On Demand Water Heaters

[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...

[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!

[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.

[mimitabby]

yes, miss tinyhouse (please explain your name please!) i think there will be a bit more waste of water. But I just got done with my very first insulation job!! (cough cough) I insulated the wall where the pipes are that feed into the heater and back out. Next I will insulate the pipes themselves. All we had was exterior wall and studs, no wonder it's cold.

I also insulated underneath my bathtub. i can't wait to see how much of a difference that might make. that tub has always been cold!
now soon as i quit itching and coughing, I'll be a happier camper. (I wore a kerchief over my face and safety glasses.)

[tinyhouse]

Wow Mimitabby it sounds like you did a great job of insulating. Our old Victorian was built in 1897 - so I think insulating pipes probably would have helped us too had we gone that route. Hope the coughing goes away soon!

tinyhouse refers to both our small victorian and our dream to own a tiny tiny house someday (preferably one that we build out of strawbale) which we hope to locate on a little tiny piece of land

[mimitabby]

oh how wonderful to have a house that old. We are fortunate to have a 1957 craftsman (i think) it was built VERY VERY well, but it does not have much character, which I am SURE yours does.

[tinyhouse]

Actually, it doesnt have as much character as you would imagine - the previous owner did a remodel and left out period detail. I love craftsman homes!

[mimitabby]

Well, I got the clothes into the gas clothes dryer and stepped into the tub and drew a bath. I really couldn't tell if the tub itself felt warmer because of my insulation job, (I think so) or if it was just my imagination. I had a nice hot bath. Meanwhile, the heat came on (also gas) and at that point, DH came and took his shower. He had plenty of hot water too.
I was quite pleased.

[tulip]

I lived in an apartment for seven years in North Carolina that had solar hot water panels on the roof for heating water and a booster gas hot water heater. It was a very good setup. We never ran out of hot water, and our bills were very low because most of the heating came from solar.

Just another way of thinking about these things.

Tinyhouse: I am very interested in tiny houses, and in fact gave a presentation last year about them to a bunch of architects. I'm buying a tiny condo, and I'm excited yet a bit wondering about living in such a small place. It'll be like a Airstream or a ship--a place for everything (which is not too much, by choice) and everything in its place. My tiny Bike Friday will fit in well. It's nice to know that you are into tiny houses, too!

[mimitabby]

Oh, I'd love to have solar power. But in the winter in Seattle that would be a joke. Too bad there isn't cloud power!