Tankless Water Heaters?

[SharkOnLand]

So, my water heater's OLD, and it's not even putting out enough to take two showers in the morning, even with 20 minutes inbetween. I'm the one that takes the shower last, so I'm left holding the soap while the water runs cold...

We're replacing it. Does anyone here have any experience/knowledge about tankless heaters? I've got a family friend who owns a plumbing company, they sell these ones: http://rinnai.us/.aspx/0/a.179a63/Overview

They supposedly save a lot of money, as you don't have to keep an entire tank of water warm at all times... Plus, there's a $300 tax credit on them, assuming it's installed by the end of the year. The life expectancy is also double that of a traditional tank heater. Of course, they're also twice (or more) as much.

Any drawbacks I should know about?
Good things to say?
No idea what I'm talking about?

[buffettbride]

I know nuffin' but we're in the market for a water heater soon, so I'd like to know.

[Dezdmona]

I know they are EXPENSIVE to purchase/install, but not much after that.

The last water heater I had to buy was under warranty so I replaced it with the same thing I had before.

I'll watch this discussion though for the next time I'm due.

[jackiesic]

Check with your state. I know in NJ they considered energy savers and you can get a rebate when you purcahse one on top of the tax credit.

[Tequila Revenge]

They are growing into owning a huge part of the market out here. Personally, I think the tank less water heaters will replace the old water tank someday in the same manor that fluorescent bulbs are replacing conventional light bulbs. GE even negotiated a deal with the evil Wal Mart to sell more fluorescent bulbs and is closing down two of their light bulb factories and opening new fluorescent factories. I saw one manufacturer at the Green Building show in Denver I think called Takkaggi. Some friends just built a house and had one installed and they love it.

Not sure if you had a rebate program for low flush toilets once upon a time, but these ARE NOT low flush toilets.

[chippewa]

Funny, I was just thinking of looking into these. We have a terrible odor problem with our hot water in the past year, replaced our 10-yr old heater with another, but didn't solve the problem. Our township says the water's the same, but I don't know what changed after living here almost 20 years. The tankless heater should solve the odor problem, but I'll be interested in reading what others say about them.

[krusin1]

So, my water heater's OLD, and it's not even putting out enough to take two showers in the morning, even with 20 minutes inbetween. I'm the one that takes the shower last, so I'm left holding the soap while the water runs cold...

We're replacing it. Does anyone here have any experience/knowledge about tankless heaters? I've got a family friend who owns a plumbing company, they sell these ones: http://rinnai.us/.aspx/0/a.179a63/Overview

They supposedly save a lot of money, as you don't have to keep an entire tank of water warm at all times... Plus, there's a $300 tax credit on them, assuming it's installed by the end of the year. The life expectancy is also double that of a traditional tank heater. Of course, they're also twice (or more) as much.

Any drawbacks I should know about?
Good things to say?
No idea what I'm talking about?

We had one and loved it. Only two drawbacks.

First, you probably won't get hot water instantly.. takes a few moments for the water to get circulated through the tank, get hot and then get to you.

Second, if your water is hard, tankless heaters are more prone to clog up. There are ways around that, but still something to think about.

Only reason we don't have one now is that we moved into this house and it already had a BIG hot water heater. When it goes out, though...

[pbans]

We've been thinking about one, too.....we go through so much hot water as we all like long, scalding showers....

[weirdo0521]

So, my water heater's OLD, and it's not even putting out enough to take two showers in the morning, even with 20 minutes inbetween. I'm the one that takes the shower last, so I'm left holding the soap while the water runs cold...

We're replacing it. Does anyone here have any experience/knowledge about tankless heaters? I've got a family friend who owns a plumbing company, they sell these ones: http://rinnai.us/.aspx/0/a.179a63/Overview

They supposedly save a lot of money, as you don't have to keep an entire tank of water warm at all times... Plus, there's a $300 tax credit on them, assuming it's installed by the end of the year. The life expectancy is also double that of a traditional tank heater. Of course, they're also twice (or more) as much.

Any drawbacks I should know about?
Good things to say?
No idea what I'm talking about?

We had one and loved it. Only two drawbacks.

First, you probably won't get hot water instantly.. takes a few moments for the water to get circulated through the tank, get hot and then get to you.

Second, if your water is hard, tankless heaters are more prone to clog up. There are ways around that, but still something to think about.

Only reason we don't have one now is that we moved into this house and it already had a BIG hot water heater. When it goes out, though...

Why are you heating hot water? Just kidding. When my water heater needs to be replaced I am going tankless. The savings aren't as great as I first thought, but I love the idea of constant hot water flow.

[Cubbie Bear]

We looked into it. They are very much an energy/cost saver. However, we live in an 85 y/o big ol' house and the guy said we would need a seperate on on the top floor to have the "full efficency" One at $800-1200 I may have thought about, but not two

[pbans]

We looked into it. They are very much an energy/cost saver. However, we live in an 85 y/o big ol' house and the guy said we would need a seperate on on the top floor to have the "full efficency" One at $800-1200 I may have thought about, but not two

::GAK::
They really cost that much......I had no idea.
We have a pretty small house, so I'm sure we'd only need one....but that's a lot money....is that will installation?

[SharkOnLand]

We looked into it. They are very much an energy/cost saver. However, we live in an 85 y/o big ol' house and the guy said we would need a seperate on on the top floor to have the "full efficency" One at $800-1200 I may have thought about, but not two

::GAK::
They really cost that much......I had no idea.
We have a pretty small house, so I'm sure we'd only need one....but that's a lot money....is that will installation?

Yeah, they're pretty pricey, I'd imagine that price is without installation. But they're supposed to last about twice as long as a tank heater (20 year lifespan, as opposed to 10-ish for a tank heater), that on top of the energy savings, plus a $300 tax credit this year, it starts sounding not so expensive.

[citcat]

When we went to Gatlinburg this fall, our chalet had one of those things....looks funny (I went into the utility room and said, "What the HECK is that thing?) but you get hot water all the time every time. I love long hot showers...I and hubby took long showers and I filled up the big spa bathtub....still had hot water ! I would imagine if you lived in a hard water area (like we are), you'd just have to get a water softener/filter thingie.

OR, you could just get a bigger, more efficient water heater. We did at our house and it hardly EVER runs out of hot water.

[springparrot]

First, you probably won't get hot water instantly.. takes a few moments for the water to get circulated through the tank, get hot and then get to you. :

My SIL just moved into a new house with one and she said that was the draw back---she wants HOT water in the kitchen NOW

[SharkOnLand]

First, you probably won't get hot water instantly.. takes a few moments for the water to get circulated through the tank, get hot and then get to you. :

My SIL just moved into a new house with one and she said that was the draw back---she wants HOT water in the kitchen NOW

That's not really an issue for me... the kitchen/bathrooms are all a good ways from the heater, so we have to run the water for a while anyway, a minute more won't make a difference.

OR, you could just get a bigger, more efficient water heater. We did at our house and it hardly EVER runs out of hot water.

I thought about that, but with growing keets, I'm trying to think ahead to the day when we'll likely be taking 4 showers a day... I just don't think a traditional water heater is going to cut it...

[citcat]

OR, you could just get a bigger, more efficient water heater. We did at our house and it hardly EVER runs out of hot water.

I thought about that, but with growing keets, I'm trying to think ahead to the day when we'll likely be taking 4 showers a day... I just don't think a traditional water heater is going to cut it...

Yeah, I forgot that my son (who took two showers a day because he played every sport except hockey, and I had at least one load of laundry a day) is now married and NOT living here. Makes a HUGE difference !!!!

[pbans]

First, you probably won't get hot water instantly.. takes a few moments for the water to get circulated through the tank, get hot and then get to you. :

My SIL just moved into a new house with one and she said that was the draw back---she wants HOT water in the kitchen NOW

That's not really an issue for me... the kitchen/bathrooms are all a good ways from the heater, so we have to run the water for a while anyway, a minute more won't make a difference....

that's the way it is at our house......in my bathroom, the first few seconds actually come out as ice cubes....

[OceanCityGirl]

mr oc and I have an hvac/r business. We rarely deal with plumbing but he thinks highly of these. In theory they're very basic and save money and energy.

[springparrot]

First, you probably won't get hot water instantly.. takes a few moments for the water to get circulated through the tank, get hot and then get to you. :

My SIL just moved into a new house with one and she said that was the draw back---she wants HOT water in the kitchen NOW

That's not really an issue for me... the kitchen/bathrooms are all a good ways from the heater, so we have to run the water for a while anyway, a minute more won't make a difference....

that's the way it is at our house......in my bathroom, the first few seconds actually come out as ice cubes....

She says it is fine in the shower, but takes longer in the kitchen and the tank is closer to the kitchen

[SharkOnLand]

Well, we got it installed Monday... It's great! Along with a new water filter system (we're on a well, and the water had an odor). I think I was more excited about the new water heater than for Christmas

It does take a little longer to get hot water, but it's not that big of an issue. You can stand in the shower all day if you wanted to

One cool thing is you can change the output temperature of the water instantly. If you want it at 140° for the dishwasher, or 100° to give the keets a bath, you just adjust the temperature accordingly.