Tankless Water Heater?

[Lisa]

Does anyone have one of these at home? We're looking into one. I'd love to hear what you think of yours, what kind you have, pros and cons. Thanks, everyone!

[Mike734]

Look in to getting one to be used in conjunction with a small tank. A tank is needed to act as a "stabilizer." Don't scrimp, good ones are worth the extra $.

[Lisa]

Thanks, Mike. Do you have one?

[Tools]

I do not have one, but I did look into it.

My home is 4,000 sq ft, and the Master is upstairs.. We also have a guest "casita".

These things tend to be point-of-use so to cover the bedrooms, kitchen, and casita; we woud have had to install 4 of them. It would work with one really big one, but at one end of the house, you would have to waste an enormous amount of water waiting for the hot to get there..

Here in the desert, saving water is a better choice than saving a few bucks on natural gas to heat it..

We decided on a recirculating hot water loop (water is instantly there at all times) and a high efficiency gas hot water tank..

[Mike734]

Originally Posted by Lisa

Thanks, Mike. Do you have one?

No but I lived in Europe for 2 years. One of the problems with them is if you want only a little hot water. They need a certain amount of flow to turn on the burner. Sometimes, like washing your hands, you want a little hot and a little cold. If you don't turn on the hot enough, the burner wont come on. Then it comes on but too much. Good ones have highly variable flame to help with this problem. Also, Two or three things on at once can be a problem. You are in the shower and someone turns on the washer and the dishwasher. Flow will drop off and/or the temp will spike cold.

They are great for filling a indoor hot tub, looooong showers, lots of laundry, or all 3 on the same day. The best systems have a hot water loop, and small tank and tankless heaters.

Good luck

[Lol-x]

I was considering that a while ago, and a plumber told me that sometimes when you get those tankless instant heaters you need to upsize your water or gas lines (can't remember which ones now), but that is something to consider.

[roadcarver]

Lisa,

Here's a nice guide that you can read about tankless water heaters.

http://www.tanklesswaterheaterguide.com/

Regards,

Vernon

[Lisa]

A recirculating hot water loop... was that decided during construction of your home, with water lines placed accordingly? Ours was built in 1939. With the existing plumbing, not sure how we could have a recirculating loop, or more than one "tankless" unit. I'd do well to read up some more on them. Just wondering if anyone here actually had been using one, and was happy with it.

Perhaps a bigger, new high efficiency gas tank will be the ticket. Thanks, Larry.

[Tools]

Originally Posted by Lisa

A recirculating hot water loop... was that decided during construction of your home, with water lines placed accordingly? Ours was built in 1939. With the existing plumbing, not sure how we could have a recirculating loop, or more than one "tankless" unit. I'd do well to read up some more on them. Just wondering if anyone here actually had been using one, and was happy with it.

Perhaps a bigger, new high efficiency gas tank will be the ticket. Thanks, Larry.

Lisa,

I had mine put in during construction..

But you can retro-fit a recirculating pump to almost any home. It requires a special valve at the furthest outlet and then the pump uses existing pluming to provide almost instant hot at any sink. The down side is that since it uses existing plumbing, the cold water side is warmer for a few seconds...

With a growing family you should also have a 50 or 75 gallon tank....I think..

Look up Grundfos hot water recirculating pumps..

[Mike734]

Originally Posted by Tools

Lisa,

I had mine put in during construction..

But you can retro-fit a recirculating pump to almost any home. It requires a special valve at the furthest outlet and then the pump uses existing pluming to provide almost instant hot at any sink. The down side is that since it uses existing plumbing, the cold water side is warmer for a few seconds...

With a growing family you should also have a 50 or 75 gallon tank....I think..

Look up Grundfos hot water recirculating pumps..

Costco sells one of those systems. The other downside is that you will increase your heating bill due to the fact that hot water is constantly being cooled by the piping and being returned to the tank.