Gas on-demand Water Heater for one washing machine?

[California]

Somebody must have done this before. The washing machine is out in the barn an has its own gas (natural gas) water heater.

The water heater now leaks and needs to be replaced.

There must be some modern replacement that doesn't need a 30 gallon tank to serve one washing machine that only runs a few times a week.

Anybody have advice? Are there small gas water heaters similar to the electric on-demand heaters?

 

[Ed of all trades]

Lehman's hardware in Ohio has them. They sell a lot of non electric stuff to the Amish and the English as well. Ed

 

[joefromga]

Yes there are and they are just as amazing as electric tank less heaters. They click on and blast that propane and hot water comes a few seconds later.

 

[SirReal63]

Are there small gas water heaters similar to the electric on-demand heaters?

There are plenty of small on demand gas water heaters, they are easy to install and incredibly energy efficient. Gan on demand is one of the most efficient ways to heat water. This is an example, but I would get a better known brand.
EZ Tankless Deluxe on Demand 4.4 GPM 85,000 BTU Natural Gas Tankless Water Heater-EZDLXNG - The Home Depot

Make sure and get the service valves too, they make yearly cleaning a breeze.

 

[chinton]

You might even consider a 10 gallon RV hot water heater with both propane and electric. It may not cost as much as an actual on-demand water heater but is be able to heat almost as fast.

 

[ustmd]

The gas on demand are actually much better than the electric. The only issue with the on demand water heaters is that there is a yearly maintenance (flushing, etc) that needs to do be done because they are much more sensitive to mineral build up (if you have very hard water like we do, I would not recommend one at all).

An alternative is a water heater timer that will shut off or lower the temp on a standard hot water heater during periods of low use:

Amazon.com: Gas Water Heater Timer: Home Improvement

 

[California]

... This is an example, but I would get a better known brand....

Thanks, for this and others' comments. Now I understand what I'm looking for.

I'm seeing a lot of negative user reviews, both quality and difficulty getting the intended output temperature. Seems to me for one washing machine I need the smallest output available since we wash warm but never scalding hot. What I'm reading is when a user (or washing machine) starts to draw cold water to blend with the hot, the resulting temperature from the device is unpredictable. Too hot, cold, whatever. Is this just a matter of getting it calibrated to the intended application?

Or maybe just pay double/triple the cost of a cheap one and get one that works as intended? My application, one washing machine in the barn, isn't critical so I was going to go cheap but the reviews of those aren't 100% favorable.

 

[ultrarunner]

I have a Euro Style washer/dryer pair that was given to me when my friend moved back to Germany...

The washer makes it's own hot water and is electric...

Only requirement is one 15 or 20 amp 220 circuit which serves both washer and adjacent dryer.

The small gas tank type heaters actually seemed to be priced higher than a standard 40 gallon which is pushing $500 in California due to all the new laws... Just bought a new 30 gallon Bradford White last Saturday...

 

[westcliffe01]

I have to assume it never freezes in the barn, since a "flow through" type water heater is not frost protected.

I also think that a small conventional electric heater, fitted with a time based thermostat (only HOT during the hours needed) would work perfectly for the job. Provided the "idle" temperature is warm enough, you also have freeze protection. Perhaps not needed for your application, but surely required in the midwest.... Just how much hot water is needed when doing laundry ?

 

[SirReal63]

I'm seeing a lot of negative user reviews, both quality and difficulty getting the intended output temperature. Seems to me for one washing machine I need the smallest output available since we wash warm but never scalding hot.

We have a 6.4 GPH Rheem, max temp is 120 degrees and it is hot enough to do whatever we need. We have brutally hard water and it has been cleaned once in the past year and a half, it is about due again but it only takes a few hours. We run a lot of hot water but for just a washing machine it will take a long time to need cleaning. It seems to me that reviews are getting more worthless by the year, people seem to be getting dumber and less capable of common sense. With your climate the temp differential won't be too much to overcome. Stick with well known brands and you will happy.