Wasauna -- Chinese for "horrible product"

Has anyone else come across the Wasauna spa showers in B&Bs? When they work, they're really great... But here we are, less than two months into owning our B&B and I've had failing mixing valves (guests got *only* hot water in the shower) and leaky solenoid water diverters (good thing I noticed the dripping water before too much damage occurred! Anyway, I have 8 of these "best spa showers in the world" and other than the fact that Wasauna is on a number of "don't buy from this company!" lists posted by various state attorneys general...even spare parts are challenging since they're all Metric thread (grrrrrr) and apparently unique to the same Chinese manufacturer who will not honor their warranties nor respond to inquiries.
Anyway... that said... I am looking at retrofitting the fiberglass steam shower bodies with all new valves and controls... and I was wondering if anyone else had tried to Franken-retrofit a spa shower like this and perhaps could recommend reputable manufacturers?
Thanks!

I have no experience with these. They look really cool and would be a great perk I would imagine. That said, I see a guest draining a hot water heater and leaving the rest of the guests with just cold water. Speaking of that, I have always wondered how others deal with making sure everyone has enough water?

Hillbilly said:

I have no experience with these. They look really cool and would be a great perk I would imagine. That said, I see a guest draining a hot water heater and leaving the rest of the guests with just cold water. Speaking of that, I have always wondered how others deal with making sure everyone has enough water?.

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We have the huge 2 person whirlpool tubs and need lots of hot water. We have 7 50 gallon hot water heaters for our 4 room b&b & OQ.

Hillbilly said:

I have no experience with these. They look really cool and would be a great perk I would imagine. That said, I see a guest draining a hot water heater and leaving the rest of the guests with just cold water. Speaking of that, I have always wondered how others deal with making sure everyone has enough water?.

Click to expand...

good question. we were ready to add a hot water tank and our plumber told us he could put in a mixer between our hot and cold water tanks that would allow us to use the hot water less quickly. we went for it.
we also don't run the dishwasher in the morning when we have a full house.

Hillbilly said:

I have no experience with these. They look really cool and would be a great perk I would imagine. That said, I see a guest draining a hot water heater and leaving the rest of the guests with just cold water. Speaking of that, I have always wondered how others deal with making sure everyone has enough water?.

Click to expand...

Tankless on-demand water heaters. Wouldn't be without them.

Anon Inn said:

Hillbilly said:

I have no experience with these. They look really cool and would be a great perk I would imagine. That said, I see a guest draining a hot water heater and leaving the rest of the guests with just cold water. Speaking of that, I have always wondered how others deal with making sure everyone has enough water?.

Click to expand...

Tankless on-demand water heaters. Wouldn't be without them.
.

Click to expand...

What kind do you use? I have never really had anyone recommend them before. Everyone I have asked say the same thing/ 'They work but the water is not as hot as what you would like it to be!" I was wanting to change ours out. But just a little nervous about the tankless.

Hillbilly said:

Anon Inn said:

Hillbilly said:

I have no experience with these. They look really cool and would be a great perk I would imagine. That said, I see a guest draining a hot water heater and leaving the rest of the guests with just cold water. Speaking of that, I have always wondered how others deal with making sure everyone has enough water?.

Click to expand...

Tankless on-demand water heaters. Wouldn't be without them.
.

Click to expand...

What kind do you use? I have never really had anyone recommend them before. Everyone I have asked say the same thing/ 'They work but the water is not as hot as what you would like it to be!" I was wanting to change ours out. But just a little nervous about the tankless.
.

Click to expand...

For our property we were told that the tankless couldn't keep up with the volume we need.

Breakfast Diva said:

Hillbilly said:

Anon Inn said:

Hillbilly said:

I have no experience with these. They look really cool and would be a great perk I would imagine. That said, I see a guest draining a hot water heater and leaving the rest of the guests with just cold water. Speaking of that, I have always wondered how others deal with making sure everyone has enough water?.

Click to expand...

Tankless on-demand water heaters. Wouldn't be without them.
.

Click to expand...

What kind do you use? I have never really had anyone recommend them before. Everyone I have asked say the same thing/ 'They work but the water is not as hot as what you would like it to be!" I was wanting to change ours out. But just a little nervous about the tankless.
.

Click to expand...

For our property we were told that the tankless couldn't keep up with the volume we need.
.

Click to expand...

Breakfast Diva said:

For our property we were told that the tankless couldn't keep up with the volume we need.

Click to expand...

I was told the opposite, that tankless water heaters NEVER run out of hot water because they heat it as it flows through the line. If it's ever hot, it's always hot. They can keep heating it as fast as you use it, forever. If your heaters are properly sized, you should be able to open ever hot water tap in the building and all of them deliver hot water forever.

I say "heaters" because I have one for each room. It's just what the plumber said I had to have. I was thinking one big one for all 5 units, but he put in 5 smaller tankless heaters. I have spa tubs in every unit, as well as a clothes washer in each unit, and 2 units also have dishwashers. I've never known anybody to run out of hot water.
Really, you cannot run out. It heats it as fast as it will run through the line. I guess if lots of taps are open, the flow rate will slow down, as it would anyway if lots of taps are open, but the water will always be hot.

Arks said:

Breakfast Diva said:

Hillbilly said:

Anon Inn said:

Hillbilly said:

I have no experience with these. They look really cool and would be a great perk I would imagine. That said, I see a guest draining a hot water heater and leaving the rest of the guests with just cold water. Speaking of that, I have always wondered how others deal with making sure everyone has enough water?.

Click to expand...

Tankless on-demand water heaters. Wouldn't be without them.
.

Click to expand...

What kind do you use? I have never really had anyone recommend them before. Everyone I have asked say the same thing/ 'They work but the water is not as hot as what you would like it to be!" I was wanting to change ours out. But just a little nervous about the tankless.
.

Click to expand...

For our property we were told that the tankless couldn't keep up with the volume we need.
.

Click to expand...

Breakfast Diva said:

For our property we were told that the tankless couldn't keep up with the volume we need.

Click to expand...

I was told the opposite, that tankless water heaters NEVER run out of hot water because they heat it as it flows through the line. If it's ever hot, it's always hot. They can keep heating it as fast as you use it, forever. If your heaters are properly sized, you should be able to open ever hot water tap in the building and all of them deliver hot water forever.

I say "heaters" because I have one for each room. It's just what the plumber said I had to have. I was thinking one big one for all 5 units, but he put in 5 smaller tankless heaters. I have spa tubs in every unit, as well as a clothes washer in each unit, and 2 units also have dishwashers. I've never known anybody to run out of hot water.
Really, you cannot run out. It heats it as fast as it will run through the line. I guess if lots of taps are open, the flow rate will slow down, as it would anyway if lots of taps are open, but the water will always be hot.
.

Click to expand...

Do you happen to know what kind you have? I'm assuming they are gas?

Hillbilly said:

Anon Inn said:

Hillbilly said:

I have no experience with these. They look really cool and would be a great perk I would imagine. That said, I see a guest draining a hot water heater and leaving the rest of the guests with just cold water. Speaking of that, I have always wondered how others deal with making sure everyone has enough water?.

Click to expand...

Tankless on-demand water heaters. Wouldn't be without them.
.

Click to expand...

What kind do you use? I have never really had anyone recommend them before. Everyone I have asked say the same thing/ 'They work but the water is not as hot as what you would like it to be!" I was wanting to change ours out. But just a little nervous about the tankless.
.

Click to expand...

We have a Noritz tankless water heater at daughter's house, works fine, but she has only been in house several months so limited experience
At motel we have a Bradford-White 60gal high efficiency tank type water heater, don't have hot tubs, but it serves our 8 guest rooms, our living quarters, and linen washing. Yep that one heater does it all and a great job, was not cheap, but a lot more heater than the typical household type. When installed it took only ten minutes from a cold tank to the desired temperature and burner off, have had this heater in operation a little over a year.

Yes, gas. Sorry can't remember exactly what kind. They look just like the one below, so I think they are Rheem but I don't know the model/capacity. I'll try to remember to look next time I'm in the attic!
What I love about them is that they don't keep a tank of water heated 24 hours/day even when the room is empty for a while. If the water's not flowing, not a bit of gas is used by them.
Of course they cost more up front than a tank water heater, but they pay for themselves over time by not keeping that water hot all the time. In fact, the gas company offers a rebate for installing them because they use so much less gas. Yes, you'd think the gas company would WANT to sell more gas, but they don't.

Arks said:

Breakfast Diva said:

Hillbilly said:

Anon Inn said:

Hillbilly said:

I have no experience with these. They look really cool and would be a great perk I would imagine. That said, I see a guest draining a hot water heater and leaving the rest of the guests with just cold water. Speaking of that, I have always wondered how others deal with making sure everyone has enough water?.

Click to expand...

Tankless on-demand water heaters. Wouldn't be without them.
.

Click to expand...

What kind do you use? I have never really had anyone recommend them before. Everyone I have asked say the same thing/ 'They work but the water is not as hot as what you would like it to be!" I was wanting to change ours out. But just a little nervous about the tankless.
.

Click to expand...

For our property we were told that the tankless couldn't keep up with the volume we need.
.

Click to expand...

Breakfast Diva said:

For our property we were told that the tankless couldn't keep up with the volume we need.

Click to expand...

I was told the opposite, that tankless water heaters NEVER run out of hot water because they heat it as it flows through the line. If it's ever hot, it's always hot. They can keep heating it as fast as you use it, forever. If your heaters are properly sized, you should be able to open ever hot water tap in the building and all of them deliver hot water forever.

I say "heaters" because I have one for each room. It's just what the plumber said I had to have. I was thinking one big one for all 5 units, but he put in 5 smaller tankless heaters. I have spa tubs in every unit, as well as a clothes washer in each unit, and 2 units also have dishwashers. I've never known anybody to run out of hot water.
Really, you cannot run out. It heats it as fast as it will run through the line. I guess if lots of taps are open, the flow rate will slow down, as it would anyway if lots of taps are open, but the water will always be hot.
.

Click to expand...

We have to have electric heaters, so I don't know if that's the issue or not.

Breakfast Diva said:

Arks said:

Breakfast Diva said:

Hillbilly said:

Anon Inn said:

Hillbilly said:

I have no experience with these. They look really cool and would be a great perk I would imagine. That said, I see a guest draining a hot water heater and leaving the rest of the guests with just cold water. Speaking of that, I have always wondered how others deal with making sure everyone has enough water?.

Click to expand...

Tankless on-demand water heaters. Wouldn't be without them.
.

Click to expand...

What kind do you use? I have never really had anyone recommend them before. Everyone I have asked say the same thing/ 'They work but the water is not as hot as what you would like it to be!" I was wanting to change ours out. But just a little nervous about the tankless.
.

Click to expand...

For our property we were told that the tankless couldn't keep up with the volume we need.
.

Click to expand...

Breakfast Diva said:

For our property we were told that the tankless couldn't keep up with the volume we need.

Click to expand...

I was told the opposite, that tankless water heaters NEVER run out of hot water because they heat it as it flows through the line. If it's ever hot, it's always hot. They can keep heating it as fast as you use it, forever. If your heaters are properly sized, you should be able to open ever hot water tap in the building and all of them deliver hot water forever.

I say "heaters" because I have one for each room. It's just what the plumber said I had to have. I was thinking one big one for all 5 units, but he put in 5 smaller tankless heaters. I have spa tubs in every unit, as well as a clothes washer in each unit, and 2 units also have dishwashers. I've never known anybody to run out of hot water.
Really, you cannot run out. It heats it as fast as it will run through the line. I guess if lots of taps are open, the flow rate will slow down, as it would anyway if lots of taps are open, but the water will always be hot.
.

Click to expand...

We have to have electric heaters, so I don't know if that's the issue or not.
.

Click to expand...

Breakfast Diva said:

We have to have electric heaters, so I don't know if that's the issue or not.

Click to expand...

Oh, electric. Don't know about that, but sounds expensive.

Arks said:

Breakfast Diva said:

Hillbilly said:

Anon Inn said:

Hillbilly said:

I have no experience with these. They look really cool and would be a great perk I would imagine. That said, I see a guest draining a hot water heater and leaving the rest of the guests with just cold water. Speaking of that, I have always wondered how others deal with making sure everyone has enough water?.

Click to expand...

Tankless on-demand water heaters. Wouldn't be without them.
.

Click to expand...

What kind do you use? I have never really had anyone recommend them before. Everyone I have asked say the same thing/ 'They work but the water is not as hot as what you would like it to be!" I was wanting to change ours out. But just a little nervous about the tankless.
.

Click to expand...

For our property we were told that the tankless couldn't keep up with the volume we need.
.

Click to expand...

Breakfast Diva said:

For our property we were told that the tankless couldn't keep up with the volume we need.

Click to expand...

I was told the opposite, that tankless water heaters NEVER run out of hot water because they heat it as it flows through the line. If it's ever hot, it's always hot. They can keep heating it as fast as you use it, forever. If your heaters are properly sized, you should be able to open ever hot water tap in the building and all of them deliver hot water forever.

I say "heaters" because I have one for each room. It's just what the plumber said I had to have. I was thinking one big one for all 5 units, but he put in 5 smaller tankless heaters. I have spa tubs in every unit, as well as a clothes washer in each unit, and 2 units also have dishwashers. I've never known anybody to run out of hot water.
Really, you cannot run out. It heats it as fast as it will run through the line. I guess if lots of taps are open, the flow rate will slow down, as it would anyway if lots of taps are open, but the water will always be hot.
.

Click to expand...

We have two large capacity Takagi heaters. One for each side of the house. All can shower at the same time. At another location electric don't remember the brand
at all locations we have good water pressure. If on a well with low pressure it may be a different story.

Arks said:

Breakfast Diva said:

Hillbilly said:

Anon Inn said:

Hillbilly said:

I have no experience with these. They look really cool and would be a great perk I would imagine. That said, I see a guest draining a hot water heater and leaving the rest of the guests with just cold water. Speaking of that, I have always wondered how others deal with making sure everyone has enough water?.

Click to expand...

Tankless on-demand water heaters. Wouldn't be without them.
.

Click to expand...

What kind do you use? I have never really had anyone recommend them before. Everyone I have asked say the same thing/ 'They work but the water is not as hot as what you would like it to be!" I was wanting to change ours out. But just a little nervous about the tankless.
.

Click to expand...

For our property we were told that the tankless couldn't keep up with the volume we need.
.

Click to expand...

Breakfast Diva said:

For our property we were told that the tankless couldn't keep up with the volume we need.

Click to expand...

I was told the opposite, that tankless water heaters NEVER run out of hot water because they heat it as it flows through the line. If it's ever hot, it's always hot. They can keep heating it as fast as you use it, forever. If your heaters are properly sized, you should be able to open ever hot water tap in the building and all of them deliver hot water forever.

I say "heaters" because I have one for each room. It's just what the plumber said I had to have. I was thinking one big one for all 5 units, but he put in 5 smaller tankless heaters. I have spa tubs in every unit, as well as a clothes washer in each unit, and 2 units also have dishwashers. I've never known anybody to run out of hot water.
Really, you cannot run out. It heats it as fast as it will run through the line. I guess if lots of taps are open, the flow rate will slow down, as it would anyway if lots of taps are open, but the water will always be hot.
.

Click to expand...

more is better as if you loose 1 you only loose 1 - with one big unit doing all you loose everything in one go