DIY Network

I am still planning my new home and was wondering what you all think about tankless water heaters. My house will only be about 2000 sqft with 2bathrooms and maybe one in the basement later. My contractor friend says not to use one, but go with a gas water heater instead. I really like what I have read about them. It seems like it would come in handy for a large garden tub or something similar. What do you all think?

i think your friend's right,,, these things're expensive to buy & install,,, don't try taking a shower when washing dishes or laundry,,, they do have their place but, imn-s-hfo, NOT in your very fine home NOR mine ! ! !

There are plenty of diversity in opinions when it comes to tankless water heaters. Builders either hate them or they love them. No doubt about it, there is a higher up front cost. But, depending on you families' lifestyle, they could pay for themselves depending on what you're paying for fuel (gas). It is true that if you don't size it properly and somebody is wanting to take a shower, somebody else wants to wash dishes and you have a load of clothes in the washer using hot water, you will max out it's capability, and now you're getting not so hot water. The product we spec have a 98% efficiency and have great reviews from both installers and home owners. But there are also the critics that don't seem to be satisfied with anything. I steer away from the electric models because of the electric requirement. (up your service box by 100 amps if you go electric). I found a good article on tankless Waterheaters here:Tankless Waterheaters.

I'm building a new home as well, and based on my own research I wouldn't have anything BUT a Rinnai tankless. (natural gas) I don't sell Rinnai, so I'm not pushing them, but for the $$ its a great value.

In building several houses over the years, I've learned one very important lesson. Most tradesman are very reluctant to do anything they haven't done in the past, and most plumbers get a good markup on selling you a traditional water heater.

Obviously you should do your own homework on this topic, but energy is going to go back up, and most of the brands offer a 10+ year warranty on the internal parts of the tankless water heater.

it also sounds like space for mechanicals might be at a premium. These things could go in a closet if need be.

Just make sure you get a plumber who has installed 20+ of them before you hire them.

Agree with Jerry, stay away from the elec ones.

Good luck.

I was thinking a about a tankless water heater for my new home as well, so I have been trying to do a lot of research. I recently read an article in comsumer reports that said the the TCO for the tankless over its lifetime was more than for the tank variety we are used to. (Even taking into account the shorter lifetime for the tank variety.) They claimed that the tankless require annual maintnenace by a professional. The article says that the break-even point is ove 20 years, but the expected lifetime for the tankless is about 20 years.

Anyone else read this? Any reactions?

ok this is my 1st blog so hold on ,as far as tankless go ,I rep for 4 company's for service and install of all brands out their I would pick takagieither tk3 or tm1 all applications are different .their is so much info to much to type if you want more answers to your ? call me so I can ask you about your install site and find out what your espectatoins are .760-822-1648 my name is Darwin I have installed 100s of these heaters

they do have to be flushed and cleaned every year. maintaince..you were supposed to flush the tank type heater too. thats why it didnt last 30 years. and you need to look at the recovery of the tankless

brewer..a big ole soaker tub needs its own 50 gallon water heater, well..that whole bath on the 50. then the rest of the house on another 50
or 40. if your using elec units. put timmers on them. that big ole 50 in the master, doesnt need to come on till you get home, then off at bedtime. on 1 hour before you wake up
same as the other heater. we waste a lot of energy , heatting water we dont use

I don't agree with turning the hot water tank on and off. I think it takes more energy to turn on for an hour than slight on and off to maintain a fixed temperature. Energy would be better spent focusing on insulation of your lines and tank effeciency. I have never had a waterless system but I will offer my experience with tank heaters.

I put a 5' soaker tub and a 6' soaker tub in my last house. I replaced my tank with a single 80 gal natural gas powered unit. With a family of 5 we never ran out of water after that.

If you live in a typical bungalow style house then a single hot water tank is practical and all you need IMHO. Now if you have a large single story ranch home then I could see a benefit in two tanks or instant hot water. Same goes for a remote location like a garage or shop. One look at the power requirements for an electric unit should scare anyone away.