Tankless Hot Water

[MarylandMark]

Who has one, how do they like it and so on. Looking at replacing an old hot water heater and know nothing about these.

2400SF 2 story house with no basement with the hot water heater in the middle of the house on the 1st floor (small house with no long runs to faucets) and laundry on 2nd floor if any of that matters. 2 adults, no kids so don't need endless supply.

Buck has a thread with some info but not the questions I'm looking to answer.

Initial cost? Long term savings?

House is electric but thinking of putting a tank in so I can cook with gas and can have that piped to the hot water as well?

 

[BUIZILLA]

we have a gas fired Noritz.... one of the smartest things we have done...

 

[waterboy222]

we have them at our manufacturing plant at each station. I can crank it up to 140* and melt a waterhose. Ill never buy another water heater again, these things are the best.. and it saves so much money on not trying to keep a tank of water hot year round. Especially being that im never home and never do laundry!

 

[Shockwave]

I changed my 60 gal. gas water heater this summer after 3 replacements in the last 5 years .
I installed a Renai R94LS . It has a 200K BTU burner in it so lots of hot water .
I can run 4 showers forever . My gas consumption dropped to almost half in the summer months ( no furnace running ). The down side is my kids don't end their showers when the hot water runs out . So we tend to use more water now .
Years ago we installed a few Bosch units and removed them with in a year because of low flow issues . I think it is very important not to under size the unit you get . I didn't pay for the change . My suppliers wanted me to try one out and see how well they work before recommending them to my customers . I build about 50 homes a year . So far I'm impressed but want to give it a full year before making a decision. They do require once a year service depending on the water in your area .
My house is just over 4000' with 2000' of heated floor .
So far so good .

Paul

 

[MarylandMark]

Just the kind of input I was fishin for!

Thanks!!!

My house is just over 4000' with 2000' of heated floor.

So you use this to heat the floors as well? I'm looking at heated tile in the baths and kitchen but much smaller area- like 600SF on 1st floor and 150SF on 2nd floor. Haven't got to that part yet but thinking some thing like theses http://www.warmyourfloor.com/36suntouch120vmats.aspx I looked at them in my old house but never got around to doing it before I sold the house.

You guys using the Drain-water heat recovery technology as well?

Figured if I'm trying to go green I will do it right the 1st time.

Whole house vs point of use? Think the house is too small to worry about that but while asking the pro's I figured I get all the info I can!

 

[WeaponX]

I have two Renai water heaters in my house and one in the other. Best move you could make. Cheap and hot water forever and the space savings is nice.

 

[Sea-Dated]

When did you get a house. I thought you were trailer bound?......:biggrinjester:

As far as the water heaters, we don't have one but I have a couple friends that do and they love them.....

 

[f311fr1]

When we remodeled our farm house I put in a 500 gallon propane tank to run the tankless water heater, gas grill, and gas logs. Works very well. It takes about 60 seconds to heat up in the shower at the far end of the house. We did have to put in a water softner. We have the hardest water I have ever seen.

 

[Trim'd Up]

I have put them in quite a few houses. When they first came out they were junk. I ended up replacing the first 3 I put in within the 1 year warranty period. The new ones are pretty descent and will definately save you money, just go bigger than you need. The renai is what I have used lately without any problems.

 

[insanity]

From what I've heard, anyone that has one loves it and recommends it.

 

[MarylandMark]

When did you get a house. I thought you were trailer bound?

:sifone:

Working on trying to buy a foreclosure. I've had my eye on since last 3/08 and it just came to market 10 days ago. No wonder these banks need bailouts!!!! You ever wonder what happens to the ones not smart enough to work at the lotto counter at the Quickie Mart? They work at the bank I am trying to buy this house from....

I have an offer in and getting info on how to re-hab her if I get it. Looking at a 203 (k) Rehab loan where I can roll the cost to rehab it in to the loan but work has to be completed within 6 months. Trying to learn now- boating season coming sooner than later (thank God!) and don't want to be tied up doing this when I can be tied up at the pier doing that.

House warming presents accepted- details to follow if I get it...