Water Heaters
Water Heaters
Laughing Gas
Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 1,072
Likes: 3
From: tulsa
they can be nice because you are not heating water all the time, but there are atleast two concerns that come to mind. One the flu pipe that vents them is expensve and I belive brand specific. so if you have a long run to vent it can be expensive. Second is that the tankless heaters require alot more gas. a normal tank burn about 35,000 btu a tankless can be from 50,000-300,000 btu depending on size. Depending on BTU load for the entire house you might need to up size the gas pipe in the house especially if you live in an area that has low pressure main line.
CO River Rat
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 3,209
Likes: 0
From: Lake Havasu City AZ
Elder User
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 963
Likes: 1
From: wichita kansas
From the people that I know that have them they seem to work good if you don't have many people or high use appliances trying to run off of them. Then it seems like the hot water isn't able to keep up. I thought about doing it on mine, but when I found out that it needed a increase in gas capacity and flue size I dropped it. I'd have my place checked out by a couple of contractors to make sure that I had enough supply and how much it would cost for the increase in flue size. Remember that you'd need enough supply for when it comes on and the other users of hot water or gas, like the furnace, come on at the same time.
Posting Guru
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 1,471
Likes: 3
From: Greenwood In. USA
Tankless gas fired are more expensive but they only run when you draw hot water. Also most of them are variable flame meaning they only burn as much gas as needed to heat the water for the flow rate any where from 15,000 btu up to 180,000 btu once the flow stops they shut off unlike a tank that might burn for another 30-40 minutes. If you can mount them on an outside wall you can vent thru that wall very simply. And a 20yr service life
Check out Rinnai. America's Leading Tankless Water Heaters: Energy Saving, Forever Hotwater for mor info
Regards
Check out Rinnai. America's Leading Tankless Water Heaters: Energy Saving, Forever Hotwater for mor info
Regards
Trending Topics
Lead Driver
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 7,868
Likes: 9
From: Rhode Island
Do gas fired tankless heaters not keep the water hot when water isn't being used?
We have an oil fired tankless unit, but it still will keep the water that is in it hot at all times.
We have an oil fired tankless unit, but it still will keep the water that is in it hot at all times.
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Posting Guru
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 1,471
Likes: 3
From: Greenwood In. USA
So you are burning oil just to keep stationary water hot, wow
The only downside to instantious water heaters gas or elec is the "cold water sandwich" the water you have to "purge" before you get warm water at the tap. It the same problem with tank style heaters too
The only downside to instantious water heaters gas or elec is the "cold water sandwich" the water you have to "purge" before you get warm water at the tap. It the same problem with tank style heaters too
Lead Driver
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 7,868
Likes: 9
From: Rhode Island
Oil fired tankless heaters are extremely well insulated. Its not uncommon for it to go 6 or more hours before it needs to fire back up for 2 minutes to heat the water back up. But doing that, you don't have to wait for hot water, its pretty much instant.
Laughing Gas
Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 1,072
Likes: 3
From: tulsa
you can put a circulation pump on a tankless hot water heater but the building needs to be plumbed for it so that you have intant hot water. The unit will kick on ever so often to keep the water in the line warm.
Posting Guru
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 1,347
Likes: 0
Bosch also makes some nice units also. I am looking at changing over to one of these systems. Another thing I might look into is solar heated water. You use solar panels to heat water and it is stored in a tank. That can be used to heat the home water system. Big problems there....penetrations in the roof and another tank to deal with. Big benifit..its supposed to be able to heat water even on an overcast rainy type of day, its free energy (once you pay for the system)
