is a tankless water heater reliable?

Answer 1

Best solution to a tankless waterheater woudl be to put a small tank water heater inline first and a tankless waterheater after the tank. The reason for this is sediment. If you live in an area with hard water or alot of sediment in your water, then first you will want that out. The tankless waterheater is subject to clogging more readily than a tank waterheater. In a tank waterheater, and sediment will settle to the bottom of the tank. By the time it becomes a problem, the tank is usually ready to be replaced anyway. In the tankless, their is one small diameter copper pipe which snakes around the heater. Any sediment will clog the pipe. If you have a good filteration system on your incoming water, then this is not an issue. As you probably already know, the tankless is the most effiecient you can buy.

Answer 2

Yes.
Tankless water heaters have been in use for more than
20 yrs in Japan, Singapore, Thailand and the Philippines.

Tankless water heaters only heat the water as you use it, which can add up to considerable savings throughout the year. A regular water heater with a tank keeps the water hot 24/7 and is either the biggest user in the electric or gas bill or runs a tight second to the range.

They do not have problems associated with a tank, such as the sacrificial anode wearing out, which is a major problem with today's water heaters.

Their only drawback is the temperature difference of the water coming in and going out. In order to heat the water they slow it down. If the water going in is 50 degrees and you want water at 120 degrees, it will restrict the flow to make the 70 degree difference. Also, you cannot run the dishwasher, clothes washer and take a shower at the same time. A little adjustment in lifestyle is required.

For the environmentally conscious person, a tankless water heater coupled with a solar preheater is more than sufficient for any household. Just like the compact fluorescent light bulbs, tankless water heaters are another big step towards energy independence.

Answer 3

I think they are as reliable as tank water heaters.

The choice is basically based on your situation. Tank heaters don't require as much energy up front to heat the water (you are heating it over a span of hours, not seconds), and a well insulated tank isn't going to require 24/7 heating. Tank heaters also mean that you have a reserve of hot water standing by (you could lose gas/power, and still have 55 gallons of hot water standing there for use (and if you are on your electric company's "last fix" list, that can come in handy)). On the other hand, tank heaters can lose heat, and if the tank drains, can burn out an element.

On Demand water heaters heat only the water you need, but can only heat water at a certain rate (and for an electric, that rate is something like 30 degrees at 2.0 gallons-per-minute). What that means is a tankless heater is only able to heat your water so much so fast (so if your dish-washer kicks on, your shower may run frosty).

It's the difference between having a budget of $140/week and $20/day.

Answer 4

I have had a tankless water heater for over 5 years and never had a problem. the best part about them is you have hot water right away and don't waste any energy in the process, since you only heat what you are using and not the whole tank of 25 gallons or more.

Answer 5

They are reliable however if you have a long travel fro tmhe heater to the faucet it can take some time for hot water to arrive. So if you live in a state that has high water costs it may not be such a great idea...also they are capacity limited so very large houses will need more than one.

Answer 6

From what I have read, they are very reliable.

Most houses have a 55 gal hot water heater. Why pay to heat that 24*7?

I want to switch but so far, the houses I have lived in (3) have never had a hot water heater to die.

Answer 7

They are reliable and have been used for a long time in other countries with little trouble. They will save a lot of $ on gas or electric bills and will give you more space in the basement. They do however have a limit to howmuch flow can go through them at a time.

Answer 8

Yes, but at $1500.00 and a 25 year warranty it's a little pricey for me with the work that would have to be done to accommodate it, another 1500 or more. I'm 68 years old, if I was 25 maybe, but, I would never see it paid for.

My sister put one in her new home for five grand, that's an equivalent to 20 normal ones and 100 years of warranties. I should live so long. I was told down the line when they come down with demand so, hurry up and get one, get your friends to get one, this way maybe I'll be able to afford one soon.

Answer 9

I do not have one but my father-in-law does he likes it . There are diff sizes. Cost was around $400.oo His is propane with electronic pilot with battery back-up. We put one in fire dept to cut down on elec bill it does help. A friend has one with wife and four daughters if more than 3 showers at one time it runs short. supply line in has a lot to do with how much water it will supply

Answer 10

Thanks for a great question.
Thanks for the great answers.

I've been mulling the idea of a switch-out. This question, although not mine, helped me in my consideration of a tankless.