I'm considering a tankless water heater.

[cmore]

I have a small cabin and need a new water heater.
I'm considering a tankless, but I know nothing about them.
Does anyone know about them? I use propane and only heat
a shower and sink. I usually stay weekends and occasionally
longer. I always turn the water off at the meter when I leave.
I sometimes go for months at a time without being able to go there. there is a heater on in the winter to keep from freezing.
I have a half inch supply line.


My questions are:
Is one appropriate for my application?
Safety issues?
Recommendations?
Things to avoid?

Thanks in advance for your time.

 

[zzzippper]

I don't know about your cabin situation but I had one in Japan and they are GREAT! When my water heater goes out I am going tankless. More cost up front but very economical, only heating water (instantly) when you need is and not maintaining a 30 gallon tank of hot water 24/7.

 

[Krell1]

There are pros and cons to these type of heaters. Unless you use a ton of hot water I don't think they're worth the $$$$ you have to spend. My gas usage includes the water heater and home heating in the winter. During summer months the bill for gas usage is at the minimum billing amount. To justify the cost of installing a tankless heater I'd have to be using a lot more gas. Over the time it would take me to amortize the cost where it would be cost effective, I would be able to switch out my standard water heater 3 or 4 times and still be ahead. I'd also probably be dead by then and it wouldn't matter.

 

[STCM(SW)]

I looked into one a few years ago.
Where I live I was told that in the winter, hot water would drop in pressure as the unit will not send out the water till it was to temperature it was set to.
Also the cost was high for the chimney.
Told that in the south where it's warmer, they work great.

 

[smokindog]

If you've ever had a water heater burst, you'll pay the extra $$ for a tankless (unless of course your tank is in a place it can do no damage)!

They ARE more expensive to buy, they require more gas/propane flow than a tank burner (had to move the line to the high pressure side of the manifold and added a new regulator at the tank), but they take up less room and the piece of mind for me was worth it. PLUS, I can run hot water all day long and never run out!

Look at the differential in temp you want to drive between the supply and the tap and then you can determine the size you need. From your description, a small one will do. If you are at all handy, you can do the install yourself. Just take your time and read/study!!!

 

[JohnSW]

From "This Old House":

Tankless Hot Water Heaters | Heating | Plumbing, HVAC & Electrical | This Old House

 

[arjay]

The electric units are cheaper,which I'd look at for a small application.If your panel has room for the 240 circuit,you can eliminate the chimney expense.

 

[cbvanb]

We have two in our home, one for the master bath and one for the rest of the house. In the long run they're more efficient, and my only complaint is they run several gallons of water through before the heated water gets to the spout. There is an add on device one could use that basically recirculates the first couple gallons through an instant heater, but we didn't bother with that.
If I had a cabin or a home that was only used occasionally this is the way I would go, as they will never freeze and burst on you the way a water heater can. They would still need to be winterized I think. Living in southern Arizona, I never bothered to research that particular issue. The other advantage is they are made in a modular fashion, meaning any component that would fail can be removed with a few simple tools and replaced by the homeowner, a plumber isn't necessary.

 

[msinc]

There is a lot of bad or untrue information on this thread. I have a cabin in the mountains of Virginia. It certainly gets plenty cold there in the winter months. I have a NR83DVC Noritz tankless hot water heater and it works perfectly. Zero complaints. I do not have any special regulators or piping. It works fine on the same line to my cook stove and propane refrigerator. I use a 100 pound propane tank which last a long time. There is no drop in water pressure at all. The unit is vented straight thru the wall with a stainless pipe that cost around $200.00. and you can barely hear the unit run when it is on. It does make hot water instantly but you have to allow the heated water time to reach the spigot or shower head you are using {obviously.} My cabin is off grid and I have a Honda inverter for power to run the well. I have to drain the unit so it don't freeze because I don't have heat when I am not there. It is easy and takes a few seconds. You say you have heat so it don't matter but as easy as it is to prep I think I would do it anyway for the peace of mind in case the heat goes out when you aren't there. The unit is easy to install and I think if you had one you would be as happy as I am. I really don't see any issues that any normal person could possibly complain about with a tankless hot water heater. I looked at the Rinai, the Bosch and the Noritz. All were very high quality and comparable. The only reason I chose the Noritz brand is because that is what the local plumbing supply house sells. Lowe's has the Bosch unit, but don't service them and we don't have a local dealer for the Rinai.

 

[billwill]

With a small cabin or an outside shower, I have heard good things about these units, Camp Chef Triton 5l or 10L Portable Water Heater. Might work out.

 

[smokindog]

The "problem" you note is not related to the tankless, it would be the same with a tank. The water has to get to the spigot regardless.

About recirculating pumps, you typically use a larger pump for the tankless if you want to keep the lines "charged" with hot water because the burner in the tankless require a certain rate of flow to engage. the pumps for tank installations typically do not provide sufficient flow. These pumps can be more expensive.

We have two in our home, one for the master bath and one for the rest of the house. In the long run they're more efficient, and my only complaint is they run several gallons of water through before the heated water gets to the spout. There is an add on device one could use that basically recirculates the first couple gallons through an instant heater, but we didn't bother with that.
If I had a cabin or a home that was only used occasionally this is the way I would go, as they will never freeze and burst on you the way a water heater can. They would still need to be winterized I think. Living in southern Arizona, I never bothered to research that particular issue. The other advantage is they are made in a modular fashion, meaning any component that would fail can be removed with a few simple tools and replaced by the homeowner, a plumber isn't necessary.

 

[Autococker07]

We are looking to convert to tankless for our home.... they are more money up front, but less maintenance (not keeping 80 gallons heated 24/7).

I would think, in your situation, a tank heater (if you can spare the room) may be better (turn off and drain when away). You will only be heating the tank water when occupying the cabin, and the only con is that it will take a couple of hours to get hot water when you get there.... you will have to judge how much of a pain that is.... The upfront cost savings may be significant..... Depends on what you want, and what you consider "significant"

For us, we are looking at 700-900 to replace an 80 gal electric water heater that is 33 years old, or 1500 to get a rinai brand tankless, plus gas run to the house (with piping run for a gas stove and gas BBQ). Figured out over the 20 year lifespan, it is within a couple of hundred bucks.... a wash for us.... The bennie is that if I get my tankless, I also get a gas stove and can stop swapping bottles on the grill WOOT! Of course, momma can take endless hot baths too..... thats a plus in her book.

Im interested in what you decide on, and wish you the best of luck either way!

Jim

 

[smitholdtimer]

Tankless Water Heater

Please have your water tested to determine if its gona eat/deteriorate the copper in the tank-less heater, if it is then you need to make another decision. Low PH readings will cause this .

 

[perrazi]

tankless can be a major pain if they don't work properly. I have friend that has a rinai (spelling?). he has had nothing but issues with it. beginning the first day it was installed.

 

[msinc]

"About recirculating pumps, you typically use a larger pump for the tankless if you want to keep the lines "charged" with hot water because the burner in the tankless require a certain rate of flow to engage. the pumps for tank installations typically do not provide sufficient flow. These pumps can be more expensive."

I don't think this person is talking about recirculating pumps. We use those on large houses with a tank type heater so you don't have to wait so long to get hot water at the tap. If you used a recirc pump with a tankless it would burn all the time. I think what they are talking about is the small electric tankless heater that goes under your sink or just outside the bath tub so you get hot water immediately. Going back and reading the post it appears the poster used the phrase "recirculates the first couple gallons." I think what they meant was heats the first couple gallons to circulate.
In the last post above I am surprised to hear trouble with a Rinai unit...they are very high quality and not generally prone to trouble.

 

[Hellraiser]

FYI... I use a "tankless" commode ever day... it's called "the front porch".

 

[Old TexMex]

I used those shower heads with the 220 wiring running up and into the ceiling.......I don't know where they came from, but Nicaragua, El Salvador and Colombia all had 'em. Couldn't even relax in the shower.....

 

[Farmer17]

I've been a construction contractor for decades and I'm still on the fence about tankless hw heaters. I typically install the a gas Hw heater in the attic above the garage, but near the back wall and near the attic access stairs. I install large, high quality attic staircases so the HW tank is easy to swap out and if it ever gets a leak it has a drain pan with overflow and if that fails, the water would just drip into the garage. The tankless units are expensive and if you have hard water they may not last long and the replacement cost is really high.

 

[STCM(SW)]

When I had a walk-in tub put in for my disabled wife the 40 gal HWH,
Didn't even make it....
Installed a 75 gal. NG HWH that the plummer said would take about one hour or more to come to temp.
How about :35 min?
Can use the dish washer, cloths washer and take a shower and all hot water....
Comes on once or twice a day....
And about $2000 less what I was told for the Rinnai system I was looking at.
I would have to live to 95+ to break even.......

 

[rwsmith]

You know, my water heater....

In the long run they're more efficient, and my only complaint is they run several gallons of water through before the heated water gets to the spout.

You know, my water heater does the same thing. Wish I could put it in the middle of the house.