Tankless water heater
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cougar14
US Veteran
Biggest problem most people don't take into account is need for dedicated 220v. power supply. It's a one time expense, but if you have to have it professionally installed, price it first.
gunnails
Member
They are efficient and can save dollars in operating costs, great for vacation homes. Unlimited hot water.
They cost about 4 times as much as a conventional unit and are very complicated with lots of flow switches and electronics, and any one of those many switches may fail leaving you with out hot water and need for an expert to fix it.
Not an easy decision.
They cost about 4 times as much as a conventional unit and are very complicated with lots of flow switches and electronics, and any one of those many switches may fail leaving you with out hot water and need for an expert to fix it.
Not an easy decision.
Mine is mounted on outside wall. That may not be an option for you, given your location and concerns about frozen pipes.
Regardless, if I'm outside near it when it fires up, it's not loud at all. Actually pretty quite.
It's a Takagi. Gas fired
Regardless, if I'm outside near it when it fires up, it's not loud at all. Actually pretty quite.
It's a Takagi. Gas fired
gunnails
Member
Mine doesn't appreciate me either.
You need 110 for the controls of a gas unit. That's one downside. No power, no hot water.
CATI1835
US Veteran
Replaced two 220v electrics with a single LP tankless water heater. Never looked back. Absolutely the best move I could have made. Only requires 110v to keep the electronics alive and power the igniter.
I never run out of hot water.
I never run out of hot water.
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I checked into them several years ago.
The thing I found out was if your in the south, they work great.
But where I live because the input water would be very cold and the unit
will reduce the flow of hot water.
So in the winter, not a good thing.
The thing I found out was if your in the south, they work great.
But where I live because the input water would be very cold and the unit
will reduce the flow of hot water.
So in the winter, not a good thing.
Had one in Md. Electric..installed with the help of a friend. Sucked the meter off the wall when flowing. Pretty much a wash as far as cost to heat water..but we also put a couple of solar water heaters in the loop. Not pretty(In my opinion) but oh my gosh..water heating costs over the course of a year dropped to almost nothing...maybe 5% of before. Water temps from the well were low 50s average most all year..city water systems I guess the water is warmer..but I doubt if they get colder than the high 40s in winter. If I needed a new water heater here I'd put a new generation electric in...If I had natural gas service to my place...I would already have one of them in place. And I would power it all with solar electric. Heck with natural gas I would use it for heating the house too. My friend the plumber knows his stuff on all that stuff. With no tax advantage I am still thinking of a solar electric system. I can get a little tax advantage for farm/ranch use
ordy
US Veteran
Four times as expensive as a standard water heater. That means I can replace it four times (about 40 years worth). Just my wife and I at home now so we never run out of hot water. It just didn't seem worth it for us.
crsides
US Veteran, SWCA Member, Absent Comrade
... since slice bread.
Bought a Rinnai gas-fired tankless several years after our gas-fired tanked one failed. It was professionally installed by a dealer. No complaints.
Rinnai's have been a Big seller for us in Maine! I have not heard any major grips about HW issues. You turn on HW faucet you get HW shut faucet off Heater shuts off 
They run about 95% efficient amd vent with PVC pipe. The downside is cost/ A electric heater avg cost 3/500$ and if your handy can install yourself! The gas wall hangers I think are around 2 grand installed avg. So short term savings go to electric long term goes to gas! FYI to help any of the water tanks last longer add a ST expansion tank. Helps absorb the shock of high water pressure! If you have well water you do not need one ,the well use's one in your basement
They run about 95% efficient amd vent with PVC pipe. The downside is cost/ A electric heater avg cost 3/500$ and if your handy can install yourself! The gas wall hangers I think are around 2 grand installed avg. So short term savings go to electric long term goes to gas! FYI to help any of the water tanks last longer add a ST expansion tank. Helps absorb the shock of high water pressure! If you have well water you do not need one ,the well use's one in your basement
kozmic
Member
I have one (gas). I've never experienced a lower water flow during the winter months. The only downside is that it takes a couple of minutes to get hot water to the faucets (a bit longer than tanks). You can run a loop to keep hot water in the system to lessen the "warm up" time. I don't believe I'd ever go back to a tank system.
fixitfred
Member
Talk to experts and do the math. It doesn't make sense for 1 or 2 people that don't have high demands and never run out of hot water.
Leslie Sapp
Member
I install either a Rinnai or a Noritz gas unit in almost every house I build. They mount on an outside wall and are very quiet and energy efficient.
speedyquad
Member
The first house that we rented when we first got married had one. Loved it. Once the tank in my current house goes, it will be replaced with a gas unit.
fixitfred
Member
Another note for survivalist type folks. Flush your tank water heater once a month and if the water is cutoff you have a 30-40 gal (depends on what size you have) backup tank of fresh water
