Tankless Water Heater Vs Conventional Water Heaters?
Posted on | December 4, 2009 | 5 Comments
Hello guys,
I do not have a lot of knowledge about water heaters, but for few reasons, I am inclined towards Tankless water heater. I have a small two unit house, and one unit is rented out. I am in the process of installing a water heater for each unit (two in total). Should I go with conventional one, or tankless one? I researched on the internet, however; you know that the manufacturers would always recommend whatever they make.
Also, if tankless is better, would you prefer gas or electric?
Will appreciate your answer.
Thanks.
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5 Responses to “Tankless Water Heater Vs Conventional Water Heaters?”
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December 4th, 2009 @ 2:16 pm
It is going to cost a lot of money to install TWO tankless water heaters. First, the cost to purchase a tankless water heater is about double the cost of a standard water heater. There are some tax credits in place to help with the huge premium that you will pay, but you still have to have the funds to pay for the things and then wait to get the credit on your tax return. Second, the installation costs are also significantly higher for the tankless variety. Some people also have to upgrade their electrical. You’ll likely want a good estimate of the installation costs before you make this decision. I know I am making a huge assumption — that you are price sensitive. If money is no object then you may want to go with the tankless variety, although they do have some performance drawbacks if you use a lot of water. I found that plumbers recommend the tankless variety, but then they stand to earn a lot more on the installation so who knows if that is a reliable source. As the other comment mentioned, Consumer Reports does not believe that the advantages of the tankless varieties outweigh the huge costs. For more details on how to compare see the attached article.
December 4th, 2009 @ 12:49 pm
Gas or electric probably won’t matter too much. The question is getting the gas or 220 vac to the point of use. Tankless heaters are usually mounted near where they are used as it would take less water & power to heat the water up. Whole-house heaters are available but depending upon the size, you may have to upgrade to a 300 amp service to your home. Some require 2 each 50/60 amp breakers for the heating elements. One model needs three 60 amp breakers.
Tankless heaters are much more expensive. Make sure you get one that can heat up the water enough as it is being used. A low capacity heater may not heat up the water fast enough as you fill up the bathtub.
Some tankless heaters won’t turn on if the water flow is too low. Low flow shower heads may not have enough flow to close the contacts that turn on the heater. (User report). They had to turn on another hot water faucet to get the flow high enough.
Tankless heaters do not heat water to 120ºF. They heat the water to about XXºF above the incoming water temp (depending upon model). So, it your incoming water is 60ºF, you’ll get 60ºF+XXºF hot water. So, check the heater ratings and capacities. Especially noticeable in winter climates.
I would like to try a tankless unit for my 2.5 bath home, but the cost of installation puts it out of reach. I don’t have any gas. I don’t have the electric power to the baths to run the things. 20 amp power only gives me 2400 watts of heating power. Too low for a tub. 30amps at 220 volts would work much better.
December 4th, 2009 @ 9:10 pm
Consumer reports (Oct 2008) has suggested that tankless water heaters may not be a good choice due to their high initial cost and need for yearly servicing. The temperature of the heated water is less consistent than from a conventional water heater and although tankless is more efficient it may take 20 years to break even on costs especially considering the cost of the yearly servicing (flush cleaning with vinegar to remove internal scale). If you do go tankless the gas version is probably more practical than the electric due to the massive electrical amperage requirements.
December 5th, 2009 @ 12:59 am
As an electrician, I would go with a gas tankless, myself. Electrical heat is very ineffecient. With a tankless water heater, the advantage is that you are only heating the water when you actually want it to be hot. Conventional water heaters store a large amount of water at a specific temperature. Therefore, heting water evn when it does not need to be hot, and you can run out of hot water.
December 5th, 2009 @ 5:48 am
Most of my friends are now using tankless water heaters. They said that it is not energy consuming and very effective and reliable.
you can find more information about it here http://tanklesswaterheatertoday.com/