Who has a tankless hot water heater?

[The Bad Guy]

I'm in the market for one and wanted to solicit opinions from who has them and what models they have?

My contractor is going to purchase one and I've read reviews, but wanted some first-hand info from people on here.

Thanks in advance for your help.

[WV]

Originally Posted by htismaqe

Propane is actually cheaper to operate than natural gas.

Maybe where you are, but not here. Propane is expensive compared to Natural Gas.

[htismaqe]

Originally Posted by R8ers

But more dangerous

How do you figure?

[A Salt Weapon]

I install and service propane on-demand water heaters. Rinnai is light years above the competition, the unit runs about 900-1300 depending on where you get it from and installation is not much more 500-1000. These are AK prices so might be less in your area. They also make units for natural gas if that is an option.

The water flow is incredible 7.5gpm-9.8gpms at minimum delta T(temperature change) our groundwater here is about 40degrees and I typically measure about 5gpm. More than enough for a standard household. And endless as well.

The condensing models are capable of 96.5% efficiency although the steady state is about 98+%. Even the non condensing models are in the mid 80% range. Combined with not using energy while not in use, they are very energy efficient.

[Simply Red]

Originally Posted by The Bad Guy

Who has a tankless hot water heater?

I'm not sure - do i need to ask my Condo Manager?

[A Salt Weapon]

Originally Posted by notorious

I called Rinnai about their outdoor tankless system, since i didn't want to install intake + exhaust pipes. I told the rep I lived in SW Kansas where we can get -30 with the wind chill.


He proceeded to tell me it would not be a problem. I told my plumber friend about it and he laughed his ass off.

Stay away from the outdoor units unless you live south of Dallas. I am just going to have to install the ****ing exhaust and intakes. BTW, gas is a LOT more powerful then the electric. Just check the manuals for how many gallons per minute they can heat, even a mid line gas kicks the shit out of a beast electric heater.

Hmm, I have installed many outside in Alaska and they have had I problem. They have internal frost protection that is good to -40 or so. You have to insulate the pipes or put heat tape on them but the unit will not freeze as long as it has power.

[A Salt Weapon]

Originally Posted by htismaqe

Propane is actually cheaper to operate than natural gas.

And what world do you live in? I'm a propane guy, and while I ****ing love propane, we can't compete price wise with nat gas. Now CNG compared to LP is another story, but that only applies to auto-gas.

[A Salt Weapon]

Originally Posted by Rain Man

I'm going to sound like a nut job when I say this, but remember that I'm a child of the Cold War.

I kind of like having a tank in the house, because if there's some sort of major emergency it's a good water supply for a couple of days.

Not at all, it's a great idea to have available potable water available. One thing I recommend to people if their existing tank isn't leaking, is to have it before the on-demand and have the breaker off, this functions as a storage tank that slightly increases the inlet temp of the on-demand and allows greater water flow. Also functions as available drinking water, just make sure to filter the water if you take it out of the bottom of the tank as the sediment can be pretty gross.

In the case of no gas, you can turn on the breaker and have hot water.

Install an isolation valve kit with any on-demand unit. Rinnai is including them into the units now.

[Dave Lane]

Originally Posted by Rain Man

I'm going to sound like a nut job when I say this, but remember that I'm a child of the Cold War.

I kind of like having a tank in the house, because if there's some sort of major emergency it's a good water supply for a couple of days.

Get a 40 gallon pressure tank not only will it have 40 gallons of water for you but it will also give you pressure even if you lose water pressure. You'll have 40 gallons worth of pressure before you actually have to do something.

[crazycoffey]

god I hate the offseason.

[R8ers]

Originally Posted by htismaqe

How do you figure?

Propane is heavier than air, Natural gas is lighter

[Rausch]

Originally Posted by Brock

To be fair, I told the guy that there are times when there are as many as 6 people living in my house, so what he's projecting as my demand for hot water at any given time may have factored into what he was telling me.

Whoah.

You Catholic, latino, or both?...

[htismaqe]

Originally Posted by A Salt Weapon

And what world do you live in? I'm a propane guy, and while I ****ing love propane, we can't compete price wise with nat gas. Now CNG compared to LP is another story, but that only applies to auto-gas.

Per gallon, no.

But a propane high-efficiency water heater uses less fuel than natural gas.

I have 2 houses, one in town and one in the country. The water heater in the country costs me about $25 per year less to operate (it runs on propane).

[htismaqe]

Originally Posted by R8ers

Propane is heavier than air, Natural gas is lighter

That doesn't make it more dangerous. I'm missing something here.

[R8ers]

Originally Posted by htismaqe

That doesn't make it more dangerous. I'm missing something here.

If you have a propane leak the gas sinks to the floor and stays there risking an explosion, Natural gas is lighter than air and escapes to the atmosphere.


That is why they add the smell to propane, that pungent odor is an added smell, propane has hardly any smell otherwise.

[htismaqe]

Originally Posted by R8ers

If you have a propane leak the gas sinks to the floor and stays there risking an explosion, Natural gas is lighter than air and escapes to the atmosphere.

That is why they add the smell to propane, that pungent odor is an added smell, propane has hardly any smell otherwise.

Both propane and natural gas have an odor additive (usually Mercaptan).

If you have a gas leak in your house, you risk explosion whether you have natural gas or propane, because neither can escape.

And I've never seen an installation of a propane tank INDOORS. They're usually installed at least 50 feet from any dwelling.

I'm not an expert by any means but my dad worked for the LP company for 30-some years.