What’s so great about tankless water heaters?

[Anonymous]

We love ours. It’s instant hot water (I think it has like 1 gallon or something heated). We did ours because it freed up space in our remodel. It hangs on the wall versus a big tank taking up space.

Our water is hot as soon as it takes time to travel through the pipes to the sink or shower. So it does take longer to reach the bathrooms whereas the kitchen sink is very close to instant. It also never runs out.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My only complaint is the time it takes to get hot water can be long. I heard there are attachments to add a reserve tank or something to solve this problem. Might be something to look into.

So...you add a tank to your tankless system?

Honestly not sure what it is. I only heard that there was a solution to it.

The solution is a recirculating line not a tank

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

I know with most people it is the cost of switching over that makes them stop. Tankless really only works well with gas. If you don't have gas, it is not a good option compared to a traditional tank.

To run lines, properly vent, and install the first one is expensive (not as expensive to replace) but still it is significant. A tankless that is maintained - and maintenance is running vinegar through it annually, can last 20-25 years. Whereas a tank is 10-12 years.

You will save on water bills since you only running it when needed and if you have multiple family members unlimited hot water is amazing. Never having a cold shower is great.

But, the initial cost is there and that is usually the deterrent. Once you have one it beats a tanked water heater in every way.

Why doesn’t tankless work with electric? Europeans have them all over the place, even per fixture. Seems if youre currently paying to keep a tank warm with electricity, on demand hot water with electricity would be cheaper, even if not as cheap as gas.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

I know with most people it is the cost of switching over that makes them stop. Tankless really only works well with gas. If you don't have gas, it is not a good option compared to a traditional tank.

To run lines, properly vent, and install the first one is expensive (not as expensive to replace) but still it is significant. A tankless that is maintained - and maintenance is running vinegar through it annually, can last 20-25 years. Whereas a tank is 10-12 years.

You will save on water bills since you only running it when needed and if you have multiple family members unlimited hot water is amazing. Never having a cold shower is great.

But, the initial cost is there and that is usually the deterrent. Once you have one it beats a tanked water heater in every way.

Why doesn’t tankless work with electric? Europeans have them all over the place, even per fixture. Seems if youre currently paying to keep a tank warm with electricity, on demand hot water with electricity would be cheaper, even if not as cheap as gas.

There are electric tankless heaters, but they require a huge amount of amps to operate well. Think EV charger level. It's hard to get a resistance-based heating element hot fast enough for on-demand hot water.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

I know with most people it is the cost of switching over that makes them stop. Tankless really only works well with gas. If you don't have gas, it is not a good option compared to a traditional tank.

To run lines, properly vent, and install the first one is expensive (not as expensive to replace) but still it is significant. A tankless that is maintained - and maintenance is running vinegar through it annually, can last 20-25 years. Whereas a tank is 10-12 years.

You will save on water bills since you only running it when needed and if you have multiple family members unlimited hot water is amazing. Never having a cold shower is great.

But, the initial cost is there and that is usually the deterrent. Once you have one it beats a tanked water heater in every way.

Why doesn’t tankless work with electric? Europeans have them all over the place, even per fixture. Seems if youre currently paying to keep a tank warm with electricity, on demand hot water with electricity would be cheaper, even if not as cheap as gas.

There are electric tankless heaters, but they require a huge amount of amps to operate well. Think EV charger level. It's hard to get a resistance-based heating element hot fast enough for on-demand hot water.

Also to add that the electricity in Europe is different. Their tea kettles work way better than ours do.

[Anonymous]

Our water in Loudoun is really hard. Can anyone speak to how the tankless models do with hard water?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Our water in Loudoun is really hard. Can anyone speak to how the tankless models do with hard water?

I’m in loudoun and I agree it’s the worst. We have a whole house water filter before it get to the hot water heater. We also clean the hot water heater often.

The water is so bad my toilets get hard water deposits nonstop. It also ruins a lot of things like my coffee makers.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

I know with most people it is the cost of switching over that makes them stop. Tankless really only works well with gas. If you don't have gas, it is not a good option compared to a traditional tank.

To run lines, properly vent, and install the first one is expensive (not as expensive to replace) but still it is significant. A tankless that is maintained - and maintenance is running vinegar through it annually, can last 20-25 years. Whereas a tank is 10-12 years.

You will save on water bills since you only running it when needed and if you have multiple family members unlimited hot water is amazing. Never having a cold shower is great.

But, the initial cost is there and that is usually the deterrent. Once you have one it beats a tanked water heater in every way.

Why doesn’t tankless work with electric? Europeans have them all over the place, even per fixture. Seems if youre currently paying to keep a tank warm with electricity, on demand hot water with electricity would be cheaper, even if not as cheap as gas.

There are electric tankless heaters, but they require a huge amount of amps to operate well. Think EV charger level. It's hard to get a resistance-based heating element hot fast enough for on-demand hot water.

But they still cost less to operate than conventional water heaters (that also need high amp circuits and run more frequently).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

I know with most people it is the cost of switching over that makes them stop. Tankless really only works well with gas. If you don't have gas, it is not a good option compared to a traditional tank.

To run lines, properly vent, and install the first one is expensive (not as expensive to replace) but still it is significant. A tankless that is maintained - and maintenance is running vinegar through it annually, can last 20-25 years. Whereas a tank is 10-12 years.

You will save on water bills since you only running it when needed and if you have multiple family members unlimited hot water is amazing. Never having a cold shower is great.

But, the initial cost is there and that is usually the deterrent. Once you have one it beats a tanked water heater in every way.

Why doesn’t tankless work with electric? Europeans have them all over the place, even per fixture. Seems if youre currently paying to keep a tank warm with electricity, on demand hot water with electricity would be cheaper, even if not as cheap as gas.

There are electric tankless heaters, but they require a huge amount of amps to operate well. Think EV charger level. It's hard to get a resistance-based heating element hot fast enough for on-demand hot water.

Also to add that the electricity in Europe is different. Their tea kettles work way better than ours do.

Electricity in Europe is way better? Lol what? They have 240V circuits standard, but any water heater is going to have that too.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

I know with most people it is the cost of switching over that makes them stop. Tankless really only works well with gas. If you don't have gas, it is not a good option compared to a traditional tank.

To run lines, properly vent, and install the first one is expensive (not as expensive to replace) but still it is significant. A tankless that is maintained - and maintenance is running vinegar through it annually, can last 20-25 years. Whereas a tank is 10-12 years.

You will save on water bills since you only running it when needed and if you have multiple family members unlimited hot water is amazing. Never having a cold shower is great.

But, the initial cost is there and that is usually the deterrent. Once you have one it beats a tanked water heater in every way.

Why doesn’t tankless work with electric? Europeans have them all over the place, even per fixture. Seems if youre currently paying to keep a tank warm with electricity, on demand hot water with electricity would be cheaper, even if not as cheap as gas.

There are electric tankless heaters, but they require a huge amount of amps to operate well. Think EV charger level. It's hard to get a resistance-based heating element hot fast enough for on-demand hot water.

Also to add that the electricity in Europe is different. Their tea kettles work way better than ours do.

Electricity in Europe is way better? Lol what? They have 240V circuits standard, but any water heater is going to have that too.

It's only called electricity if it comes from the Electric Region of France, otherwise it's just sparkly power.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

I know with most people it is the cost of switching over that makes them stop. Tankless really only works well with gas. If you don't have gas, it is not a good option compared to a traditional tank.

To run lines, properly vent, and install the first one is expensive (not as expensive to replace) but still it is significant. A tankless that is maintained - and maintenance is running vinegar through it annually, can last 20-25 years. Whereas a tank is 10-12 years.

You will save on water bills since you only running it when needed and if you have multiple family members unlimited hot water is amazing. Never having a cold shower is great.

But, the initial cost is there and that is usually the deterrent. Once you have one it beats a tanked water heater in every way.

Why doesn’t tankless work with electric? Europeans have them all over the place, even per fixture. Seems if youre currently paying to keep a tank warm with electricity, on demand hot water with electricity would be cheaper, even if not as cheap as gas.

There are electric tankless heaters, but they require a huge amount of amps to operate well. Think EV charger level. It's hard to get a resistance-based heating element hot fast enough for on-demand hot water.

Also to add that the electricity in Europe is different. Their tea kettles work way better than ours do.

Electricity in Europe is way better? Lol what? They have 240V circuits standard, but any water heater is going to have that too.

It's only called electricity if it comes from the Electric Region of France, otherwise it's just sparkly power.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

I know with most people it is the cost of switching over that makes them stop. Tankless really only works well with gas. If you don't have gas, it is not a good option compared to a traditional tank.

To run lines, properly vent, and install the first one is expensive (not as expensive to replace) but still it is significant. A tankless that is maintained - and maintenance is running vinegar through it annually, can last 20-25 years. Whereas a tank is 10-12 years.

You will save on water bills since you only running it when needed and if you have multiple family members unlimited hot water is amazing. Never having a cold shower is great.

But, the initial cost is there and that is usually the deterrent. Once you have one it beats a tanked water heater in every way.

Why doesn’t tankless work with electric? Europeans have them all over the place, even per fixture. Seems if youre currently paying to keep a tank warm with electricity, on demand hot water with electricity would be cheaper, even if not as cheap as gas.

There are electric tankless heaters, but they require a huge amount of amps to operate well. Think EV charger level. It's hard to get a resistance-based heating element hot fast enough for on-demand hot water.

Also to add that the electricity in Europe is different. Their tea kettles work way better than ours do.

Electricity in Europe is way better? Lol what? They have 240V circuits standard, but any water heater is going to have that too.

It's only called electricity if it comes from the Electric Region of France, otherwise it's just sparkly power.

My favorite patisserie in Paris, not in the touristy part - oh god no, no where close to the Eiffel Tower - has *the best* electricity.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

I know with most people it is the cost of switching over that makes them stop. Tankless really only works well with gas. If you don't have gas, it is not a good option compared to a traditional tank.

To run lines, properly vent, and install the first one is expensive (not as expensive to replace) but still it is significant. A tankless that is maintained - and maintenance is running vinegar through it annually, can last 20-25 years. Whereas a tank is 10-12 years.

You will save on water bills since you only running it when needed and if you have multiple family members unlimited hot water is amazing. Never having a cold shower is great.

But, the initial cost is there and that is usually the deterrent. Once you have one it beats a tanked water heater in every way.

Why doesn’t tankless work with electric? Europeans have them all over the place, even per fixture. Seems if youre currently paying to keep a tank warm with electricity, on demand hot water with electricity would be cheaper, even if not as cheap as gas.

There are electric tankless heaters, but they require a huge amount of amps to operate well. Think EV charger level. It's hard to get a resistance-based heating element hot fast enough for on-demand hot water.

But they still cost less to operate than conventional water heaters (that also need high amp circuits and run more frequently).

You can compare for your own uses, but it doesn't take much energy to maintain temperature in a large well-insulated tank of hot water. I agree that since you're only heating the water you need, when you need it, you have some fairly small gains (assuming a super fast heating element is as efficient as the slower in-tank heating elements).

But if what you care about is (electric) energy efficiency, a (tank) heat pump hot water heater is the way to go, at least in DC's climate.

[Anonymous]

Our new house has a tankless water heater. I didn't think that I'd like it, but we really do.

1. Our energy bills went down. (comparing summer month gas bills between houses - both houses were gas water heaters). Not a huge savings, but the tankless definitely uses a bit less energy.
2. We never run out of hot water, even if I take a long shower + have the washing machine running.
3. Tankless water heater takes up much less space.
4. Don't have to worry about the bottom of the tank rusting out and flooding.

#3 and 4 are big benefits to us since we live in a TH where the water heater is in a closet on the first/main floor. Space is at a premium and we have engineered hardwood flooring, which would likely be destroyed by a water heater leak, unless we caught it right away.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My only complaint is the time it takes to get hot water can be long. I heard there are attachments to add a reserve tank or something to solve this problem. Might be something to look into.

So...you add a tank to your tankless system?

We have a timer on ours, so first thing in the morning, i wait about 15 seconds for hot water is all.