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Home Repair Hot Water Heater Replaced by Modern Mechanical

Discussion in 'Homeowners Corner' started by Mr. Linux, Feb 18, 2013.

  1. jjna

    jjna New Member

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    I heard good things about Modern Mechanicals and have been trying to get someone from the company to come to my house to give me estimates on lots of HVAC/water heater work, but so far I haven't heard back.

    No matter how good the company, I kinda hate having to chase companies to give them business. I know this is a high demand area with low supply of good contractors, but this is getting ridiculous!
     
  2. CJA

    CJA New Member

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    Have they come out to give you a quote yet?
     
  3. jjna

    jjna New Member

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    Nope. I called, spoke to a rep (said that most of their service reps were out on the field or something) and also left a detailed message on the website about a range of services I am interested in for two homes. I received a message back stating tentative pricing (to be confirmed in person) and then I sent a response back asking for an appointment and nothing since. It's been two weeks now, I think.

    Apparently if they are too busy for new business, I guess I'll go look for other companies. I am kinda disappointed, because their website was very clear and useful.
     
  4. mitchejs

    mitchejs New Member

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    As President of Modern Mechanical I want to apologize for no one getting back to you. We recently replaced our sales person. Please feel free to email me at smitchell@modernmec.com or call at 571-291-3338 and ask for either Shawn or Pete. As a Broadlands resident, I always enjoy working close to home and I apologize again for the lack of response. I will insure moving forward you will never have this experience.

    Shawn Mitchell
    President and CEO
    Modern Mechanical
    www.modernmec.com
     
  5. jjna

    jjna New Member

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    Thank you for the message -- I'll be in touch shortly.
     
  6. lauralynne

    lauralynne Member

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    This article is over 4 years old, and I understand that tankless heaters have improved since then. However, I still wonder about whether they can supply enough hot water for multiple uses at once, whether they still have inconsistent water temps, and whether regular maintenance on them is still needed. Does anyone know?


    Consumer Reports Magazine issue: October 2008

    Tankless water heaters
    They're efficient but not necessarily economical


    Heating water accounts for up to 30 percent of the average home's energy budget. Some makers of gas-fired tankless water heaters claim their products can cut your energy costs up to half over regular storage heaters. So is it time to switch?

    Probably not. Gas tankless water heaters, which use high-powered burners to quickly heat water as it runs through a heat exchanger, were 22 percent more energy efficient on average than the gas-fired storage-tank models in our tests. That translates into a savings of around $70 to $80 per year, based on 2008 national energy costs. But because they cost much more than storage water heaters, it can take up to 22 years to break even—longer than the 20-year life of many models. Moreover, our online poll of 1,200 readers revealed wide variations in installation costs, energy savings, and satisfaction.

    With the help of an outside lab, we pitted Takagi and Noritz gas-fired tankless water heaters against three storage water heaters. We didn't test electric tankless heaters because many can't deliver hot water fast enough to replace a conventional water heater if ground­water is cold. Even in areas with warm groundwater, most homeowners would need to upgrade their electrical service to power a whole-house tankless model.

    Our tests simulated daily use of 76 to 78 gallons of hot water. That's the equivalent of taking three showers, washing one laun­dry load, running the dishwasher once (six cycles), and turning on the faucet nine times, for a total of 19 draws. While that's considered heavy use compared with the standard Department of Energy test, we think it more accurately represents an average family's habits. We also ran more than 45,000 gallons of very hard water through a tanked model and a Rinnai tankless model to simulate about 11 years of regular use.

    Here's what else we found:

    Water runs hot and cold
    Manufacturers of tankless water heaters are fond of touting their products' ability to provide an endless amount of hot water. But inconsistent water temperatures were a common complaint among our poll respondents. When you turn on the faucet, tankless models feed in some cold water to gauge how big a temperature rise is needed. If there's cool water lingering in your pipes, you'll receive a momentary "cold-water sandwich" between the old and new hot water. And a tankless water heater's burner might not ignite when you try to get just a trickle of hot water for, say, shaving.

    Nor do tankless water heaters deliver hot water instantaneously. It takes time to heat the water to the target temperature, and just like storage water heaters, any cold water in the pipes needs to be pushed out. And tankless models' electric controls mean you'll also lose hot water during a power outage.

    Up-front costs are high
    The tankless water heaters we tested cost $800 to $1,150, compared with $300 to $480 for the regular storage-tank types. Tankless models need electrical outlets for their fan and electronics, upgraded gas pipes, and a new ventilation system. That can bring average installation costs to $1,200, compared with $300 for storage-tank models.

    Tankless units might need more care
    During our long-term testing, an indicator on the tankless model warned of scale buildup. We paid $334 for special valves and a plumber to flush out the water heater with vinegar. Many industry pros recommend that tankless models be serviced once a year by a qualified technician. Calcium buildup can decrease efficiency, restrict water flow, and damage tankless models. Experts suggest installing a water softener if your water hardness is above 11 grains per gallon. Ignoring this advice can shorten your warranty.

    Efficient storage models are pricey
    We also tested the $1,400 Vertex, a high-efficiency storage water heater by A.O. Smith. The manufacturer claims its installation costs are similar to a regular storage model. But its high cost offsets much of the roughly $70 per year the Vertex will save you. Instead, we recommend buying a conventional storage water heater with a 9- or 12-year warranty. In previous tests, we found that those models generally had thicker insulation, bigger burners or larger heating elements, and better corrosion-fighting metal rods called anodes.
     
  7. KTdid

    KTdid Well-Known Member

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    I just had this conversation with a plumber and he said customers frequently complain about requiring annual maintenance on the units due to scale buildup.
     
  8. jjna

    jjna New Member

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    I sent a detailed e-mail back to Zach Turner and copied you.
     

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