Tankless Water Heater or Standard

[suttree]

I am going to redo the utility room and replace the 65 gallon electric heater that is about 15 years old. Space is not a huge factor, but obviously we'd rather have that space than a massive tank, if a tankless is a better route.

I was also thinking about putting in a water softener, and wondered if they are compatibile.

I have heard tankless messes up your pipes; mine are 100% copper.

Many thanks.

 

[El_Guapo]

Sorry, man. I'm not intentionally following you around this afternoon but this post interests me.

We just closed on a house that has a water softener. I don't have the slightest idea what I'm supposed to do to maintain it. I'll probably take it out, since I've been in Austin 25 years and never once said to myself "dang I wish this water was softer".

You want it?

 

[suttree]

No, dude, you need to keep it. All you do is put in rock salt you can buy at Sam's cheap. It makes a huge difference in keeping soap scum off your appliances, and is a big deal with the chicks on keeping their skin soft or some such ****. I think beyond changing the salt out it is pretty maintenance free. Nick or BigWill would probably know.

Ironically, I am only midly worried about going the tankless route despite all the class actions on them ruining pipes, becuase I heard at an ATLA meeting that most of those cases are BS (and that the lawyers who took them lost their asses).

Between my wife and I we wipe out a 65 gallon tank, so we need more. To say nothing of my son's ridiculous baths in the master tub, which is huge.

 

[Campus Loop(y)]

Anybody I know w/ a tankless loves it.

Keep the water softener. When I build my next home, it will have a softening system. It is worth it when you have one and will wonder why you did not have it before. Same w/ a purifier.

 

[BattleshipTexas]

The Good: It nevers runs out, you can't take an infinity for your shower.

The Bad: If you are using hot water for two things at the same time, e.g. shower and washing machine, both get luke warm water. A regular heater just runs out quicker when two things are going, the hot is always hot until it runs out and you get cold.

 

[Joey Jo Jo]

if you ever do a belly flop off a high dive in your pool you will wish you had installed a water softener...

 

[suttree]

Bosch makes a tankless that can output to two devices at the same time. I think I am going to go tankless. If it rots my pipes I will sue you for punitive damages you are giving me.

 

[98HornGirl]

Check the specs of the tankless re: venting. We were going to replace our tank w/ a 2-zone tankless (so we wouldn't have to worry about simultaneously showering & washing clothes, dishes, etc.) but it required a minimum 3" vent pipe (our current vents are 2"). Would've been pretty price to install.

If we build we'll look ver closely at a tankless system.

 

[ldogg53]

from my understanding, the cost does not justify the units, however you may not be concerned with that..

my suggestion would be to keep the water heater you currently have and try adding a tankless in the attic over your master bath... then you've got a hot water supply for appliances and any guest baths etc... and your own dedicated hot water source for your bathroom...

 

[hullabelew]

As mentioned above, the venting is the main problem with replacing a tank system with the tank. My brother bought a house with a tankless system that is installed outside. He is fairly happy with it although, as also mentioned above, he says he doesn't see the $$ savings. It also takes a while for the upstairs bathrooms to get the hot water.

 

[hablue65]

I built a new house 18 mos. ago. I installed a Rinnai Tankless water heater. I have not been disappointed. I can run upto 3 water supplies at the same time and not lose the temperature of my water. The pressure drops but the temp stays the same.

To replace and existing water heater you will need to install a larger vent than a conventional water heater. It also takes a 3/4" gas supply. Most water heater require 1/2" gas supply. Rinnai only makes this heater in gas. When I was doing the research for my new home I was told by several supply companies and plumbers if you go with a tankless be sure it is gas. No one reccommended electric.
The Link go to this link to get more info.

Also if one doesn't give you the amount of water you need you can manifold 2 or more together to provide the amount of hot water you need. Keep in mind these things are not cheap. I paid about $1300 for the one I have. The cost will be offset in gas bills over a 2-3 year period. This water heater has electronic ignition, there is no pilot. It only uses gas when a hat water valve has been turned on. It also has a flow switch to insure if you have a leaky faucet you are not heating water. Don't get me wrong when in use it uses lots of gas. But I'm not heating over and over like a tank does.

The amount of hot water is based on the temperature of the supply. If you supply comes in at 80 F. and you want 120 F water you will get 8.5 gpm. Most faucets, shower heads etc...only use 2.5 gpm. Therefore 3 devices can be used at a time. Call your water supply company they should be able to tell you the temp. of the water supply summer and winter. On the website above there is a chart to determine the gpm to expect based on the supply temp, the desired water temp and the offset of the 2. In my case the offset was 40 F. in the winter.

Hope this helps in your decision. It is not a cheaper option at first but in the long run efficiency will offset that original cost.

 

[horn4life]

Pretty good summary of pros and cons on this thread. i too understand electic is NOT the way to go, unless you are only going to use the unit as a "booster."

though in my case installing one would probably RAISE my gas bill, as sometimes the only thing that gets my girls out of the shower is the fact the water gradually cools down....

I have considered putting in an under counter unit in my kitchen when we finally remodel. It's a long run from the hot water heater and booster unit might be just the ticket. However I don't expect that I would really see any cost savings as much as have just hot water more quickly.

If I were building new I would probably seriously look as a combination of solar and tankless. While much more expensive initially probably the most efficient in the long haul.

 

[Orangeblood]

We put in a Takagi TK-2 when we added on to our house. Otherwise we were going to have to add a 100 gallon hot water heater for our "tub" in the new master bath (thing is as big as a hot tub). Several months after installation, the main heater for the house went bad and we hooked the whole house up to the tankless. Output is strong for a shower with three body sprays going at the same time and no heat or pressure loss. Or a shower and the dishwasher.

The Rinnai wasn't available when we bought, but I don't ever plan to buy anything but a tankless in the future.