Tankless Water Heater...who has one?

sophiec

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Does anyone out there have a tankless water heater, whether it is gas or electric? If so, how long have you had it? What are the pros & cons about them?
 

calico2222

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We don't have one yet, but that is on our list of home improvements. I just asked DH (he's in charge of those kinds of things) and he hasn't heard about any cons. You will have to wait for the hot water to start running again, but you normally have to do that with a regular water heater. It will definitely save on either gas or electric (ours will be electric because we didn't run any gas lines).

He got most of his initial info on Lowe's website and is still doing research, but it seems to be the best way to go to save money in the long run.
 

rosiemac

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If it's what i think it is, ours in the UK are called "Combi Boilers".

http://www.diyfaq.org.uk/plumbing/combi.html#intro

I had one installed just over a year ago so now i have no water tanks in the house and it's great. With the boiler i originally had, i had to wait until the water in the tank heated for a bath, whereas this one is instant heat and hot water, and it's cheaper to run
 

gailc

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Why don't you see if there is any info on focusonenergy.com?? Its a Wisconsin website with great info!!
 

mschauer

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I don't have one but I wanted one. I didn't get it cuz of the initial cost. My gas line is too small and would have to be replaced with a larger one. I don't remember what the total cost would have been but it was well over $1000.
 

save_adopt

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we have one, i dont know when it was installed, because we just moved in. but it was within 3 years ago. I like it, its really nice to never run out of hot water. The only con i have about it is that the tempurature doesnt stay constant. it kind of slowly ranges from sculding hot to perfect to just a little too cool. And it has some trouble diverting hot water all over the house, like if you are using the shower and someones trying to wash dishes it doesnt do too well. But i assume that tank heaters are the same way
 
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sophiec

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I am currently meeting with different plumbers in order to have my entire house replumbed. Is that a word? Hmmmm....anyway, almost every plumber I have met with tries to steer me away from them. It's not a cost issue with me, it's a space issue. The water heater is currently in a closet in my kitchen. If the water heater were not in that closet, I could have a pantry. I can't move the water heater into the attic because I don't have the clearance.....and there isn't anywhere else in the house I could put it. That's why I wanted to go tankless....I could easily mount one in the attic. The last plumber that came by told me they don't last in the long run. A friend of my sister who sells water heaters told me, "don't do it, don't do it, don't do it!" when I told him I wanted one. He told me to go online and find the installation & maintenance manual for one and read about it. He said you have to take them apart every 6 months and clean them.
 
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sophiec

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Originally Posted by Rosiemac

If it's what i think it is, ours in the UK are called "Combi Boilers".

http://www.diyfaq.org.uk/plumbing/combi.html#intro

I had one installed just over a year ago so now i have no water tanks in the house and it's great. With the boiler i originally had, i had to wait until the water in the tank heated for a bath, whereas this one is instant heat and hot water, and it's cheaper to run
This is one Susan.....

http://www.boschhotwater.com/BoschHo...5/Default.aspx
 

EnzoLeya

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We don't have one, but I've met someone that does. It's the kind that a bunch of water pipes are on the roof and there is a glass box that covers them. They heat naturally by the sun. It's pretty amazing and very cost effective!
 

jennyr

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They are very common in the UK. I had a gas one that ran my hot water and central heating and I loved it. I had it serviced under a contract once a year in spring, and it never went wrong. The first one lasted ten years, the second I had for four before I moved. You never run out of water and you only pay for the heat you actually use, not for keeping water hot all the time.
 
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sophiec

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Originally Posted by jennyranson

They are very common in the UK. I had a gas one that ran my hot water and central heating and I loved it. I had it serviced under a contract once a year in spring, and it never went wrong. The first one lasted ten years, the second I had for four before I moved. You never run out of water and you only pay for the heat you actually use, not for keeping water hot all the time.
It is true that you only use gas to heat while you are running the water, but you use a heck of a lot more gas since the supply line HAS to be either 1" or 1-1/4" to the heater. That differs from the 3/4" supply line to a traditional tank water heater. The water heater that is currently in my house was there when I purchased the house 11 years ago. It is a RUUD and it is from 1982.....that makes it 26 years old!!!

I will most likely end up not going the tankless route. I will probably stick with the traditional tank heater.....I'll just have to figure out a way to make the space for it. I have some ideas!
 

kiwideus

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My parents have one and they use gas. They did have a problem with water running too hot or too cold and the solution - install a thermostat, and problem solved!

They do save a lot of money on hot water and theres a lot of people in their house.
 

wickedkitten

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Originally Posted by SophieC

It is true that you only use gas to heat while you are running the water, but you use a heck of a lot more gas since the supply line HAS to be either 1" or 1-1/4" to the heater. That differs from the 3/4" supply line to a traditional tank water heater. The water heater that is currently in my house was there when I purchased the house 11 years ago. It is a RUUD and it is from 1982.....that makes it 26 years old!!!

I will most likely end up not going the tankless route. I will probably stick with the traditional tank heater.....I'll just have to figure out a way to make the space for it. I have some ideas!
It might be a bigger supply line, but trust me, it uses a LOT less gas than if you have a normal boiler. We lived in a flat with a tank system and it was absolutely awful. Running out of hot water during a shower or having to turn on the immersion before you could have a bath, ugh.

Our gas bill actually dropped quite dramatically once we bought a house that had a condensing combi boiler (basically the most energy efficient combi boiler you can get) and thats not taking into account that our cooker and central heating are gas as well.
 
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sophiec

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Originally Posted by Kiwideus

They do save a lot of money on hot water and theres a lot of people in their house.
Originally Posted by Wickedkitten

Running out of hot water during a shower or having to turn on the immersion before you could have a bath, ugh.
Well, once I move in, I will be the only person in my house.....so it won't be so bad.
 

mrblanche

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I think the electric ones are more dependable and consistent. One con is that you need to restrict the flow; they can't keep up with a normal flow on a faucet or shower.

I just installed a small-tank water heater under my kitchen sink. It's a long ways to the water heater back in the garage, and it takes forever to get hot water up to the kitchen. All it really saves is the amount you would normally have to run out to get hot water up there, but that can add up.

Now we don't have to run the water before we turn on the dishwasher.
 
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