New Water Heater... Tank or Tankless?

[ndemge]

I've noticed some water in the basement around the AC (next to water heater)
I thought it was my drain hose clogged. Last night, I looked a bit closer, and it's coming from the bottom of my Water heater. Good and rusty bottom too.

It is original to the house... 27 years. Wish they made em like that now!


Any opinions on Tank vrs No Tank?
I'm a bit leary of the tankless, but would like to hear opinions of people that have installed them

Small house, 2 adults 2 kids

So we use a lot of hot water......

 

[Bob in Calif.]

Re: New Water Heater... Tank or Tankless?

A few years ago our water heater went out. I was thinking of installing one of the instant hot water heater set up's. Initially more money but, instant hot water.

Then I thought about it. If we have a substantial earthquake here, (our house is only one mile from the St. Andres earthquake fault ::%), there is a good chance we could be without water for an extended period of time, due to broken pipe's or damage to a pumping distribution system, etc.

With a 30 to 50 gallon water heater, you would of having at least that much of a water storage supply to draw from.

I again went with the standard type of water heater, even though we keep at least a week's worth of water and more than that in food stuff's and gas for our generator's, etc. for earthquake situations .

The difference might be , if you have your own well and generator for emergency conditions. I realize we live in two different type's of environment's, but it's worth a thought.

...Bob in Calif... " The Shakey State"

 

[skibug]

Re: New Water Heater... Tank or Tankless?

First things first. Do you have gas or electric hot water?

If you have gas, the tankless system is very efficeint and will provide you with endless hotwater. But it is very expensive on the upfront costs. The tankless system will save you money in the long term because the system does not require constant reheating of water even though you are not using it. It will only use energy to heat the water when needed. Size the system to your needs and the tankless system is the way to go if you can afford the up front cost.

 

[Bob in Calif.]

Re: New Water Heater... Tank or Tankless?

A few years ago our water heater went out. I was thinking of installing one of the instant hot water heater set up's. Initially more money but, instant hot water.

Then I thought about it. If we have a substantial earthquake here, (our house is only one mile from the St. Andres earthquake fault :%), there is a good chance we could be without water for an extended period of time, due to broken pipe's or damage to a pumping distribution system, etc.

With a 30 to 50 gallon water heater, you would of having at least that much of a water storage supply to draw from.

I again went with the standard type of water heater, even though we keep at least a week's worth of water and more than that in food stuff's and gas for our generator's, etc. for earthquake situations .

The difference might be , if you have your own well and generator for emergency conditions. I realize we live in two different type's of environment's, but it's worth a thought.

...Bob in Calif... " The Shakey State"

 

[rickdb1boat]

Re: New Water Heater... Tank or Tankless?

I just replaced our 15 year old 40 gallon gas water heater with a 50 gallon high efficiency model. Everyone is happy and we have tons of hot water...

 

[mattttt25]

Re: New Water Heater... Tank or Tankless?

shop around and find a 50 gal tank. pretty cheap if you look enough. very easy to install yourself these days, they sell simple kits that pretty much anyone can use.

 

[one more cast]

Re: New Water Heater... Tank or Tankless?

My neighbors went with gas fired tankless a year or so ago and complained about it being real touchy to regulate the shower temp. I don't know if they ever got it straightened out or just got used to it.

 

[SS MAYFLOAT]

Re: New Water Heater... Tank or Tankless?

Hey Noel, you got gas or electric? As a general rule, gas water heaters will fail earlier than electric. So if yours lasted 27 years, I would venture to say that it is electric. If it is gas, good luck on finding one made now that will last that long. I have also heard that regulating the temp is tricky. That is where a tempering type shower valve is needed. Those get pricey as well. Not good to get scalded. Good Luck...............SS

 

[SlowlySinking]

Re: New Water Heater... Tank or Tankless?

Hi ndemge, check this US Department of Energy web site for a cost estimator calculator, it might help you make the decision, good luck, ken

http://www.eere.energy.gov/consumer/your_home/water_heating/index.cfm/mytopic=13010

 

[kengladd]

Re: New Water Heater... Tank or Tankless?

great rebates are avaible on tankless water heaters right now from most city power companies because of there efficency so they are very cost effective . You also do not have to pay to keep water hot in the tank all day when you are not even using it. It is much smaller and does not need venting however, temp fluxuation has been a problem if you under size the unit.

 

[ndemge]

Re: New Water Heater... Tank or Tankless?

Thanks for all the replies.

Bob... Good point on the water storage... We are on a well, and no generator capable of firing it up*yet*

My house is electric.

And reading one review online sold me on going with a TANK system.... They had a tankless, and when you just crack the hot water to get a little hot water, you don't have enough flow to kick on the heater and all you get is cold water.

 

[ST]

Re: New Water Heater... Tank or Tankless?

I like this concept of tankless water heater too; that's most likely I will replace mine with the next time around. As was already mentioned above, it's more efficient than the traditional one; also use less space. I've seen them already at the Home Depot.

 

[ob]

Re: New Water Heater... Tank or Tankless?

If the electric tank water heater you decide on has one of those cheesy plastic dip tubes ,I recommend replacing it with a size matched piece of rigid metal tubing flared on the top end.Those plastic dip tube lips fail in short order and no longer direct incoming water to the tank bottom thus leading to the accumulation of deposits on lower element.

 

[NW Redneck]

Re: New Water Heater... Tank or Tankless?

Tankless heaters are meant for high volume useage. If you're filling one of todays Lake Superior sized soaker tubs or have teens (or a wife!) taking hour-long showers they're perfect. For small ammounts/short durations of hot water, not so good.

Today however, you can get the best of both worlds even if you don't have gas/propane. Using a smaller electric tankless heater in series with a regular residential 30--40 gal HWT gives you the convenience of instant hot water in small ammounts, and the tankless system kicks in as an auxilliary heat source for high demands.

Today's electric tankless heaters are fully modulated so they only use as much power as needed to maintain a set temp. As the water from the storage tank starts to cool, the tankless slowly 'ramps up' in power to compensate for the falling supply temp.

You do need to make sure that your house's electrical service can handle the load. IIRC even the smaller units require a min. 100A service. They are pricey to purchase, but sized/installed properly for the application are very efficient and user-friendly.

BTW, I'm a gasfitter/tech/installer for an HVAC co. so I've seen the good, the bad, and the hideously ugly! Proper sizing and installation are key.

Colin

 

[roscoe]

Re: New Water Heater... Tank or Tankless?

Friend of mine installed tankless a year ago.
When running the water full blast to fill his tub, the water is not hot enough.
He has to turn the water volume down to a little over 1/2 the flow, to get HOT water.

 

[NW Redneck]

Re: New Water Heater... Tank or Tankless?

That was common with tankless heaters until recently. Check out Seisco electric tankless heaters. Fully modulating technology has made a huge difference in perfomance and wider range of applications.

 

[Central FL Mike]

Re: New Water Heater... Tank or Tankless?

I know this is a late reply, but NW Redneck is correct. Last year we installed a Rinnai Continuum tankless water heater and it is awesome. We have natural gas to all appliances. This system takes less time for water warm up at the faucet than our old 40-gallon water heater. It has an electronic keypad so that you can set the water at your desired temperature and forget it. If you like your showers at 100 degrees, just set the temp, turn the handle all the way to hot and you have a steady stream of 100 degree shower water that never ends or fluctuates, even when starting another appliance, flushing the toilet, etc. My primary concern was water volume shortages when using multiple appliances like the clothes washer, dishwasher and taking a shower at the same time. It’s a non-issue. As long as you have a water supply, this thing keeps on heating your water. It also heats to a maximum 140 degrees F to better sterilize clothes; dishes etc. and I have a hot water hose in the front yard. It does wonders for love bugs on your truck in Florida. These systems have really come along in the past 5 years or so. Check out your restaurants and hotels. A lot of them are turning to these tankless systems and they use more water than I could ever dream of. Just my $.02.

 

[puddle jumper]

Re: New Water Heater... Tank or Tankless?

A few years ago our water heater went out. I was thinking of installing one of the instant hot water heater set up's. Initially more money but, instant hot water.

Then I thought about it. If we have a substantial earthquake here, (our house is only one mile from the St. Andres earthquake fault :%), there is a good chance we could be without water for an extended period of time, due to broken pipe's or damage to a pumping distribution system, etc.

With a 30 to 50 gallon water heater, you would of having at least that much of a water storage supply to draw from.

I again went with the standard type of water heater, even though we keep at least a week's worth of water and more than that in food stuff's and gas for our generator's, etc. for earthquake situations .

The difference might be , if you have your own well and generator for emergency conditions. I realize we live in two different type's of environment's, but it's worth a thought.

...Bob in Calif... " The Shakey State"

Ive never gave it a thought about using your hot water tank as a water sorce in the event of an emergancy.We also live in an earthquake zone .

 

[mscher]

Re: New Water Heater... Tank or Tankless?

Most of Europe, which has always had huge energy costs, use tankless water heaters exclusively.

Also, depending on the tankless model energy efficiency rating, Uncle Sam will give you (even though it is already your money :%) a $300 tax credit.

 

[ndemge]

Re: New Water Heater... Tank or Tankless?

Installed the 40 gal unit last month... $209 at HD + $60 in misc fittings and an excuse to buy a new burzomatic with MAP gas and a clicker.

...$25 for a 10' section of 3/4 copper... OUCH
Someone tell china to stop using so much!