Anyone tankless?

[trifectarich]

One of the new technological gizmos on the market is a tankless system that replaces the traditional water heater. The theory is that while you use energy to keep the water in your tank at a preset temperature, with a tankless system you don't use anything until you actually want hot water. In theory, your power bill is supposed to fall dramatically.

At a home show over the weekend, Mrs. Trifecta and I were about to go ahead until we wondered by the booth of the area utility, which, surprise surprise, did a pretty good job warning us that we may not save any money at all because, when you ask for hot water with a tankless system, the energy needed to heat it so quickly is much greater.

I'm wondering if they're just feeding me a line of BS. Anyone own one of these systems?

 

[Ace]

Sorry. I'm tanked.

 

[Rumpleforeskin]

Though you were talking about the Polish army.

 

[BYH]

I thought for sure this was our second C. Thomas Howell reference on the front page of anything goes.

I can't tell you how disappointed I am.

Edit: **** you impawards.com. And **** YOU Good Doc!

Edit, Pt II: **** you too, musicman.com.

I do suck.

 

[Chi City 81]

BYH: 211-98,443,421,210.

 

[Ace]

Though you were talking about the Polish army.

I blame Neville Chamberlain.

 

[Rumpleforeskin]

Though you were talking about the Polish army.

I blame Neville Chamberlain.

Ok, but what did he do? You are not answering my question. What did he do? [/Bill O'Reilly]

 

[Inky_Wretch]

We bought a tankless water heater two or three years ago.

We installed it in the summer, when our natural gas bill was around $15-18 per month and the only thing on gas that we used was the old-fashioned tank water heater. The first month of our tankless, our bill fell to $8.

So I'm not sure why the utility guy said that, unless he was BSing you.

 

[Ace]

Though you were talking about the Polish army.

I blame Neville Chamberlain.

Ok, but what did he do? You are not answering my question. What did he do? [/Bill O'Reilly]

That was Chris Matthews. You don't know your history, pal.

 

[Rumpleforeskin]

Though you were talking about the Polish army.

I blame Neville Chamberlain.

Ok, but what did he do? You are not answering my question. What did he do? [/Bill O'Reilly]

That was Chris Matthews. You don't know your history, pal.

Those talk show hosts are all the same to me.

 

[imjustagirl]

I thought this said cankles (hi Norm!)

 

[jgmacg]

Electric or gas?

And the power guy doesn't want you buying anything that allows you to buy, you know, less power.

 

[trifectarich]

Electric or gas?

And the power guy doesn't want you buying anything that allows you to buy, you know, less power.

Yes, that's what they're trying to do, I suspect. Doesn't do them any good if I send them less money every month.

To Inky Wretch: Do you vote thumbs up or thumbs down? Any problem if there's lots of hot water being requested at the same time, say, the dishwasher is running while someone wants to take a shower?

 

[Inky_Wretch]

Electric or gas?

And the power guy doesn't want you buying anything that allows you to buy, you know, less power.

Yes, that's what they're trying to do, I suspect. Doesn't do them any good if I send them less money every month.

To Inky Wretch: Do you vote thumbs up or thumbs down? Any problem if there's lots of hot water being requested at the same time, say, the dishwasher is running while someone wants to take a shower?

It will depend on the model you get.

The low-end models, like the one we bought, are for one appliance or shower at a time. But my in-laws installed a mid-grade tankless and they can run the dishwasher, washing machine and shower all at once with no problems.

 

[Rough Mix]

Some gas models may be a push according to this link. It's also a very good link for other energy savings questions as well:

www.eere.energy.gov/consumer/your_home/water_heating/index.cfm/mytopic=12820

 

[JBHawkEye]

I've heard nothing but good things about the tankless heaters (basically, you save money).

And yeah, the utility guy trying to talk you out of it doesn't surprise me.

 

[Herbert Anchovy]

Not if I can't do something about it.

 

[slappy4428]

Though you were talking about the Polish army.

I blame Neville Chamberlain.

Peace in our time, indeed...