1. Yes, it's a whole new look! Have questions or need help? Please post your question in the New Forum Questions thread Click the X to the right to dismiss this notice
    Dismiss Notice
  2. Seeing tons of unread posts after the upgrade? See this thread for help. Click the X to the right to dismiss this notice
    Dismiss Notice
It's a new forum! Important Upgrade Note!

Need Advice Tankless "On Demand" Water Heater?

Discussion in 'Homeowners Corner' started by Villager, Mar 6, 2014.

  1. Villager

    Villager Ashburn Village Resident

    Joined:
    Nov 1, 2006
    Messages:
    2,512
    Likes Received:
    19
    We will be replacing our water heater soon and are beginning the research. Does anyone have experience with a tankless (on demand) water heater? I understand they are more expensive than a traditional water heater but supposedly over the life of the tankless model (around 20 years) you save on your gas and water bills. Are they a good investment for someone who plans to live in their current house for the next 10 years or so? Thanks.
     
    Villager, Mar 6, 2014
    #1
  2. Steve Campot

    Steve Campot Broadlands Real Estate Broker

    Joined:
    May 28, 2008
    Messages:
    514
    Likes Received:
    22
    I like the idea but my mom put one in her house. It does not work well at all. The hot water takes a long time to get hot. What she saves in a gas bill she wastes on the water bill. She did choose a more cost effective basic unit.
    Good Luck!
     
    Steve Campot, Mar 6, 2014
    #2
    Villager likes this.
  3. flynnibus

    flynnibus Well-Known Member Forum Staff

    Joined:
    Oct 29, 2002
    Messages:
    5,358
    Likes Received:
    250
    They are energy efficient, they are space efficient... but they aren't really 'better' for the user of the water. They have lag issues... time between water demand and hot water delivery at the faucet. They stand more risk for hard-water problems. There is a thread on it last time the topic came up - http://www.broadlandshoa.org/hoafor...r-heater-replaced-by-modern-mechanical.29017/

    IMHO - not worth something to pay MORE for. You'd have to make a hard ROI pitch on the gas bill to justify it to me... and dealing with lag is bad enough in the houses today.. I wouldn't want it worse.
     
    flynnibus, Mar 6, 2014
    #3
    Villager likes this.
  4. Villager

    Villager Ashburn Village Resident

    Joined:
    Nov 1, 2006
    Messages:
    2,512
    Likes Received:
    19
    Thank you for the feedback so far. The research I've done so far indicates that the lag time depends on where the faucet is. In our case the water heater is in the basement and the master bath is on the second floor, so there's quite a distance between the two. Lag time is a concern I have but I don't know if I'm interested in installing a second water heater near the master bath in addition to the whole house model. Food for thought.
     
    Villager, Mar 7, 2014
    #4
  5. boomertsfx

    boomertsfx Booyakasha!

    Joined:
    Feb 14, 2002
    Messages:
    2,260
    Likes Received:
    34
    I know a few people that have them and love them. I'd love to retrofit my house, but it requires a separate vent and potentially bigger gas line... oh well, maybe my next house =) For lag issues you can install a circulator pump but I'm not sure how much impact that would have on gas usage.
     
    boomertsfx, Mar 7, 2014
    #5
    Villager likes this.
  6. CJA

    CJA New Member

    Joined:
    Jul 30, 2003
    Messages:
    186
    Likes Received:
    3
    For anyone who has replaced their hot water heater with a new one (not tankless) what brand did you go with and what company did you use for the install? Also are you happy with the replacement?
     
    CJA, Apr 1, 2014
    #6

Share This Page