Tankless Gas Water Heater?
Is it worth to change an old water heater for a tankless water heater? If I have a triplex, where would be the most efficient location for the tankless water heater? Is it really cheaper than keeping all year around the tank full of gallons of warm water, even if I am away for the…
Is it worth to change an old water heater for a tankless water heater? If I have a triplex, where would be the most efficient location for the tankless water heater? Is it really cheaper than keeping all year around the tank full of gallons of warm water, even if I am away for the weekend or if I decide not to shower that day? Any personal experience?
$200 a month for water?
I pay $200-$250 in the dead of winter for a modcon boiler with tank and no I don’t like sweaters.
Off season I pay $35-40 month for hot water and cooking. Two people, 2000sft plus full basement.
Don’t you guys have separate meters for your tenants’ non-heat gas usage??
“I disagree regarding the cost, for a large family, you will need a 75-100 gallon hot water heater to give you ample water at any given time, this will run you upwards of $200 per month even with no use, more dollars with lots of use.
BULLSHIT…I have an 80 gallon tank for a two family (essentially 4 people) and i don’t pay anywhere close to $100 per month for the gas to run that
>I disagree regarding the cost, for a large family, you will need a 75-100 gallon hot water heater to give you ample water at any given time, this will run you upwards of $200 per month even with no use, more dollars with lots of use
I can show you my bill. 65 gal hi-recovery tank, 4 adults and an infant. So far no one has complained. But I do agree that if we were more typical, profligate water users w/o lo-flow showers and front-load washers, there may be a problem.
Other issues with rf’s post: CO spillage is a chimera. Installation anywhere in typical brownstone is impossible due to venting and cost of gas lines. How often are you away from home and enjoying that savings?..if you’re really away for a month, turn off the pilot.
I’ll take the tankless any day over the tank. I have used both for years, for large families, a group of singls and small households.
Regarding the tankless:
They are virtually maintenance free.
You never run out of hot water. You can take shower after shower all day long.
You use no gas when you are away.
They take up very little space.
They hang on the wall. Can be tucked in a closet, in an apartment, above ground.
No worries about carbon monoxide or spillage with a direct vent, sealed combustion unit.
No worries about overloading the chimney when you have several units.
With all units you can run one appliance all day long, with more efficient units you can run several appliances at once.
I would recommend the Rinnai 2532 (23-5/8″ tall x 14″ wide x 9″ deep)
I disagree regarding the cost, for a large family, you will need a 75-100 gallon hot water heater to give you ample water at any given time, this will run you upwards of $200 per month even with no use, more dollars with lots of use.
For a family of two you will still need a 30-40 gallon hot water heater. After running the shower for 10-12 minutes, you need to wait for the tank to re-heat this takes time and adds to the cost.
For a group of singles, a 30 gallon water heater will give you 1 at most 2 showers.
The instantaneous is simply the all around better choice.
Good luck,
Heat pump w/h are a brand new technology, so maintenance (and they will need maintenance, they are basically air conditioners where the hot air rejection heats the water) may be difficult, expensive or both. They produce cold air out, so I might be able to a/c my basement office for free, though!
Here’s the math: a 2-fam with 4 adults like my place uses $60-$80 for w/heating with a conventional 60% eff. w/h. If you get a ultra-hi-eff model at 90+% it’s $1000+ more for capital, vent and an electrical line. You save roughly $25/mo. Similar with a tankless, but add the cost of new gas line. For heatpump, the w/h alone costs $1600, and it needs a drain.
Note that cost comparisons always compare to electrical w/hs which shows up as much better than comparison to gas.
Assuming that a conventional tank is a lot cheaper than a tankless, can anybody share their experience with other water heaters.
I know everybody says gas is better than electric, but how about a Heat Pump Water Heater? Have you heard of GE Appliances 50 Gal. Heat Pump Electric Hot Water Heater? I am very open to anything that will make me save money.
Depends upon usage. Does “an average two families” mean a few kids??? You’ll be running that thing a lot with kids, with baths, showers, laundry and the conventional tank will be a lot cheaper.
I just read M Plvumber’s article. Very interesting. But I still have one more simple question.
What will be cheaper at the end of the year? Let’s say an average two families. Am I going to pay more with tankless water heater or with a conventional tank water heater? Anybody has any experience? I am interested in installing something that will be more efficient and I will end paying less at the end of the year to the gas company. Thanks!