diff --git a/src/CNRECS.DEF b/src/CNRECS.DEF
index 49ca8fc43..328a16ee3 100644
--- a/src/CNRECS.DEF
+++ b/src/CNRECS.DEF
@@ -4200,9 +4200,10 @@ RECORD DHWSYS "DHWSYS" *RAT		// input / runtime DHW system
   *i TI ws_centralDHWSYSi	// index of central (parent) DHWSYS, 0 if none
 							//    child DHWSYSs specify unit-specfic draws only
 							//    but have no heaters etc
-  *declare "int ws_HasCentralDHWSYS() const { return ws_centralDHWSYSi > 0; }"
+  *declare "bool ws_HasCentralDHWSYS() const { return ws_centralDHWSYSi > 0; }"
   *declare "DHWSYS* ws_GetCentralDHWSYS() const;"
-  *declare "int ws_IsCentralDHWSYS() const;"
+  *declare "bool ws_IsCentralDHWSYS() const;"
+  *declare "DHWSYS* ws_GetPrimaryDHWSYS() const { return ws_HasCentralDHWSYS() ? ws_GetCentralDHWSYS() : const_cast<DHWSYS*>(this); }"
 
   *i FLOAT_GEZ ws_mult;		// multiplier: model as ws_mult identical systems
 							//   fractional values supported
diff --git a/src/dhwcalc.cpp b/src/dhwcalc.cpp
index 2a616f27b..2a33c583f 100644
--- a/src/dhwcalc.cpp
+++ b/src/dhwcalc.cpp
@@ -828,7 +828,7 @@ DHWSYS* DHWSYS::ws_GetCentralDHWSYS() const
 	return pWS;
 }		// DHWSYS::ws_GetCentralDHWSYS
 //-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
-int DHWSYS::ws_IsCentralDHWSYS() const
+bool DHWSYS::ws_IsCentralDHWSYS() const
 {	// note: dicey for input records
 	//   ws_childSYSCount is derived in ws_Init() pass 1
 #if defined( _DEBUG)
@@ -1169,8 +1169,9 @@ RC DHWSYS::ws_Init(		// init for run (including children)
 	// total target warmup water waste, gal/day
 	ws_dayWaste = ws_dayWasteVol + ws_dayWasteBranchVolF * ws_branchTotals.st_vol;
 
-	if (!ws_HasDHWDAYUSEDraws())
-	{	// no DHWDAYUSE (on this or any child): info msgs re draw-related input
+	if (!ws_GetPrimaryDHWSYS()->ws_HasDHWDAYUSEDraws())
+	{	// info msgs re draw-related input if no wsDayUse draws
+		// check for DAYUSE draws in parent iff child, else self
 		const char* when = "-- there are no wsDayUse draws.";
 		ignoreN(when, DHWSYS_DAYWASTEVOL, DHWSYS_DAYWASTEBRANCHVOLF, 0);
 		for (int iEU=1; iEU<NDHWENDUSES; iEU++)
diff --git a/test/DHW02.cse b/test/DHW02.cse
index 6d1dfdca7..9ffb8727c 100644
--- a/test/DHW02.cse
+++ b/test/DHW02.cse
@@ -44,6 +44,7 @@ DHWSYS "DS0"
   wsSDLM = HWSDLM( 1900)
   wsParElec = fix($hour+12)%12
   wsCalcMode = PRERUN
+  wsDayWasteVol = 100
 
 DHWHEATER "WH0"
   whHeatSrc = Fuel
@@ -117,6 +118,12 @@ DHWSYS "DS1"
 
 endDHWSYS
 
+DHWSYS  DS2 
+   wsCentralDHWSYS = "DS1"
+   wsUse = 0
+   wsDayWasteBranchVolF = 1
+  
+
 // DHW report definitions
 
 // DHWSYS
diff --git a/test/ref-win32-msvc/dhw02.rep b/test/ref-win32-msvc/dhw02.rep
index 0a0f8b485..b097774bd 100644
--- a/test/ref-win32-msvc/dhw02.rep
+++ b/test/ref-win32-msvc/dhw02.rep
@@ -1,8 +1,17 @@
 
 
+Error Messages for Run 001:
+
+---------------
+DHW02.CSE(38): Info: 
+  DHWSYS 'DS0': 'wsDayWasteVol' is ignored -- there are no wsDayUse draws.
+---------------
+
+
+
 ! Log for Run 001:
 
-! CSE 0.920.0+main.99c64c5b.17 for Win32 console
+! CSE 0.923.0+dhw-message-tweak.937e80d9.1.dirty for Win32 console
 
 
 
@@ -54,6 +63,7 @@ Input for Run 001:
           wsSDLM = HWSDLM( 1900)
           wsParElec = fix($hour+12)%12
           wsCalcMode = PRERUN
+          wsDayWasteVol = 100
         
         DHWHEATER "WH0"
           whHeatSrc = Fuel
@@ -68,6 +78,18 @@ Input for Run 001:
 
 
 
+Error Messages for Run 002:
+
+---------------
+DHW02.CSE(38): Info: 
+  DHWSYS 'DS0': 'wsDayWasteVol' is ignored -- there are no wsDayUse draws.
+---------------
+DHW02.CSE(121): Info: DHWSYS 'DS2': 
+    'wsDayWasteBranchVolF' is ignored -- there are no wsDayUse draws.
+---------------
+
+
+
 Weather for Apr
 
  Day          DOY Tavg31 tMains
@@ -1080,7 +1102,7 @@ Br1 for Wed 01-Apr
 
 ! Log for Run 002:
 
-! CSE 0.920.0+main.99c64c5b.17 for Win32 console
+! CSE 0.923.0+dhw-message-tweak.937e80d9.1.dirty for Win32 console
 
 
 
@@ -1088,6 +1110,10 @@ Input for Run 001:
 
         
         METER Elec1
+-----------------------
+???     DHW02.CSE(38): Info: 
+???       DHWSYS 'DS0': 'wsDayWasteVol' is ignored -- there are no wsDayUse draws.
+-----------------------
         METER Fuel1
         
 #       #define NUnitB 1	// units per branch
@@ -1148,6 +1174,12 @@ Input for Run 001:
         
         endDHWSYS
         
+        DHWSYS  DS2 
+           wsCentralDHWSYS = "DS1"
+           wsUse = 0
+           wsDayWasteBranchVolF = 1
+          
+        
         // DHW report definitions
         
         // DHWSYS
@@ -1314,21 +1346,28 @@ Input for Run 001:
         
         
         
+-----------------------
+???     DHW02.CSE(38): Info: 
+???       DHWSYS 'DS0': 'wsDayWasteVol' is ignored -- there are no wsDayUse draws.
+-----------------------
+???     DHW02.CSE(121): Info: DHWSYS 'DS2': 
+???         'wsDayWasteBranchVolF' is ignored -- there are no wsDayUse draws.
+-----------------------
 
 
 
-! CSE 0.920.0+main.99c64c5b.17 for Win32 console run(s) done: Mon 18-Dec-23   4:17:50 pm
+! CSE 0.923.0+dhw-message-tweak.937e80d9.1.dirty for Win32 console run(s) done: Thu 09-Jan-25   4:3 pm
 
-! Executable:   d:\cse\msvc\cse.exe
-!               18-Dec-23   4:07 pm   (VS 14.29    2796544 bytes)  (HPWH 1.22.0+HEAD.f9b8f77.122)
-! Command line: -x!  -b -t1 dhw02
-! Input file:   D:\cse\test\dhw02.cse
+! Executable:   d:\cse\builds\cse.exe
+!               09-Jan-25   4:3 pm   (VS 14.29    2941952 bytes)  (HPWH 1.24.0)
+! Command line: -x!  -t1 DHW02
+! Input file:   D:\cse\test\DHW02.cse
 ! Report file:  D:\CSE\TEST\DHW02.REP
 
 ! Timing info --
 
-!                Input:  Time = 0.11     Calls = 2         T/C = 0.0540
+!                Input:  Time = 0.09     Calls = 2         T/C = 0.0465
 !           AutoSizing:  Time = 0.00     Calls = 0         T/C = 0.0000
-!           Simulation:  Time = 1.62     Calls = 2         T/C = 0.8090
-!              Reports:  Time = 0.00     Calls = 2         T/C = 0.0020
-!                Total:  Time = 1.73     Calls = 1         T/C = 1.7300
+!           Simulation:  Time = 1.41     Calls = 2         T/C = 0.7055
+!              Reports:  Time = 0.00     Calls = 2         T/C = 0.0015
+!                Total:  Time = 1.51     Calls = 1         T/C = 1.5130