Tankless Water Heater

[ChoochCharlie]

Does anyone use one?

My friend is shopping for one to replace his 80 gallon electric tank water heater. It's 80 gallon because he has it hooked to an off-peak meter. He has gas available so there is the choice of gas or electric.

At Home Depot they carry 2.5 gallon, 4 gallon and like 7 gallons per minute units. The literature says that he needs a 4 gallon or bigger unit.
His house is one bath.

Are the 2.5 gallon units for just a sink?

What else can you tell me about tankless water heaters and choosing the right fuel and size?

[tufhelp]

One observation/gripe with the tank-less water heaters – their price! I guess it is one of those “things” that occur when you are buying something (an appliance in this case) that is supposed to save you money, the manufacturer thinks that since you’ll be saving money, he should get a giant share of that savings instead of just pricing his product(s) at a reasonable price and profit margin. How can these tank-less devices be so expensive? There is nothing to them compared with the materials/work involved in a storage tank water heater, yet they are at least twice to three times the cost. The companies are certainly involved in the manufacturing arena; they are not hand manufacturing these units one at a time. Just one of those questions that never seems to have a viable answer…

[rassd71]

lol, first let me address some of tuff's issues...

The difference in price between the standard storage tank style heater and a tankless heater. There are two big factors, the first of which is supply and demand. They sell a LOT more tank style heaters and that brings the production costs WAY down. Second, the materials used in a tankless heater are a lot higher quality and need to be. They don't run constantly at low demand, instead run in bursts at extremely high demand, that's both water flow and temperature. The one I'm installing in my home runs right about 200,000 btu! But because they only run when needed, they are more effecient.

Ok, now to some of your questions. As for the flow rate, an extremely effecient shower head is 2.5 gpm. So, the small ones could be used, but running anything at the limit of it's ability will shorten it's life. So I would recommend the larger units. Gas is far more effecient than electric.
One word of caution with these units, the quality of the water becomes even more critical. Too much 'stuff' in the water, will kill a tankless heater.

If you have any specific questions, I'll be happy to try and answer them.

[tufhelp]

All points already understood... Still does not justify $600+ for a tank-less water heater. There isn't that much "magic" to them, and as I insinuated (with perhaps to much sarcasm) they aren't making them one at a time, they also are manufacturing them. Decidedly not in the numbers of the tank style, but their price point does not justify the level of effort or "quality" of components. Just carping a bit, I'm so tired of the "make them pay through the nose" mentality and attitude of these so called "specialty" manufacturers who want way too much for their products. For instance, I don't think that anyone could ever convince me that pellet stoves are value priced at $2000+. Soap box being put away (for a while...).

[rassd71]

Hey Tuff,
I actually agree. I went through a plumbing wholesaler and got a GREAT deal on my tankless heater. But even at their cost with a tiny markup, it was a $900 heater, retail was over $1400.

[shadowwalker]

If I remember the electric tankless has to have a dedicated 220 volts to it right?

[ChoochCharlie]

Thanks for the input.
I too agree that they seem overpriced. I also agree with the stated reasons. I'm sure in Europe where these are common, the price is less.

You are right that an electric tankless needs 220V. But so does a tank water heater.

[mistyriver]

We love our Bosch Aquastar. It runs on propane and doesn't need a pilot light. We have the flywheel/spark model.