEX in case it's not clear. There's a little roof built over it that doesn't show in the picture and keeps the water from the roof off it.
Thanks in advance for your advice.
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Atlincabin
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# Posted: 22 Jul 2017 12:54am
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As long as it doesn't freeze, you should be ok, but if there is any water in the core of the heater and it freezes, the unit is toast. The metal piping is not freeze tolerant at all. We actually put our (similar unit, EZ Tankless) inside and vented it out some double-wall pipe and it works fine.
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paulz
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# Posted: 22 Jul 2017 02:37am
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There's a drain screw on the bottom.
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stoneturtle
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# Posted: 22 Jul 2017 07:57am
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Quoting: Atlincabin We actually put our (similar unit, EZ Tankless) inside and vented it out some double-wall pipe and it works fine.
Interesting. I'd like to see a picture of how you did it. Do you keep the propane tank inside too?
I'm looking for ideas to make it so we can keep using it even when it does freeze. I was thinking we might have to build a box around it and put in some heat tape maybe, or a light bulb, to make some heat.
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Atlincabin
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# Posted: 22 Jul 2017 10:03am
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As paulz noted, there is a drain screw on the bottom of these, but it would be a significant pain to drain after each use to prevent freezing, unless it is only occasionally. Would be nice to figure out a way to set up something automatic.
For my setup, propane tank is outside, ran a copper line into the cabin. Top of the EZtankless has a 3" diameter vent hole that fits standard double-wall galvanized pipe. We ran the pipe up through the ceiling of the bathroom, 90-degree bend and out the gable end, another 90-degree bend (up to vertical again), and a stovepipe cap to keep rain out and disperse the heat.
I've never figured out how to upload photos to this forum, and since Picasa died don't have any place to store them. Sorry about that. email me and I can send direct to you.
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Gary O
Member
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# Posted: 23 Jul 2017 01:33am
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Extremely interesting thread
We too live in our cabin
over two years now
We heat our bath water with a turkey boiler at present
Been satisfied with it, but that baster lacks in the shower dept.
anyway, any more info on proper install and usage of that Eccotemp is appreciated
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paulz
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# Posted: 23 Jul 2017 05:17pm - Edited by: paulz
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Here's what I got going on. The reason for the pump bypass and gate valve are because my water tank sits uphill of the cabin so the sink and toilet fill on gravity. When I turn the pump on it shuts the gate valve preventing back pumping to tank. The Ecotemp is turned up all the way, heat is controlled by using cold water knobs at sink and shower. The Ecotemp will turn on without the pump if the tank level (pressure) is high enough, otherwise requires pump.
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Bexeler
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# Posted: 23 Jul 2017 08:28pm
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Quoting: stoneturtle I'm looking for ideas to make it so we can keep using it even when it does freeze. I was thinking we might have to build a box around it and put in some heat tape maybe, or a light bulb, to make some heat.
I'm not sure but wouldn't whatever vent you put in the box for the propane to exhaust let too much cold air in?
What part of Ky are you in? I live in Boone county and my little cabin is in Laurel County.
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stoneturtle
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# Posted: 23 Jul 2017 10:53pm
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Eastern Pulaski County, not far from the Laurel County line.
I don't know about the vent. I was hoping someone had winterized an outdoor installation and could tell me what they did! 
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fitzpatt
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# Posted: 24 Jul 2017 11:22am
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I'm in south eastern Ontario, Canada and had mine set up for an outdoor shower one week too long in the fall (had plans to bring it home for the winter) and it dipped below zero. It was in bad shape. I did manage to fix the leak with some compound putty sealer and it works great now, but it wasn't easy!
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stoneturtle
Member
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# Posted: 24 Jul 2017 01:08pm - Edited by: stoneturtle
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Atlincabin sent me some pictures of his installation and said I could post them for those of you interested in this. He has his heater (a similar model but the venting is different) mounted inside and his propane tank outside.
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hueyjazz
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# Posted: 25 Jul 2017 11:53am
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Don't know if anyone else has this problem but I do live in the Great White North. I've had zero problems draining these and freeze protecting them. We take it offline for winter.
But I've lost three units to mice building nest inside of unit. I use of cabin is mostly weekends. The mice only need a couple days to make a major nest in these. They particularly love to take fiberglass insulation into the unit. If the flames start and there's glass wool in there, it's all over for the unit. I've learn to keep my cover loose and inspect it before use.
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Atlincabin
Member
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# Posted: 25 Jul 2017 10:15pm
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I drain ours for the winter also. No mice or other critters, cabin is pretty tight.
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benny8
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# Posted: 26 Jul 2017 04:10am
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Stone Turtle- Thanks for posting your initial post. I have nothing to contribute as far as winterizing. Just happy to hear that you are pleased with the water heater as I have purchased the same one, to do the exact same as you (shower, handwashing and dishes). Cheers
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darz5150
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# Posted: 29 Jul 2017 11:14pm
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Has anyone heard of or used TCMT brand water heater? I was looking on amazon for the L5 to possibly keep around for a spare. But I can't find them listed .
I looked on e bay, and ran across the TCMT brand for less than $70 bucks. It doesn't have standard threads so it needs adaptor from g threads to npt.
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