Propane tankless water heater

[kenmac]

Play it safe, clean the heat exchanger every year with vinegar if you're on a well system

I clean mine every year and I'm not on well water. When water is heated, those minerals will separate from the water and attach it's self to the water coil. I've seen too many stopped up water coils, so I just play it safe. and it doesn't hurt to clean it once a year that I'm aware of

 

[Sigarms]

and it doesn't hurt to clean it once a year that I'm aware of

The only time I know when it hurts to clean something once a year is your AC coils because you use acidic cleaner because it leaves the copper nice and shiny

 

[Gem99ultra]

Over the holidays I spent a couple days at my sister in law's place. She has a propane fired tankless water heater and I really like it. Since I need to replace my water heater I am gonna go tankless. Her's works great, has done so for over 7 years, temperature control is just like my tanked water heater and two showers can be running at the same time. I have a small amount of minerals in my well water so may need to install a filter. I don't know yet what brand and BTU rating her's is but will find out. Any comments?
Eric

We also have a Rinna tankless water heater, for 11 years now. Never a problem, very little propane used as well, and obviously no notice in electric bill. Instant hot water although the hot water does have to clear the cold water out of the line same as a tank-type heater. But, it's an endless supply of hot water.

I 'clean' the heater out every few years, meaning I open the cover, take out the water line plug and run cold water through it for a few minutes. Five minute task. Never had a corrosion or deposit problem even though we're on well water.

There's no way I'd go back to the ancient tank-type water heater. My only regret is that I wished that I'd had a 1-gallon size heater also installed under the kitchen sink at the same time. That would save the spouse a couple of minutes of waiting time several times per day. ▓

 

[LittleBittyBigJohn]

I have had my Navien propane tankless for just under a year now. I love it. It is a new house so I had no previous experience with how long a normal wait should be for hot water. So i have no idea if it takes longer, it may, but not enough that i have even ever even considered it.

Mine is 199,900 BTU and is fed with a 3/4" gas line. Just to test it I've turned on 2 showers and 4 sinks full blast hot at the same time and all the water was as hot as it can get. I love it and hope I never have to go back.

 

[Gem99ultra]

With of course.

Please note, I said warm water, not hot water.

My only point was that I believe a lot of people are on well and septic. When power goes out, you won't have hot anything unless you have a generator. The question then becomes how long will your generator run if running a full load if you're on LP.

Very true regarding being without hot water if (when) the power goes out. Of course, that's the same as with an electric tank-type water heater. Off topic however, is that when the power goes out here we're without light, phone, all water, etc.. Thus, an emergency portable generator is definitely required if you live out in the sticks like we do.

 

[dstig1]

I've actually been toying with the idea of a tankless water heater for our 3rd floor (4th, if you count basement) bathroom. The prior owners installed a 40 or 50 gallon traditional electric water heater in the unheated attic space adjacent to that bathroom, and it works fine, but will eventually leak. It's also a very old house (that wing was added 1775), with vintage plaster we'd like to not ruin, and it's a massive amount of weight sitting up there.

But delivering power to it, and freeze protection, are both concerns.

Pretty sure all tankless heaters have built in freeze protection, at least as long as there is power. Mine does and it is gas.

Code for your installation now includes a pan with a drain which is commonly done with a pipe poking out the soffit on a nearby eave as it is supposed to be "observable" so you will know there is a problem. The reason for this is exactly what you described about ruining the house.

You could get a 220V heater in the bathroom directly, if you can manage the power draw. They take a LOT of power.

 

[etpm]

So I have been looking at the Rinnai heaters and they have a model that comes with a pump for recirculation. A simple temperature operated valve is then used at the farthest fixture. Rinnai also offers flushing valves for sale so that the heater can be easily flushed. I called the propane folks and they said I can add a 200,000 BTU heater without any changes to the supply. The piping is large enough and the pressure high enough already. When the heater is installed I call them and they will be out the next day to inspect the installation. My son and I can easily install one of these heaters. Right now I have a direct vent propane tanked water heater. I would use the same hole through the wall but of course a different vent, one that Rinnai specifies. They give several model numbers available from different manufacturers that will work with their heaters. It would still be a direct vent. The heaters I am interested in are the condensing type, as is my propane furnace. It looks like the two appliances can use the same drain pipe that leads outside. So no extra hole in the wall. And the pressure relief valve can use the same pipe going through the wall that my current water heater uses. I will need to cut and solder some copper pipe but I'm really good at that, I have never had a soldered joint leak. Never. I learned to solder about 60 years ago so I have been doing it long enough to get good at it.
Eric

 

[ljgordon]

Old house. Tankless heater is 70 feet from kitchen. It took 2.5 gal of water before it got hot. I installled a 2.5 gal electric heater within 5 feet of the kitchen faucett. I have 130 degree water immediately. When the electric heater runs out the tankless water has arrived.