Water Heater vs. Tankless - Page 2

Diamonds22 · ‎03-09-2010

@World Traveler wrote:
Thanks for the feedback.

The choices I have been looking at are either electric, gas, or electric/gas, which makes more sense to use. Purely electric would mean I would have no hot water if the electricity went out, so that doesn't seem wise.

I did ask one of the salesmen about whether or not they could be put them in the same place as the water heaters, which were both inside, and I was told they could be inside, as long as there is ventilation, and of course there is because of the old water heaters. Many people, evidently, have them outside.

I found all sorts of pricing, with the electric/gas being the most expensive, which makes sense. However, I am having a hard time knowing which size to get because from what I have read, you base it on how many gallons were MINUTE OF HOT WATER you want. Well, I have no idea. I just know that I spend X-amount of minutes in the shower and I have all the hot water I need/want; but how many gallons I have actually used, I have no idea.

Same with the washing machine and dishwasher. I have no idea how many gallons I am using.

Probably need to talk with a contractor rather than the salesman, who assures me their best and most expensive is the way to go.

You are right about an electric one. My girlfriend has an electric tankless one & everytime the power goes out she has no hot water. We have had power to go out for days & when that happens she wished she had not got a tankless let alone an electric one.

patbz · ‎03-10-2010

We are about to replace our 40 gal gas heater ( 16 yr old) and the upfront costs of a tankless model didn't make it a cost effective purchase. We will be buying a 50 gal gas water heater next month.

Meowingkitty · ‎06-19-2010

We talked to a vendor at a home show yesterday and we decided against it. First of all you have to have a whole house water softener that uses salt installed, then they are expensive and only last about 10 years or so. You have to have yearly maintenance on the thing plus the water softener will void any warranty you have on the water heater. This is for an electric one that would be installed in a garage.

Meowingkitty · ‎06-19-2010

@Icegoddess wrote:
Last I heard, they did not make electric ones.

They do now.

Desertdi · ‎03-13-2010

@Meowingkitty wrote:
We talked to a vendor at a home show yesterday and we decided against it. First of all you have to have a whole house water softener that uses salt installed, then they are expensive and only last about 10 years or so. You have to have yearly maintenance on the thing plus the water softener will void any warranty you have on the water heater. This is for an electric one that would be installed in a garage.

@Meowingkitty Thanks for the "heads up"........my hot water tank is about 19 years old......and I KNOW it's gonna be the next thing to go. Old house, and I'm not going to put in anything "new-fangled".......... di

♥Surface of the Sun♥

LdyBugz · ‎03-10-2010

@Diamonds22 @World Traveler

The water heater I just replaced and the new one just installed both have electronic ignitions. So even though they are gas models, they still need electricity to ignite. If you loose power, a gas water heater will not work. 😕

kaydee50 · ‎02-07-2011

This is a very interesting discussion. Thanks to the OP!

We are in the process of buying a house that will be a second home. Currently, it has a regular water heater. Our concern is if we are away from the house for a few months, the water heater may "leak." In a previous home, the water heater did leak and flooded the garage. Fortunately, we were home.

I would think a tankless heater would avoid this problem. But you posters brought up issues I hadn't thought of. Thanks!

Lucky Charm · ‎03-09-2010

We had one installed in a new house 3 years ago and I have no qualms about it.

We need hot water to be endless for showers as we have family staying with us during the summers and coming off the beach or boat or just daily showering---don't want to sit around and wait.

They are great because no (large) tank is constantly heating up water, whether you need it or not.

It does take a while for the water to get hot. So I turn it on (low flow, not full blast). I have a large pitcher next to the sink that I fill up with water as it's heating up. I'll use that water for houseplants or outdoor planters. The water never goes to waste.

The bathrooms and outdoor showers heat up almost instantly, I don't know if it has to do with close proximity to the heater itself.

Ours is gas and looking at 3 months of bills from Aug to Oct, our gas bills ranged from $12 to $17/mo. (We didn't have any overnighters last year.) And that would include cooking with our gas stove/oven, too.

riley1 · ‎03-10-2010

@World Traveler - thanks for starting this thread. Hubby and I were just discussing this subject. My house does not have gas so I can't even check those out. But info I looked up said the electric are cheaper to install and run. Now, not sure about after reading some of the responses here.

Meowingkitty · ‎06-19-2010

I also forgot that it has to be on 24 hours a day whereas I currently only heat my water heater 6 hours a day. 3 hours in the morning and 3 hours at night. Hey I live in Arizona where the water is hot 9 months of the year without being turned on because it sits in the garage. So that extra electricity cost.