Noritz Tankless Water Heaters

[chh]

I have thought about one of these when our water heater goes. it is 16 years old and we are on hard well water. I may want to think a little faster. We have natural gas do they make them for NG is my first question and my second is we have 6 in our family my wife and I and four kids. Do they make units that would service a family of six or would a regular tank water heater do just as well. We do try to limit shower time with the kids our older ones seem lose track of time when in the water. what are average prices for these units. I have seen a few at the big box stores but never did much more than say that looks like a neat idea and walk by.

Yes they make NG units. The one I bought is sized for 2 simultanious flows(shower/washer, 2 showers, ect) and we have had the clothes washer, dishwasher, and been taking a shower and it has handled everything without a problem.

 

[chh]

I have thought about one of these when our water heater goes. it is 16 years old and we are on hard well water. I may want to think a little faster. We have natural gas do they make them for NG is my first question and my second is we have 6 in our family my wife and I and four kids. Do they make units that would service a family of six or would a regular tank water heater do just as well. We do try to limit shower time with the kids our older ones seem lose track of time when in the water. what are average prices for these units. I have seen a few at the big box stores but never did much more than say that looks like a neat idea and walk by.

They do make NG units. The one we installed was sized for 2 simultanious flows(washer/shower, 2 showers, ect..) and we have on occasion have had the dishwasher, clothes washer, and been taking a shower. It has handled that without any problems.

 

[gerard]

The units for propane and ng are the same - just have to use a different orifice (just like clothes dryers). The savings from the tankless diminishes the more people in the household. This may seem counterintuitive but the reason is when you have a lot of people the hot water isn't sitting in the tank as long. Hot water tanks "loss" occurs as the water is heated, not used, then cools down only to be heated again. Each time this happens it cost you money but you didn't use the water. This doesn't happen with the tankless since you only heat it as you use it. I just came form a home show and was talking to a dealer of them. He said they have about a ten year payback in cost savings which is a little long so I wouldn't use that as a selling point as much as the "never running out of hot water" aspect. I would imagine in a big family this would be a BIG plus!

 

[Sigarms]

The units for propane and ng are the same - just have to use a different orifice (just like clothes dryers).

That is not true with all brands of tankless heaters.

For the proper sizing of a tankless heater, four words. Temperature rise, flow rate. You can only produce so much hot water with one heater (gallons per minute). The question is how much hot water AT ONE TIME will the house need? (keep in mind, two different type of shower heads can produce a different amount of water in a one minute period).

 

[Tom_H]

We have the top of Takagi's line and love it. Never run out of hot H2O. It has 4 separate burners, all variable, so no matter how many things need hot H2O, the temp won't drop. You could run 4 showers simultaneously and not have a problem. Only problem is on super low flow, it will kick off. We put a hard wired remote in the master bath. This lets us set it as low as 99 for a mild shower, or as high as 167 if we want to wash a load of dirty towels, etc. that we want to be sure to get really clean. Resetting that thermostat is so convenient, and you don't have to wait for it, it's instant.

 

[Sigarms]

This lets us set it as low as 99 for a mild shower, or as high as 167 if we want to wash a load of dirty towels, etc. that we want to be sure to get really clean. Resetting that thermostat is so convenient, and you don't have to wait for it, it's instant.

Please be very careful. I'm not familiar with your water heater (assuming there are some sort of safty features on that unit), but keep in mind, when taking a shower, an adult will get 1st degree burns if in 120 degree water for only 2.3 seconds.

If I remember correctly, commercial applications for dishwashers run a max of 160 degrees.

 

[kenmac]

If I remember correctly, commercial applications for dishwashers run a max of 160 degrees.



I was thinking 180 deg. for commerical dishwashers. by the use of a booster heater

 

[Jimmyp5]

I installed the electric models that Lowe's sells after doing the research on them. I had them in Europe, pretty standard fare since 220 is the norm. I have one in my barn and love it. When running two deep sinks, the shower etc...never a loss for hot water.

 

[Sigarms]

I was thinking 180 deg. for commerical dishwashers. by the use of a booster heater

You may be right, but it's going to bug me enough that I'll need to find out tomrrow . I thought most applications were 160 deg. with only a couple of reasons (applications other than actually washing for restaurant cleaning) needing to hit 180.

Actually, thinking about it, if I remember correctly (and I could be totally wrong, which is usually the case), I thought 180 degrees F was for sterilization of some sort (originally thought of something for the hospital, but was wrong on that thought).

Heck with it, I'll call the engineering department tomorrow

 

[Sigarms]

I installed the electric models that Lowe's sells after doing the research on them. I had them in Europe, pretty standard fare since 220 is the norm. I have one in my barn and love it. When running two deep sinks, the shower etc...never a loss for hot water.

Two questions

1. What's the amp draw on that bugger?

2. What's your electric bill when you use that bugger on a regular basis?