Are tankless water heaters worth the money?

Question

Our current hot water heater is 28 years old, believe it or not. We've been shopping around and trying to decide if tankless is the way to go.
Any advice? Recommendations??

Thanks all!☺

Answer 1

My wife and I installed one of these ourselves about 1 year ago. Prior to that we had a High Efficiency HVAC system installed by contractor also. The combination of the 2 cut 12 to 15 % off our gas bill.

Also makes for more room in the laundry room, you can dial in what ever temperature you want the water to be heated to remotely or at the machine, and they are way cool looking!!

Seriously, they are a good investment and great improvement to your home. We installed a BOSCH that we bought at Lowe's for around $1,100.00

Legal;

I have opinions about everything but expertise in nothing, so do not take my word for anything. All answers are for entertainment purposes only. By taking my advice you agree too do so at your own risk and hold me harmless in any criminal or civil action.

Mr. Obvious
Patrick

Answer 2

The price is he big difference between a tank and tankless water heater. Tankless are about 3X -4X as much as a tank water heater. You might save some money because it's not heating the water all the time. But what would the yearly saving be between a tank and tankless water heater. If it's only $20-$50 a year, then it would take almost 10 years to recoup the money for the tankless water heater, even at $100 a year, it would take 5-6 years to recoupe the money. So I would go with a tank water heater, unless you can find a tankless one that is reasonably priced and close to a regular water heater, then go for it.

Answer 3

I worked on them about 18 years ago. I serviced the gas and electric models. I don't how they could operate any differently now. The only way to make the water hotter is to slow down the flow of water so it picks up more heat. Most complained that to get the shower hot enough they then lacked sufficient pressure. Some added a second one in series with the first to get the temp. up and still have good pressure. Also many had to turn on the water heat cycle on their dishwashers. This is a very expensive way to heat water. The new tank type heaters are very well insulated and a blanket is a waste of money. They run an average of 8 minutes an hour when not using hot water. This may vary depending on ambient temprature. I think a lot of people are unhappy with the tankless heaters but wont admit it because of the initial expense.

Answer 4

Getting 28 yers from a standard water is excellant and a little unusual. The tankless heaters can do a great job and save you $$$$ on your fuel bill.
Have a professional plumbing company or HVAC company look at your existing plumbing and venting system. If a tankless system can be installed they will give you the price. Stick with a name brand that includes warranties.
I've seen houses that cannot use the tankless systems due to venting issues.

Answer 5

Cowboy"s right on this one. Tankless water heaters are expensive to buy and expensive to have them installed. And, with most models, they will not work if there's a power outage.

Repairs could be a problem as well. Tankless heaters are much more complicated than regular water heaters, so they are apt to break down more often. Unfortunately, there aren't many technicians out there trained to repair all the various models and parts are not locally stocked as yet.

Efficiency-wise, I'd throw a double blanket on a standard tank-type water heater and call it good. In time, as the tankless become more common, their prices will drop and can be bought when the sticker shock is not so great.

Another negative is that many tankless heaters require installing a larger gas line than had been previously required..........

To sum it all up; more expensive to purchase, more expensive to install, more apt to experience a breakdown, less reliable during power outages, more complicated, more expensive to repair and less likely that a homeowner can repair it themselves..............

Answer 6

I just put a small one in the small rental unit on my property. It cost a lot for the unit, and a whole lot to put in. I like that it is compact, just a small box on the wall. I'm told that they are much more energy efficient because you aren't holding a tank of hot water all the time. My brother says his makes a huge difference in his gas bill. We'll see.

A larger unit, like for the main house, would cost twice as much. And living in a fairly remote area my power is off for at least two weeks a year. The instant hot water heater has an electrically powered lighter, so if I don't have power I wouldn't have hot water. I've set up the house so I can be self sufficient and comfortable with no power so I wouldn't like that.

Answer 7

I don't think as one suggested standard water heaters will be a "thing of the past" at the prices they want for them. Like the flat screen thin T.V.'s, maybe down the line when they get more people buying them the prices will come down.
With Home Depot, figuring for a residential tank less for my house, my wife and I only, installation, all the whistles and bells for $1800.00. I can put in a standard water heater for less then $300.00 that's 60 years of water heaters, I'm 68 years old.
My sister on the other hand is wealthy, she just built a multimillion dollar home and didn't want the fuss, put one in for $2200.00 but can well afford one. So, I don't think a standard water heater will be a "thing of the past" in four or five years, maybe ten or fifteen, when they get reasonable.

Answer 8

I find it amazing that your water heater has lasted 28 years! Tankless water heaters are the way to go. They are very inexpensive to run, they don't store the water like ordinary heaters do, they work on demand. You don't have to worry about them overworking themselves and running up the electric bill, and you don't have to worry about the bottom rotting out and flooding the house.

Answer 9

get a booster tank to go with it. it keeps enough water hot to provide hot water until ther tankless can meet the demand. Otherwise you might be wasting quite a bit of water until you get hot water out of the tap. you can also get pumps that circulate the water through the lines to give almost instant hot water.
The energy and water savings will make up for the initial added expense. also make sure your not running water that is too hard to get the most life out of your system

Answer 10

I've been told by different water heater dealers.......one an A. O. Smith dealer just two weeks ago that in another 4 or 5 years they will be a thing of the past...they don't heat fast enough an cost way to much to operate. if i were you i would get an energy efficient one....with the size compatible to the size of your home......and keep the extra money