Tankless water heater

[indebt]

I am building a new house and thinking of in stalling a tankless water heater. Does anyone have any real world experience with one. How do you like it ? Would you do it again? Does it realy save money on your eletric bill? /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif

 

[ronjhall]

Here are a couple of threads on Tankless Water Heaters.
Click Here and
Here

 

[gsganzer]

I've been checking into the same thing. I'm not sure that there's much savings. They'll save the average household about $75 a year and typically last over 10 years. Considering that a "2 use" model runs about $1K, you'll probably break even, versus a conventional one, at the end of it's life.

The real benefit is having an unlimited hot water supply. A friend of mine has one, he recommends getting the "2 use" versus the single major use. He also said it takes a little while to get hot water and recommends putting a "point of use" water heater real close to the kitchen faucet.

 

[texbaylea]

We are planning a house remodel that includes a new kitchen across the house from the location of the tank type water heater. I am considering putting a small tankless heater by the kitchen sink and dishwasher to give "instant" ot water. Can't decide whether to feed it with cold water or an extended hot water line. The extended line would have to be run through the attic. Anybody's thoughts?

Vernon

 

[indebt]

What brand was he using?

 

[Dargo]

I have two commercial model (tan color) Rennai tankless water heaters. I did not realize when I purchased them that I really wouldn't need the commercial models, and would go with the standard residence models if I did it again. The commercial models have about a 20% higher BTU rating and their thermostadts go to 180 degrees rather than 120 degrees. I can tell you from experience, you don't need 180 degree water in your house. My commercial models are backed down to 120 degrees now.

We have a family of 7 and have never run short on hot water even when we have 3 or 4 showers going at once; no matter how long the showers. From researching the tankless water heaters for months, I've found that the typical Rennai unit goes about 15 years before needing anything replaced. Then all components are replacable, so you really almost never have to change the entire unit.

I'm well pleased with our units. They cost me around $600 or so and are much more efficient than the old tank systems. For me to buy the 80 gallon or larger water heaters for my home, the tankless water heaters did not cost any more than the obsolete tank units. I seriously doubt that you will see any of the old style tank water heaters being installed in another 5 to 10 years. They are very poor with energy useage, they run out of hot water, and they do not last as long, and they are mostly not repairable when they go bad.

I have a nice used 70 gallon State water heater sitting in my barn. Need one? /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

Oh yeah, after almost a year of useage, there are a few of what could be considered "drawbacks". First, it takes about 5 to 10 seconds longer to get hot water. Second, with the low water consumption front loading washing machine, it helps to run the hot water for about 30 seconds in the slop sink next to the washer to get hot water to the line before starting the washing machine. (sort of the same as the first issue) Third, the tankless water heaters made my utility bill drop about $15 to $20 per month. I don't get to write checks to the utility company as large as I used to. (they'll make it up by raising the costs though) So, personally, I'll take the drawbacks after all things considered.

 

[slowrev]

I have found the advantages of tankless are lower operating costs and instant hot water.
The disadvantages are, MUCH higher up front costs for the heaters, wiring and breaker space. Also with a tank type if the electric goes off you still have a tank of hot water there for some time, not the case wirh tankless.
If you have a lot of minerals in your water it will greatly shorten the life of the tankless water heaters. They seem more succeptable to this than the tank types.


Ben

 

[indebt]

Is your model gas or eletric ? If it is eletric do the lights in your house dim or flicker when the unit turns on.

 

[gsganzer]

My friend has a Bosch (Aquastar - Powerstar). I believe they're actually made by Takagi.

 

[Dargo]

DuaneB, both of my tankless water heaters are natural gas fueled. The electric Rinnai water heaters are generally considered to be about 70% more efficient than the electric tank water heaters. (some info here http://www.foreverhotwater.com/faq.shtml) I couldn't find it in a quick glance, but I think the electric Rinnai water heaters in the size I needed required about 200 amp service each. I would think that without proper electric service, that would certainly make your lights blink when they kicked on. I'm sure that depends on your electric service and how your house is wired.

I had existing 3/4" black iron gas lines at the locations I needed, so I just went with the gas model. If you are just building your house, I really don't know which would be better; gas or electric, in the tankless water heaters. Gas is supposed to be cheaper, but I don't know. I have two 199,000 BTU Rinnai water heaters, a 225,000 BTU pool heater, and 4 110,000 gas furnaces, so I can make my gas meter really sing at times. /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif