Does anybody know anything about the tankless hot water heaters?

Question

We're thinking about getting one for our house. Are they worth the money and do they last as good as the traditional water heaters?

Answer 1

It is my understanding that they are only worth the money if you are planning on staying in your house for more than 5 years after you install it. You will then see long term gains in the amount you save in energy costs compared to the higher cost of the tankless hot water heaters.

The are great, they take up less room, and since they heat the water instantly you never run out of hot water, and you are not paying to continually heat water so that it is ready for you to use when needed.

Answer 2

I work for the local Natural Gas Co. in SE NC and have been envious of my customers installing these units. Definitely get one. My customers that switched from a standard gas water to the tankless saved on average 30 % off there gas bill, some saved even more. Now that's only on gas models. The electric models are not worth there weight. The best model I have seen is the Rinnai. It is a bit more pricey than the Aquastars and other brands but is worth the extra. It has higher flow rates & built in defrosters so it won;t freeze when not in use. Another side benefit is by installing it outdoors you can utilize the extra water faucets that come built into it. Think of washing the car with warm water, washing the house or dog. A whole lot of things would be done better with hot water.
Once you have decided you will need to consider a couple of extra costs that go along with the installation of these. First they require 110V power. If you have natural gas most likely the meter will need to be upgraded fore the increased btu demand. Not all gas companies charge, mine does however. And last the gas piping to the unit. Some plumbers will install the gas lines but you would need an electrician to run the wiring.

Answer 3

Very expensive up front but supposed to be worth it in the long run. Just had a report last night on them on the news and it said you can do a shower, a load of wash, and the dishwasher all at one time and never run out of hot water. Takes a huge amount of energy compared to what a tank heater takes but supposed to be really efficient over all. I would say if you can afford to do it, try it and it should be paying for itself within three years. Just be sure you are getting a reputable dealer. Good luck.

Answer 4

We were thinking about tank-less heater, too. But a highly reputable plumber told us it's not perfected yet and not worth the money. Here's a tip when buying a new hot water tank. Have the plumber remove the standard steel heating elements (top and bottom) and install stainless steel ones. It will cost you only the price of the elements, but the upgraded ones won't corrode like the others and will last and last. I had that done with our existing heater 17 years ago and it's still going Strong--knock on wood.

Answer 5

Yes they are worth the money in the long run.They are very popular in europe and in mobile homes tho they are pricey the benifit is that your only heating the water your using now not constantly heating 55 gals of water.So in theory you can take a 3 hour shower and never run out of hot water.Be sure the get a proportioning valve to keep the water at a consistant temp.....

Answer 6

Yes and Yes..You must have a dedicated power sourse of 40-50 amps, but they are expensive. They will give hot water at the same speed as your old heater, because the cold water still needs to be pushed out of the standing lines before the heat comes, and if you don't get a large volume one, you can't do two tasks at the same time, .iei wash clothes and shower, dishwasher and clothes, etc...Hope that helps.

Answer 7

Depending on what state and county you live in will help you decide whether you want a waterless tank. We purchased one for our log cabin and after the county stated what they required for the venting of the thing, and learning of the venting pieces would cost, we decided a traditional water heater was the way to go. The cost was 3 times the cost of the heater itself. We sold the tank-less heater and so the deciding factor I believe will be what the city/county requires of venting it and its cost to ventilate. Good luck.

Answer 8

Excellent way to heat water. I wish I had one. No sense keeping a lot of water hot when you are not using it. This way you heat what you need and thats it. I think they would last even longer than a regular water heater, they are only on when you need them it is not a constant energy drain.

Answer 9

Very reliable and definitely proven technology, used in Europe and Asia for decades. Look at about $1500.00 on initial installation but worth it in the long run. Heard of problems with pressure balanced tub shower faucets in most newer homes if you have an inadequate water flow.

Answer 10

I have heard that these tank-less systems only work well if you are heating water with gas (LP or Natural). They are not very efficient or electrical power. Besides, hot water doesn't need to be heated, they are called "Water Heaters".