Anyone using a tankless water heater???

[BK Meyers]

We're having some work done on our house and part of that is moving the water heater inside into the laundry room (it is currently in the garage).

A friend suggested a tankless water heater. Would definitely take up less space.

Anyone using one??

BK

[rustynuts]

Great question, since I'm in exactly the same situation except mine is in the kitchen now. Awaiting replies.

[Dustin]

I have been wanting one so my wife will stop using all the hot water.

[ssracer]

Mine is also in the garage and I've thought about relocating it back to inside with a tankless. Interested to hear opinions

[Niceguy]

My mom's husband used to install them. He said they were definitely badass when I was asking about them, but I have no personal experience. I probably will when time comes for a new water heater though.

[Robert Paulson]

We have a very small electric one at the factory. It works well.

[BK Meyers]

My mom's husband used to install them. He said they were definitely badass when I was asking about them, but I have no personal experience. I probably will when time comes for a new water heater though.

If you happen to talk to him could you ask about brands he preferred or recommended??

Unit would be going in a bi-level home. 2 adults, no children.

BK

[nemo]

I need to face that dilemma SOON! My water heater is 23 years old. I would love to go tankless to regain the floor space.

[Livewire]

I looked into the propane ones a while back. I couldn't use one because it required a dedicated vent for the exhaust and couldn't be tied to the existing line for my furnace. I wasn't willing to put another vent through the ceiling so I nixed it.

I installed a small electric one at work under a kitchen sink and it wasn't that great. The water never really got warm it only knocked the chill off. The unit could have been undersized but it's what the rep recommended.

[86 slo-vo]

Haven't heard much good about them. Everyone I've came upon the owner has been pretty dissatisfied especially if they switched from a standard water heater.

[BK Meyers]

Check out a couple at Lowes just now. Looks like to install one will require a possible upgrade to our existing wiring/fuse panel due to current draw. Looks like without the proper current draw the unit will underperform as stated above. Will try to talk to an electrician and see what all is involved.

BK

[JustShootIt]

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[Wyldman]

Sportsman's Guide has them on sale in different sizes/capacities from time to time.

[jackalo626]

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You don't say?

[Niceguy]

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You don't say?

If nothing else, he gets to the point. haha

[Gunsmokin]

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Direct and to the point.

[guncrank1]

My buddy has one , let me ask him

[Rext]

The problem with tankless water heaters is that you have to restrict the flow somewhat to be able to heat the water to the desired temp. Also the temperature rise and temperature fall is relevant to the flow. So just like with the tank type heater, you have to heat the water from say 50 degrees to 130 or more in the winter. Less in the summer. This means the tankless heater has the same amount of time with the same flow all year to achieve the same result. It might be great in the summer but not so great in the colder months because of the temperature rise. So now you have to think about flow/usage. Most of the heaters wont support multiple showers at the same time. Or washer,dishwasher,whatever? That's why they say a certain temp rise at a certain degree with so many GPM use. Its a delicate balance in most cases. Most of the time you use multiple heaters, not necessarily one to accommodate the flow/demand for hot water. They are usually pretty expensive and require their own vent and gas lines. Electric tankless water heaters use a shitload of power and some houses might not have enough amperage to run one. The small ones under the sink that operate just that opening have flow restrictors on the faucet usually cutting the water flow in half to give it time to heat. They can work for some people but not for most. They are generally found in Europe and Japan. I personally don't think you can beat the good old tank type heaters that hold a reserve of hot water. But, some may be happy with the tankless heaters,many are. You will get on average 10-12 years out of a tank type heater. I always think about replacement parts too. The tank type parts can usually be found anywhere. The tankless type you will have to order which means you will be without hot water at some point.
Some of you know I am a plumber as my "day job". We don't usually do many installations of tankless heaters although to be fair we primarily do commercial plumbing. But we have installed a few tankless heaters in restaurants before,some in houses. Hope this helps but do your own research.

[ssracer]

My biggest problem with a tank heater is whoever remodeled my house decades ago. They added an attached garage that has no direct access to the house and no insulation and then ran the water lines through the attic and put the water heater in the garage. Every issue I've had with the cold has been related to this. I've get everything wrapped, but it would be really nice to be able to go tankless and just mount a box on the wall by the furnace (where the water lines are and I'm guessing the water heater used to be) and eliminate all that.

[Rem700]

My biggest problem with a tank heater is whoever remodeled my house decades ago. They added an attached garage that has no direct access to the house and no insulation and then ran the water lines through the attic and put the water heater in the garage. Every issue I've had with the cold has been related to this. I've get everything wrapped, but it would be really nice to be able to go tankless and just mount a box on the wall by the furnace (where the water lines are and I'm guessing the water heater used to be) and eliminate all that.

Why not just move your water heater back inside?

[ssracer]

My biggest problem with a tank heater is whoever remodeled my house decades ago. They added an attached garage that has no direct access to the house and no insulation and then ran the water lines through the attic and put the water heater in the garage. Every issue I've had with the cold has been related to this. I've get everything wrapped, but it would be really nice to be able to go tankless and just mount a box on the wall by the furnace (where the water lines are and I'm guessing the water heater used to be) and eliminate all that.

Why not just move your water heater back inside?

There's not a place for it. I'm guessing there used to be a closet that contained the water heater and washer/dryer. They are now out in the open in the kitchen so the only option would be to have the water heater sitting out in the open or lose space and box it all back in.

[rustynuts]

My biggest problem with a tank heater is whoever remodeled my house decades ago. They added an attached garage that has no direct access to the house and no insulation and then ran the water lines through the attic and put the water heater in the garage. Every issue I've had with the cold has been related to this. I've get everything wrapped, but it would be really nice to be able to go tankless and just mount a box on the wall by the furnace (where the water lines are and I'm guessing the water heater used to be) and eliminate all that.

Why not just move your water heater back inside?

There's not a place for it. I'm guessing there used to be a closet that contained the water heater and washer/dryer. They are now out in the open in the kitchen so the only option would be to have the water heater sitting out in the open or lose space and box it all back in.

Given the poor performance of the tankless, I think I'm just going to box mine in, sort of a large broom closet open at the top for ventilation.