Tankless Water Heaters

Archive for September, 2009

is it time to get a new one, even duo this one works fine. I’m worried because of its age that it not energy efficient.
Also if i do replace it, should i replace it with with a a electric tankless water heater, or should i replace it with a new gas r electric water ??heater?

Check with your local Electric supplier. They have units that run on off peak low rates and are almost free after the kickbacks they give you.

I went that route with an 80 gallon on off peak and have never ran out of hot water, even with a house full of company.

You would buy the unit right from the Electric company.

Just call them and ask about it.

It is way cheaper than natural gas or propane.

Good luck.

For a family of three in a house in Pittsburgh. We are being quoted $3000-$4000, but the units themselves seem to be about $1000. Are the installation costs really that high?
By the way. We are considering a gas unit to replace an existing tank gas unit. The contractor said our existing 1in. gas lines should be OK, but the current venting would be inadequate. The unit would go next to an exterior wall so all that would be needed would be to punch a hole and add the venting.
John,

I’m not opposed to spending that much if that is what it costs, I just want to make sure that they are not overcharging. Our existing 16 year old tank heater developed a leak this morning. We called a plumber and the leak is under control for now, but we need a new unit within the next few days. We got the quote from the plumber we called about the leak. My main concern is that we need to make a decision quickly and don’t have the time to go out and get a bunch of quotes first.

i was just checking on the possibility of installing a tankless at my house. i don’t have gas service so i was restricted to electric. i found that i would have to put new wiring to my panel. it’s not the case for me but you may also have to upgrade your panel and service to 200 amp min. so $3000-4000 to install a large electric tankless is probably about right if your existing panel and service are inadequate. if your quote is for a gas unit installed where your existing gas fired tank unit is already installed the big cost would have to be in upgrading your vent

i am having trouble deciding which is better. tankless water heaters are turned on only when i need hot water, but solar heating preheats the water with solar energy. I know there is no heat loss for the tankless and it saves more space.

They are both efficient. The problem with solar as mentioned is that they are subject to the availability of sunlight. I believe that ambient temperature has an effect on efficiency, that is, in the winter the water won’t be as warm as in the summer.

Tank-less is more reliable. But you have to get one that can heat the volume of water you expect to use.

A solar + tank-less will be okay for long duration water use (like showers, laundry). It takes time for the warmed solar water to get to the point of use. If you’re just washing your hands, you’ll use the tank-less and none of the solar water. I don’t believe any homes are plumbed for two water systems (solar and other).

Using a circulating pump with a solar system may help its efficiency but it costs a few dollars a month to run.

Check this site:
http://www.tanklesswaterheaterguide.com/
If I had the bucks, I would put tank-less systems at each fixture.