On Demand Water Heaters

[emily_in_nc]

re. Tinyhouse:

I've always told my DH that someday I want to live in a "tiny cottage". I just love the cottage style, and would love a compact little place with about 1/3 to 1/2 the possessions we have now, where we wouldn't lose our "stuff" because we have too darn much of it!

When we spend time down on our 30' cruising sailboat (most definitely a tinyhouse!) I realize how much we have that we could get along without. But we love our home and especially our yard (11 acres in the woods with trails for hiking, running, and mountain biking), so we're not quite ready to pursue the tinyhouse dream. But it's on the back of my mind for someday.... I just love the idea of simplifying that much! Would love to live carfree too....

Emily

[IFjane]

re. Tinyhouse:

I've always told my DH that someday I want to live in a "tiny cottage". I just love the cottage style, and would love a compact little place with about 1/3 to 1/2 the possessions we have now, where we wouldn't lose our "stuff" because we have too darn much of it!

When we spend time down on our 30' cruising sailboat (most definitely a tinyhouse!) I realize how much we have that we could get along without. But we love our home and especially our yard (11 acres in the woods with trails for hiking, running, and mountain biking), so we're not quite ready to pursue the tinyhouse dream. But it's on the back of my mind for someday.... I just love the idea of simplifying that much! Would love to live carfree too....

Emily

But Emily - I can't think of anything better than having a tiny house on 11 acres! Do you know anyone with a bulldozer?

[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.

[Biciclista]

Tulip, the price differential is scary, yes. But modern water heaters even though they are more efficient, they do not last as long as the older ones could.
Ours was 27 years old when we replaced it, and although it was an energy hog, it never leaked. I was assured by everyone that came to give a price quote that new ones didn't last more than 12 years.

[Norse]

Our 8 year old gas water heater has been a problem every winter from day 1. When the gas furnace is kicking in, the water heater pilot light frequently goes out - not enough oxygen in the basement apparently. Many "experts" have looked and scratched their heads, adding bigger holes and venting to the outside, drilling holes to the garage... but nothing has seemed to work. Every winter, we need to relight the heater about every other day. So, we want to replace the darned thing.

I really like the idea of the tankless heaters but based on our existing venting problem, it sounds like that will not work well. We also have an older house (1955) with older plumbing. Our idea is to replace the heater with a gas heater with electronic ignition. I have always preferred gas to electric because of the perceived efficiency and better for the environment issue but Tulip's comments have me thinking maybe we should go electric? Thoughts?

[Biciclista]

The tankless heater is on an outside wall fyi.

[Norse]

The tankless heater is on an outside wall fyi.

I don't think that would work well in Minnesota. Right now, it is a balmy -6 outside.

[Biciclista]

ha, you're probably right. the box is insulated but i don't think that puny insulation would do much at -6!!!!

[smilingcat]

my electric water heater is sitting inside a shed next to the house. If you were to do this, you can insulate the tankless and keep it out of the extreme weather. Also simplify the venting issue with natural gas powered tankless.

Plan is to rebuild the shed to accomodate a water tank for the solar and have enough space for the tankless system. I have to bug my plumber again. My next major project for 2009. Was supposed to have done it in 2008. I hate un-necessary delays.