# Hot water heater used as a storage tank?

**URL:** <https://forum.nachi.org/t/hot-water-heater-used-as-a-storage-tank/125641>\
**Category:** Inspecting HVAC Systems\
**Created:** [August 21, 2018, 7:52am UTC](https://forum.nachi.org/t/hot-water-heater-used-as-a-storage-tank/125641 "2018-08-21T07:52:56Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 4\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![mgiangarra](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/internachi/user_avatar/forum.nachi.org/mgiangarra/32/188651_2.png) [@mgiangarra](https://forum.nachi.org/u/mgiangarra)\
**Post date:** [August 21, 2018, 7:52am UTC](https://forum.nachi.org/t/hot-water-heater-used-as-a-storage-tank/125641/1 "2018-08-21T07:52:56Z")

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I believe I have an electrical hot water heater used as a storage tank. the boiler appears to be making the hot water and then dumping it into the water heater. Is this ok?

 ![IMG_4442.JPG](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/internachi/original/3X/3/5/35482d4013029d6a3f7cdfcc8e36839ac2a42516.jpeg)

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**Author:** ![rcooke](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/internachi/user_avatar/forum.nachi.org/rcooke/32/57038_2.png) [@rcooke](https://forum.nachi.org/u/rcooke)\
**Post date:** [August 21, 2018, 8:46am UTC](https://forum.nachi.org/t/hot-water-heater-used-as-a-storage-tank/125641/2 "2018-08-21T08:46:06Z")

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Strange what you can find on Google .

[Storage tank hot water systems | BUILD](http://www.build.com.au/storage-tank-hot-water-systems)

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**Author:** ![jfunderburk](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/internachi/user_avatar/forum.nachi.org/jfunderburk/32/187920_2.png) [@jfunderburk](https://forum.nachi.org/u/jfunderburk)\
**Post date:** [August 21, 2018, 11:19am UTC](https://forum.nachi.org/t/hot-water-heater-used-as-a-storage-tank/125641/3 "2018-08-21T11:19:26Z")

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Sure. I used to use a wood boiler at my house and that is exactly how it was configured. The electric water heater may be used as a backup (mine was).

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**Author:** ![eschmidt](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/internachi/user_avatar/forum.nachi.org/eschmidt/32/89375_2.png) [@eschmidt](https://forum.nachi.org/u/eschmidt)\
**Post date:** [August 22, 2018, 12:36pm UTC](https://forum.nachi.org/t/hot-water-heater-used-as-a-storage-tank/125641/4 "2018-08-22T12:36:27Z")

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A house I inspected had two gas water heaters connected in series, the occupants turned the last one off to save money, so it was being used as a storage tank. I advised my client to have them both working or have one removed because of the [Legionnaires disease issue](https://canadasafetycouncil.org/heated-debate-about-hot-water/). Was the electric water heater actually working, energized and thermostat set to 50 C or 125 F or higher? If so all is good IMO.