Anyone have an electric Tankless Water Heater? (Falls Church: rental, townhouse)

[leighland]

Thinking of installing one in my Townhouse
Pros Cons Recs?
Thanks!

[Bigfoot424]

No clue myself but Google showed this.......Tankless water heaters produce an endless supply of hot water, take up less space, have a lower risk of leaking, are safer, and have a significantly longer lifespan on average. The main disadvantage of tankless water heaters is their upfront cost (unit and installation) is significantly higher than tank-style heaters.

[leighland]

Originally Posted by Bigfoot424

No clue myself but Google showed this.......Tankless water heaters produce an endless supply of hot water, take up less space, have a lower risk of leaking, are safer, and have a significantly longer lifespan on average. The main disadvantage of tankless water heaters is their upfront cost (unit and installation) is significantly higher than tank-style heaters.

Indeed! This old house has a nice video on electric tankless.

[url]https://www.thisoldhouse.com/electrical/21016242/best-uses-for-an-electric-tankless-water-heater[/url]


I saw some reviews for Tankless Concepts in Falls Church. Looks good so Im calling them this week. Will update when done!

[ersatz]

Does Anyone have a tankless water heater?

I do. Last year, I replaced my elderly water heater tank with a tankless version.

The tankless version does take up significantly less room. I have a bunch of hot water on demand. And, my gas bills have dropped significantly.

On the other hand ... I had to pay a more lot replacement costs for tankless heater than a tank version. I used to get hot water within a minute or two of turning the hot water tap. Getting hot water now takes several minutes more of running water to crank up to speed. And, though the advertisers don't tell you about this, the tankless water heater requires a lot more service checks/maintenance, which costs more money.

If I had to sum it all up, I would say it's close to a wash, except the tankless version costs slightly more money overall.

[oneasterisk]

When I used to have a gas water heater in a gas heated home, the gas bill in the summer months were maybe $20. It's almost like the pilot light was enough to keep the water up to temp.

I've read that getting hot water does take a bit longer in a tankless setup. Is the cost savings negated by having to use more water?

[ersatz]

Originally Posted by oneasterisk

When I used to have a gas water heater in a gas heated home, the gas bill in the summer months were maybe $20. It's almost like the pilot light was enough to keep the water up to temp.

I've read that getting hot water does take a bit longer in a tankless setup. Is the cost savings negated by having to use more water?

I would have to establish a spreadsheet to calculate the upfront costs of tankless vs tank, and the maintenance visits, and the gas consumption drop, and the increased water costs (not THAT bad). It would be kind of a guesstimate, and, anyway, I am too lazy to bother. If I go on travel, I am not paying to heat a water tank that I am not using.

My impression is that going tankless vs a replacement tank is slightly more expensive over the years but not hugely so.

I like having the extra space in my utility closet and not running out of hot water when running a lovely full bathtub when I long to soak and enjoy myself.

[oneasterisk]

At the last house, the previous owners must have liked to take long baths too. It was a 3 bedroom house with 2 baths, but a 96 gallon hot water tank.

Unless the cost go down, I think I'd stick to a conventional hot water tank.

[ocoilslick]

It is well known that a gas (Nat gas or propane) tank heater is the most efficient way to heat water for residential use. Next most efficient is an electric tank water heater. The tankless heaters are notoriously inefficient. If it for a vacation house or rental it might be a reasonable idea.

[leighland]

Thanks everyone!

[leighland]

In my TH which is electric only, we decided just to do a boring 50 gal tank in a closet I dont use (I currently have a 38 gal tank under the stairs). They will do copper pipes and cut off 15 feet of hot water travel so hopes water will get upstairs much faster. Tankless just sounded like an expensive PITA. If i was back in San Diego tankless sounds like a better deal. I have Longs Corp (women owned!) doing the work. I used them before for new pipes and they did an excellent job.
Thanks all