In order to participate in the GunBroker Member forums, you must be logged in with your GunBroker.com account. Click the sign-in button at the top right of the forums page to get connected.
Tankless hot water heaters
mohawk600
Member Posts: 5,529 ✭✭✭✭
Wed and Thurs., The HVAC friend of mine that I work with, and I, installed a tankless hot water heater at my mom's house. We got her a good one. Navien NPE-A2. Natural gas with re-circulation. We installed the valves at her bathroom sink (farthest point from the heater) and kitchen sink. It was time, as her hot water heater had lots of sediment and the screens at the sink had lime scale. We improved her water pressure at the sinks and now the hot water is instant with the recirculation.
Has anybody here switched over? And have you seen an appreciable savings on the water and gas bills?
Comments
I've thought about installing one when my current heater dies. I don't understand the re-circulation part. Isn't everything under the same system pressure?
We're on our second one and love love love it. (The first one's company went out of business and that one tiny damn part couldn't be replaced.) Ours is a Noritz. Hanging the tankless on the wall made enough room to install a water softener system, too. Only soft water gets to the heater, so we only need a checkup/flush every two years.
Recirc means that the unit constantly moves hot water through the system so there's no "pipe lag" when you open a hot tap. It's nice, but it probably uses a lot more energy keeping the recirc water hot. The few seconds/quarts it takes to flush the now-cooled water through the hot side pipes is no different from what you're used to with a tank heater.
Don't even consider a tankless if you don't have gas. Electric ones use a crap load of power and may require rewiring.
No natural gas available for the house I built and it didn't seem like the electric would be any more cost effective than the traditional at the time (11-12 years ago). Funny thing is there are two natural gas wells on my property, but I don't own the mineral rights...
Use one Small one for the shop, Just enough for cleaning in the sink and to supply the shower in back when we get real dirty. Runs on 220, and only when in use. Big cut in $$ per month over the 40 gal tank that was always on (and rarely used).
No Gas to Hoiuse and 220 would really cause a spike to electric bill. Have a smart Water heater less power consumption at night and daytime when none is using it. It has learned when we will use it (weird).
Rocky got it.........I don't completely understand the re-circulation part...............but there are valves installed under the sinks farthest from the hot water heater, which work with the re-circulation" system, and they set up some kind of loop that allows the hot water "on demand". All I know is that it works.........and the shower and tub in that farthest point also get the hot water instantly.
you can also put smaller 110v ones under the sinks that will provide you with a "jump start" on your hot water until the bigger one catches up.
Why do you need to heat hot water?
I put an electric one in my pool house out side shower - works great - draws 27 amps. Inside my home I have one of those GE GEO, it has a small heat pump on the top of it. Love both!
Go Green......Solar......, AOC and her squad will love you 😀
"Never do wrong to make a friend----or to keep one".....Robert E. Lee
Tankless is green.............it heats water on demand rather than keeping a 50 gal tank full of water hot all the time.
I bet that AOC lives in a building with a big * boiler that stays hot constantly. I'm not concerned about her.😲
I'll bet I waste 20 gallons per week waiting for the water to get hot at our kitchen. One of those110 v units sounds like a good idea for me. I have the same situation as a couple of you guys. I can look outside and see 2 gas wells and can't get gas for our home.
My house is heated with circulated hot water and I use a Boiler Mate to scavenge BTUs off the boiler to make hot water on its own zone. Because the boiler is usually working due to our altitude and latitude, the boiler mate is always hot. If I ever get in a situation where I need LOTS of hot water, the boiler does the heating and I can run it indefinitely without running out.
Quote; I can look outside and see 2 gas wells and can't get gas for our home.
The little devil sitting on my left shoulder keeps poking me and saying "a little night digging would solve this problem" 😲
The little angel on my right shoulder keeps me out of trouble! 😁
Actually, for heating water solar is a great way to do it. You still need a storage tank that will maintain the temp but for getting the initial heat into the water solar is about the cheapest way to do it.
Solar photovoltaics for electricity is not nearly as efficient. If they keep working on the technology there will come a day when it will make sense. Right now the payoff comes at just about the end of life for the collectors so it's not cost effective except in remote/off grid applications.
Sounds odd that 6.5 amps could quickly heat the water you must be heating it one degree LOL
Fixed it, meant 6,5kw 😉
This will work in a pinch:
Hot water heater? Neat! I have a cold water heater.
And fiery auto crashes
Some will die in hot pursuit
While sifting through my ashes
Some will fall in love with life
And drink it from a fountain
That is pouring like an avalanche
Coming down the mountain