replacing a water heater, considering a tankless. recommendations? or experiences?
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There are a number of variables to consider. Electric v gas, total demand, location, pipes.
For a family, like 2 adults and child, that's where I think the dividing line is, namely where if you go with tankless to go with natural gas over electric. I recently installed on in the bathroom remodel I posted about. It was electric and current draw was a consideration. There are only two adults in the house, the conventional electric heater was a long way piping wise from the bath so this just made sense. We went with electric because there was no good way to vent a gas (propane) unit. One thing we found out post install, the LED cans with dimmer flickered horribly when the heater was on. I suspect one of two things, and neither is cheap to fix. First we were on the edge of maxing out the total amps in the box. Second, the dimmers may have not be properly rectified to elimiate the flicker. The lighting was on a completely seperate circuit so my thought is that the amperage draw when on caused the issue. Since there were time constraints, the owner had me switch out the LED cans and dimmers for halogen units rather than dig to solve the problem (read cost overrun on the budget).
For a family of 2 adults plus multiple children, the demands are higher so the unit must be sized accordingly. If you go electric, make sure your service can handle it. If gas, that's not so much a problem.
Hope this helps a bit.
For a family, like 2 adults and child, that's where I think the dividing line is, namely where if you go with tankless to go with natural gas over electric. I recently installed on in the bathroom remodel I posted about. It was electric and current draw was a consideration. There are only two adults in the house, the conventional electric heater was a long way piping wise from the bath so this just made sense. We went with electric because there was no good way to vent a gas (propane) unit. One thing we found out post install, the LED cans with dimmer flickered horribly when the heater was on. I suspect one of two things, and neither is cheap to fix. First we were on the edge of maxing out the total amps in the box. Second, the dimmers may have not be properly rectified to elimiate the flicker. The lighting was on a completely seperate circuit so my thought is that the amperage draw when on caused the issue. Since there were time constraints, the owner had me switch out the LED cans and dimmers for halogen units rather than dig to solve the problem (read cost overrun on the budget).
For a family of 2 adults plus multiple children, the demands are higher so the unit must be sized accordingly. If you go electric, make sure your service can handle it. If gas, that's not so much a problem.
Hope this helps a bit.
NicerInPerson
Happy to be here
If it is gas then consider it, if it is electric then I suggest a pass.
Also know the distance to the area of highest usage is important. With a tanked heater when you turn on the hot water the hot water starts to flow. With a tankless it goes like this without a pump to recycle - cold - slightly warm - warmer - still not warm - now warm - getting warmer - almost hot - hot forever. You will find the wait unbearable at first and then become accustomed to it. The biggest issue with tankless IMO is you can never allow the water to flow at a trickle. You need at least 0.5 gpm for it to fire so if the flow is less it may never become warm. When our whole house filter starts to reach the end of the filter life the pressure drop increases to the point too low of a flow in the shower can cut out the hot water and within a few minutes you now have to go back to full hot to restart the tankless.
We purchased ours from the gas company, PSNC, and were basically ripped off. We could have had it installed for at least 25%-33% less. With the gas prices at the time my payback was still 3 years so it was a no brainer. Today the payback will be longer unless you can get it installed for less. It may even be a push which would still be a win for the tankless because it has a 20 yr life as opposed to a tanked heater. We have not needed to recirculate vinegar to clean and are approaching 10 years installed.
The beauty of the tankless is reduced footprint, actually no footprint since ours is mounted on the garage wall. Mine has required zero maintenance. One issue however is in the event of a power outage you will have to power it in some manner if you want a hot shower. The heating element is gas, but it does require electricity to fire. One thing no one really tells you is the tankless is only capable of a certain temp rise. If the ground water temp lowers then the rise is finite. There are charts for each model so take the time to absorb them.
I would consider it again, but I would probably do something different with my whole house filter to reduce pressure drop in the hot water system as much as possible.
If you have specific questions, please let me know.
Also know the distance to the area of highest usage is important. With a tanked heater when you turn on the hot water the hot water starts to flow. With a tankless it goes like this without a pump to recycle - cold - slightly warm - warmer - still not warm - now warm - getting warmer - almost hot - hot forever. You will find the wait unbearable at first and then become accustomed to it. The biggest issue with tankless IMO is you can never allow the water to flow at a trickle. You need at least 0.5 gpm for it to fire so if the flow is less it may never become warm. When our whole house filter starts to reach the end of the filter life the pressure drop increases to the point too low of a flow in the shower can cut out the hot water and within a few minutes you now have to go back to full hot to restart the tankless.
We purchased ours from the gas company, PSNC, and were basically ripped off. We could have had it installed for at least 25%-33% less. With the gas prices at the time my payback was still 3 years so it was a no brainer. Today the payback will be longer unless you can get it installed for less. It may even be a push which would still be a win for the tankless because it has a 20 yr life as opposed to a tanked heater. We have not needed to recirculate vinegar to clean and are approaching 10 years installed.
The beauty of the tankless is reduced footprint, actually no footprint since ours is mounted on the garage wall. Mine has required zero maintenance. One issue however is in the event of a power outage you will have to power it in some manner if you want a hot shower. The heating element is gas, but it does require electricity to fire. One thing no one really tells you is the tankless is only capable of a certain temp rise. If the ground water temp lowers then the rise is finite. There are charts for each model so take the time to absorb them.
I would consider it again, but I would probably do something different with my whole house filter to reduce pressure drop in the hot water system as much as possible.
If you have specific questions, please let me know.
Indeed a PV tank unit and a tankless are pretty much the same price and neither will work without electricity. Installation will be more for tanklesssince the water lines will have to be rerouted and gas lines installed. Also, gas piping may have to be upsized or converted to a higher pressure system and if you're on nat you may have to upsize your meter. The deciding factors for tankless are: can you use the space savings and do you need a longer supply of hot water. They work great, Rinnai is probably the best.
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Thanks Guys, luckily our existing heater is in the utility closet in the garage. When the gas lines came into our neighborhood I had then install a trunk through the whole house and I have a 3/4in line and valve in the closet. I may just run the gas and water lines through the hole for the exhaust vent to connect everything outside. the downside to this is it is about as long a run as possible to the master shower. the wasted cold water will help water the lawn through our septic system.
fishgutzy
Senior Member
Had a gas tankless when we lived in Lowell MA. Loved it. Never run out of hot water.
That was the only has appliance we had. Ran about $20 a month for gas.
Sent from my SM-G935V using Tapatalk
That was the only has appliance we had. Ran about $20 a month for gas.
Sent from my SM-G935V using Tapatalk
We just replaced our 70-gal gas-fired power vent with a Takagi tankless. Simple installation, about a 10-second longer wait for the hot water and it just keeps flowing. Had to hog out the old exhaust hole about an inch more so the concentric intake/exhaust pipe would fit through. It's a condensing unit so the exhaust isn't hot, just had to rig a condensate pump under the unit. Should have done it a long time ago and never looking back.
Also may want to check with your utility company, if it's anything like around here you can get some considerable rebates for swapping out an old water heater for a new more efficient one.
Also may want to check with your utility company, if it's anything like around here you can get some considerable rebates for swapping out an old water heater for a new more efficient one.
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I had a Rinnai installed last year, works great but like somoene else noted it is not instant hot water. I had ours installed close to the master bathroom so the wait is very minimal for hot water.
