Water Heaters????

Juan_Hong_Loe · Sep 9, 2008

Can anybody school me on tankless water heaters? I woke up this morning only to take a cold shower (not too bad considering we live in Alabama and the cold water is warm). The people that remodeled the bathroom years ago decided to move the water heater into a place where they could only get like a 30 gallon water heater in there. Although it is probably a heating element or something simple I have been considering change. Well since I have been remodeling I knew ahead of time that I wanted to either get a bigger water heater or get a tankless unit. I have seen both the gas and electric and the electric is way cheaper. I do have other gas appliances just not currently running a gas water heater. Let me know what you think!

Travis · Sep 9, 2008

I am an authorized service and installer for Rinnai tankless gas water heaters. I looked at all brands when we were deciding what brand to carry, and the Rinnai stood out above all others. Their customer service, tech support, and the product itself, are top notch. The electric is cheaper, but in my opinion, can't match the performance of a gas unit. But a gas unit may not be feasible or cost effective in your situation. Regardless of electric vs. gas, a tankless is going to be worlds above your tank heater. How many bathrooms do you have? Is your current wh close to an exterior wall? Are you on city water or well?

Jeep CJ · Sep 9, 2008

Agree with Travis. Tankless will cost you a little more now but you will not regret it if you go with the gas. I am not a fan of the electric ones.

Juan_Hong_Loe · Sep 9, 2008

I have 2 Bathrooms, new location for water heater would not be next to an exterior wall but I have already ran all the plumbing and stubbed it out where I want it, and I am on city water. I can do gas not a problem just noticed that they were a little more expensive. I didnt stub out a gas line but shouldn't be a problem to run the gas line. My house was built in 1950 and has adequate crawl space. Thanks for the info.

CHASMAN9 · Sep 9, 2008

I am a licensed builder and have had many installed. Rinnai is one of the best, get the model that is rated at either 7.1 or 8.2. The only down part of a tankless is that if the power ever goes out, you are without electronic ignition and that is what fires off the unit. But the cure for that is a UPS, un-interuptable power supply just like for a computer. These units use low amounts of voltage and can fire off with these. The units run anywhere from $750.00 to $2000.00 per unit, the expensive part is the ventilation. It has to be stainless steel pipe for the venting. The other manufacturers are Rheem and Takagi. The japanese have been using Takagi for a long time and is the originator of the Tankless units. I hope this helps.

wontwork · Sep 9, 2008

Call Alabama Power and tell them your switching from gas to electric and they will give you a free one. I have seen it done and works very well.

Juan_Hong_Loe · Sep 9, 2008

wontwork said:
Call Alabama Power and tell them your switching from gas to electric and they will give you a free one. I have seen it done and works very well.

Yeah I thought about that but I think that they are just gonna give a cheaper unit like one with a tank. Just looking at the long run picture. Spend a little more now save a lot more later.

Travis · Sep 9, 2008

Juan_Hong_Loe said:
I have 2 Bathrooms, new location for water heater would not be next to an exterior wall but I have already ran all the plumbing and stubbed it out where I want it, and I am on city water. I can do gas not a problem just noticed that they were a little more expensive. I didnt stub out a gas line but shouldn't be a problem to run the gas line. My house was built in 1950 and has adequate crawl space. Thanks for the info.

I would go with the R75LSi. It is capable of 7.5 gallons per minute at a 35 degree temperature rise. That will be sufficient for 2 showers and a faucet at one time. A gas unit would obviously have to be vented to the outside so you need to figure out how the venting would run. The rinnai is a direct vent unit that uses vent pipe unique to that line. It is almost 7" outside diameter. Depending on how far the water heater is from your meter/regulator, you would need to run 3/4", possibly 1", to supply the unit. Or up the pressure, change to a 2 psi system if you are on propane. I can sell you one, but I would recommend having a Rinnai approved installer put it in for you, so you wouldn't run into any warranty issues later on. And rinnai gives a 10 year warranty. If you bite the bullet, and put one in, you will not regret it. This is the #1 new home upgrade right now.

Travis · Sep 9, 2008

CHASMAN9 said:
Rinnai is one of the best, get the model that is rated at either 7.1 or 8.2.

The new models now have 7.5 or 9.4 gpm ratings. And yeah, a surge protector with a backup battery will run the unit should you lose power. They only draw around 3 amps.

GNorton · Sep 9, 2008

I added a half bath to my laundry room which had the water heater in one corner. Had to go with a tankless on the wall to fit everything. I dont have gas so I went with the electric. It works great but it actually costs more to run than the old water heater. I have the small one and it is an 80 amp unit. If you have the means, do the gas. It will pay off in the end.

Juan_Hong_Loe · Sep 9, 2008

Well this is wht it's not working anymore!

I don't know what it is about me and fires this year but something doesn't look good. Looks like it has been leaking for a while and caused the theromstat and the heating element to fry! I'm damn lucky cause the damn breaker didn't even trip. Still had 240 volts going to it. Anyway I weighed my options and right now it is just a lot more feasable for me to go back with what I already have. So I bout another electric water heater but in a 50 gallon size this time. I don't plan on staying in this house but for a few more years so I thought it was of best intrest. Oh well maybe the next house I get will have a tankless unit.

Cole · Sep 9, 2008

Juan_Hong_Loe said:
Well this is wht it's not working anymore!

I

Damn you trying to burn the house down.

3 tons o fun · Sep 10, 2008

I need to stay away from you 2 . I have bad enough luck on my own. No telling what's going to happen now bad luck runs in threes. :flipoff1:

Travis · Sep 10, 2008

Damn, you got lucky. Replacing it with another electric tank was your cheapest, quickest way out. If you decide later to have a tankless installed, you'll love it.

Deep South · Sep 10, 2008

Cole said:
Damn you trying to burn the house down.

Amature laughing1

Bones · Sep 10, 2008

I am contemplating going from a gas t electric water heater, but unsure how much of a savings I can really expect. My gas bill has went WAY up this past year. Nearly doubled. All I run for gas is my furnace and water heater. Dryer and oven is electric.

Travis · Sep 10, 2008

Bones said:
I am contemplating going from a gas t electric water heater, but unsure how much of a savings I can really expect.

I don't think you would save anything. How long has it been since you had the furnace serviced? Have it done, it can only help its performance.

Bones · Sep 10, 2008

Travis said:
I don't think you would save anything. How long has it been since you had the furnace serviced? Have it done, it can only help its performance.

It was serviced the winter before I moved in (2006) and a pretty new unit.