On Demand Water Heaters

[Pax]

My dad (who was a retired contractor) decided the on-demand stuff was too expensive when they bought their place in FL, since it was an electric hot water heater, he just installed a switch (like a light switch). They would flip it on before bed and have hot sowers in the morning and then flip it off on their way out the door to work. It was a $2 solution, don't know if it would work with gas though?

[Flybye]

Well, after much decision and debate, here's what we have decided...........

As much as we would like to be responsible and save the planet, we still have to feed our children!

We just can't talk ourselves into putting in the on demand water heater when it will cost roughly $1,500 more than if we go with either electric or gas. Not only is the cost a huge deterrent, but the power venting system is troublesome, our home was built in 1970 and the pipes may not be up to snuff, and we have heard that since our ground water is so cold in the winter, we may only get our temperature up to 105 at best in the winter.

We have decided that it just isn't worth it at this point.

All of your opinions and knowledge helped a great deal, as we really didn't know too much about these heaters. You all brought up things that we hadn't considered.

The carpet is pulled up and we have a fan on it.

We are waiting for the plumber.

Thanks again! Mahalo!

[Mr. Bloom]

The carpet is pulled up and we have a fan on it.

I'd encourage you to go to the rental place and get the mega fans...

[Tuckervill]

So what about the PIPES needs to be fixed up?

I have an old house with cast iron pipes. We're looking to add a master bedroom, and that will include all new systems (water, heat, a/c, water softener, but not new pipes or electrical, I hope). I know the tankless system will be expensive, but it's justifiable by not having to provide space for a water heater in a cramped space.

So what about the pipes?

And my rental house which I formerly lived in has two hot water tanks--one provides heat for one of the furnaces, too--and it was HEAVENLY to have!

Karen

[mimitabby]

they didn't seem too worried about my pipes they seemed more concerned about my GAS pipes, but after examination, they were found to be more than adequate.

[mimitabby]

Well, the heating unit was installed. The guy said "if this was mine, I would take the insulation that used to be wrapped around the old waterheater (dated 1981 btw) and fill it into the box. So i cut some out and did that before he hauled it away.

THe water comes in nice and warm, but it does seem to take longer; that's because instead of heating all night and gradually radiating somewhat up the pipe, the heater does not heat at all until you ask for it.

Tonight someone will take a bath or shower so I'll have more to report.

I cleaned that little room out, it was pretty gross, almost like outside; that's how black the dirt was that was there.

[Flybye]

Mimi - Yeah for you!! May all of your showers be heavenly warm. I really wish we could have gone the route you are going.

We have two water heaters being piggy backed and a water softener being installed today. As we speak, in fact.

Let us know how you like your shower!

[Flybye]

My dad (who was a retired contractor) decided the on-demand stuff was too expensive when they bought their place in FL, since it was an electric hot water heater, he just installed a switch (like a light switch). They would flip it on before bed and have hot sowers in the morning and then flip it off on their way out the door to work. It was a $2 solution, don't know if it would work with gas though?

I like this idea and we will be sure to ask about it!

[7rider]

I like this idea and we will be sure to ask about it!

My in-laws did something like this...had a timer attached to the w.h. somehow....so it fired up the water up b/f evening showers (they showered at night) and dish-washing.

[mimitabby]

I'm getting a tankless gas water heater TOMORROW!!!

[IFjane]

ooooh ooooh ooooh Mimi!!! I wanna know how you like it - that's exactly what I want to do...

[mimitabby]

i'll let you all know. one of the wonderful parts of this is I get a new room because the old waterheater blocks it from being usable. the new one is much smaller and mounted on the outside of the house!

[tinyhouse]

I just did research on this very issue. I too wanted to choose an environmentally friendly water heater and felt it would be worth the extra expense to do so. However, I read a great deal about on-demand heaters and ended up going with a (gas) tank instead. Here's why:

They end up wasting MORE water because it takes awhile for the water to come out of the faucet hot. I'm not interested in wasting water. I also found out that you can't run as hot of a shower and occasionally after a ride in the rain I have a chill I can't shake so I like a nice hot shower.

[Trek420]

I like this idea and we will be sure to ask about it!

I like it too. I have something similar on the (gas) heater. Thermostat is downstairs but heater is upstairs and I forget to turn it down at night. I don't want to trundle downstairs but there's a little switch.

Did not think I could have that on the water heater. Smart guy that Queen Dad

Mimi, tell us all about how the install goes

[Mr. Bloom]

We have two water heaters. The original gas water heater installation. We subsequently added an electric one. The water system draws from the electric one first, which then draws from the gas one. Theoretically, we can never run out of hot water since the gas reheats much quicker. In reality, we don't ever run out of hot, but after we've gone through 100 gallons, it's comfortably warm, but not hot.

It used to be we couldn't fill our jacuzzi with hot water...now we have plenty to do that even when SilverDaughter is taking one of her typical 30 minute showers...and the high efficiency washer is running

We get through four morning showers comfortably now.

We considered an ondemand heater prior to doing this because our water heaters are at one end of the house and the pipe run upstairs and too the other end of the house (about 100+ ft)...meaning we had to run water for nearly five minutes to get hot. But, even pondering a $300 monthly water bill (mostly sewer) it wasn't cost effective for us to install on demand. They're very good for low use applications, but not for normal living...