Observations after four years of a Tankless Water Heater

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here. We love ours but wanted to share some pros and cons. For us the pros outweigh the cons.

Our tub is so big, hot water would run out before it was full.

Ground water temp takes longer to warm up. Longer in winter than summer.

But there is less incentive to take shorter showers when hot water doesn’t run out, so higher water and gas bills.

That doesn't make sense - tankless hot water heaters don't run out of hot water. They have a cap of how much hot water they can produce per minute (usually 5 gallons) but that is plenty of capacity for filling a tub - most tubs are 40-45 gallons. Only issue with a tankless hot water heater would be running too many appliances at once - say the washing machine and trying to fill the tub (dishwashers don't use that much water) - otherwise you shouldn't have an issue filling a tub.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why would you pay $600 to have it serviced because you have hard water instead of getting a water softener? Has no one suggested this?

For teenagers, regardless of your water heater, this works best. After enough time has passed, go down to the basement to where your water heater sits and slowly, turn the valve for the water line that goes into the heater, choking off the hot water supply. The kid will adjust the water to maintain the temp but it's a warning of what is to come. Close it off a bit more and keep closing it until they turn off the water. Don't be cruel, give them time to rinse the shampoo out of their hair, or whatever they might be doing.

When the kid complains that the hot water just doesn't last, be sympathetic and suggest they plan better before taking a shower and maybe promise to look into it. This absolutely works and it's fun. Unlimited hot water is a recipe for a high energy bill with a teenager. it has to be limited.

Why not just tell the kids to take baths instead of hour long showers?

Lol

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP here. We love ours but wanted to share some pros and cons. For us the pros outweigh the cons.

Our tub is so big, hot water would run out before it was full.

Ground water temp takes longer to warm up. Longer in winter than summer.

But there is less incentive to take shorter showers when hot water doesn’t run out, so higher water and gas bills.

That doesn't make sense - tankless hot water heaters don't run out of hot water. They have a cap of how much hot water they can produce per minute (usually 5 gallons) but that is plenty of capacity for filling a tub - most tubs are 40-45 gallons. Only issue with a tankless hot water heater would be running too many appliances at once - say the washing machine and trying to fill the tub (dishwashers don't use that much water) - otherwise you shouldn't have an issue filling a tub.

OP is pointing out why they still like the tankless. It was past tense— water would run out.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why would you pay $600 to have it serviced because you have hard water instead of getting a water softener? Has no one suggested this?

For teenagers, regardless of your water heater, this works best. After enough time has passed, go down to the basement to where your water heater sits and slowly, turn the valve for the water line that goes into the heater, choking off the hot water supply. The kid will adjust the water to maintain the temp but it's a warning of what is to come. Close it off a bit more and keep closing it until they turn off the water. Don't be cruel, give them time to rinse the shampoo out of their hair, or whatever they might be doing.

When the kid complains that the hot water just doesn't last, be sympathetic and suggest they plan better before taking a shower and maybe promise to look into it. This absolutely works and it's fun. Unlimited hot water is a recipe for a high energy bill with a teenager. it has to be limited.

Why not just tell the kids to take baths instead of hour long showers?

Lol

Seemed like a reasonable suggestion. Who doesn't love a long soak?

--new poster

[Anonymous]

Meh. I have a huge hot water heater (needed for radiant heat that is no longer used). I'd rather have that than tankless. My Dad is a mechanical engineer and thinks they are a risk to use in a residential setting.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Meh. I have a huge hot water heater (needed for radiant heat that is no longer used). I'd rather have that than tankless. My Dad is a mechanical engineer and thinks they are a risk to use in a residential setting.

A risk for what?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We have had one for 12 years with none of the problems you described. We have only had it serviced once…

+100

Our tankless has a small recirculating chamber so we get instant hot water.
Water softener softens before water enters the tankless so none of those issues.
It runs like a champ and we never run out of hot water.

LOVE LOVE LOVE it.

Me too!