Tankless Hot Water Heater

**GirlBoyGirl** · 07-17-2011, 01:30 PM

Does anyone have one? Do you notice a decrease in your utility bill? I did a search of the forum and found some old threads from 2008 when I am guessing these things first came about and the cost of one new was close to $2,000!! But now you can get them for $300ish (or more for fancy ones, I am still researching this all)!! Our electric bill is enormous so I think a tankless hot water heater could really help us... Any advice? If we buy one ourselves, how do we know we are buying the right one for our house?

**frugalfranny** · 07-17-2011, 04:28 PM

Not sure where the thread is......I asked about this awhile back...........it is the WIRING that "usually" needs to be changed in your house ....and possible other changes that cost the $.

The tank itself isn't bad...........but you don't just pick one up and 'install' it like a regular water heater.

I researched it over a year ago and it didn't take long to veto it..........if I find the threads will come back to post them.

This might give you some help.........

Tankless Water Heater Buying Guide

**Debbie-cat** · 07-17-2011, 05:12 PM

I had a friend who had one but they had it installed professionally and rented the unit from the gas company and it was added to their gas bill. Sorry I am not sure if it was worth it to them or not.

**GirlBoyGirl** · 07-17-2011, 10:11 PM

Thank you both!

**TigerGirl1226** · 07-17-2011, 10:35 PM

We looked into it last fall when our waterheater needed replacing. It didn't make sense for us because our electric panel was maxed out and we would have to add a small panel to our system in addition to the cost of the unit itself and installation.

For us to change out our 55 gallon, gas, traditional water heater, change the pan (the previous one was rusted out), and do some updates required by code here ran us $1200. Our water heater is in our attic so installation might have been pricier than what you are looking at.

Whatever you do, get multiple quotes!

**mndtrp** · 07-19-2011, 07:18 PM

My coworker had one, he loved it. Not much more to add, though, as I haven't priced one out recently.

**GirlBoyGirl** · 07-21-2011, 10:49 PM

Thanks a bunch!

**Judi Dial** · 07-22-2011, 12:20 AM

We have one. The propane had to be redone because of the volume of gas req'd to heat the water that fast. Also the ducting. The unit cost us about $1,000.00 if I remember correctly and another $800.00 to put it in. A replacement water heater for us (conventional) was going to cost $1,000.00 no mater what. (We have a crawlspace, requires extra short water heater and power exhaust (both expensive!). Also, our basement floods about every 3-5 years, and that frequently made a service on the water heater necessary.

Downsides:

Before the we got the fancy whole house water filter, we had to flush it about 3 times a year. Not now. (We have a LOT of maganese in our well water.)

Getting the proper pressure to keep the water hot upstairs in the shower requires running a dribble of hot water in the sink. We have low-flow shower heads, that's a problem.

It whistles, which is obnoxious if you're outside.

Upsides: No more losing our hot water in the spring (when the basement floods). Uses less propane. Makes the house more saleable, as it's more eco-friendly. AND no more service calls because the basement flooded the water heater!

Like all major systems, it has it up and downsides. We've had it so long now that I can't tell you what the difference in propane use was anymore. The sink dribble thing is a pain, but you get used to it.

Gotchas, or nearly gotchas:

Get a controller if they offer one. There is nothing more frustrating than having the thing quit and having no idea wtf is wrong. We did get a controller and have a copy of the manual around too. Usually, whatever is wrong can be fixed by hitting the reset switch. No reason for a service call. Paid for itself many times over.

We got estimates beforehand. One plumber wanted $2,000.00 to install it. Maybe he was right, he knew more than our propane company folk did and if he'd done it, it wouldn't whistle, or maybe we wouldn't have to dribble the hot water in the bathroom, but the $1,200.00 difference between the two prices was just too much.

Find out about the pressure thing beforehand. On demand water heaters have to have so much water pressure to work well, we have either a low flow shower or a variable flow shower (don't remember) and it keeps wanting to turn off the hot water without the hot water on in the sink.

Consider getting a whole house water filter first if you have a lot of particulate in the water. The particulate in our water gums up the water heater. It's not hard to clean, but we have about 4'6" clearance in the basement and that makes it hard for DH at 6'+ to do it comfortably.

Judi

**mndtrp** · 07-22-2011, 04:03 PM

Electric versions are available now, which could potentially eliminate the high cost for new ductwork.

Check your average ground temp, too. Tankless water heaters can only heat the water so many degrees in the time it has. If the water temp coming into your house is really low, your water may not get hot enough to do anything useful.