On Demand Water Heaters

[lette]

Mimitabby, and others that have a tankless/on-demand system, are you still happy?
We are ready to replace our tank, and seriously considering a small one application gas model. Only two people, and we never run another water appliance when the other is in the shower.
All your knowledge appreciated,
Thanks, Lette

[Biciclista]

we've gotten used to it.
I like it. I like the electric/gas bills. I like the fact that when we have guests we never run out of water. i don't like being the first person in the bathroom in the morning, because you end up running about a gallon of water to get to the hot stuff.
there's some parts that don't really make sense to me (in relation to how long it takes to get hot waters which times) but I like it. it's small and efficient and when i'm not in a rush, i just take that gallon of cold water and reuse it.

i like the fact that when one of us is in the bath, it's not going to screw anything up if the other starts the dishwasher or the washingmachine.

[Tuckervill]

Wait, Mimi, is it because the water heater is a long way from the shower? Cuz I already have that problem in my house with a regular hot water heater. Worse in winter time. Or, is it because it takes that much water run through the system before it heats up? (that doesn't make sense to me.)

I don't like to waste water, but I already do, because of that very problem.

Karen

[Biciclista]

getting one of these isn't going to help your particular problem Karen; what you are going to save is on energy wasted by heating a tank of water 24 hours a day. Now you're only heating water when you need it. I think the "worse in winter time" problem is not much different; but here in Seattle the temp extremes are just not that extreme.

[smilingcat]

When I visited my cousin, my uncle and his family and my aunt in Japan, they all had those tankless water heater. I didn't notice any difference between the tanked system here in US and the tankless system used by my relatives.

I've been trying to get my plumber neighbor to install one. He is driving me bananas!!

My plan is to use solar water heater system using the evacuated glass heat pipes and use a 40 gallon? storage tank. Then use the tankless system as a back up. The idea is to use much of the solar as possible so that the tankless will remain off for the most part or only have to heat the water by additional 10-20 degrees instead of 60-80 degrees. This way I don't have to worry about running out of hot water in the evening.

So my patience is being tried...

Smilingcat

[derailed]

A comment, if I may.

On top of every tank-style water heater is a large heavy nut.
This nut is connected to a long, zinc rod.

It's not easy, as the tank must be off and completely drained, but replace this rod every 3 or 4 years, more often if your water is troublesome.

This will drastically mitigate tank-rot.

There are how-to guides all over the web explaining in detail.

[tulip]

When I first posted in this thread, I was looking at a condo. But I ended up buying a little house instead. The old hot water heater was toast, so I replaced it. The cost difference between a tankless and tank heater was so great, that in my case it just did not make sense to go with the tankless ($4,000 vs. $800).

The new electric tank hot water heaters are very efficient--more efficient than the gas tank heaters because gas heaters need to be vented, and that allows some of the heat to escape. The plumber said the electric tank heaters lose 6% and the gas ones 30%. The new electric tank heaters are like a giant thermos--very well insulated and once the water gets heated, it takes very little energy (about 1.5 hours per day) to keep it at the proper temperature.

A tankless water heater was not appropriate for my situation. My plumber said that Rinnai tankless heaters are the best of the tankless, FWIW.