Hi all... I'm new to the forum and to this whole tankless hot water system thing. Over the last couple of days I've gotten a pretty good crash course and have a basic working knowledge and have a couple different tankless models in mind. Sorry this is likely to be long.
I've read a lot of the threads in this section and several things scare and confuse me about tankless systems seeing as how I would need to install an electric model, live in a big house, and in a cold region. I'm at that point where I'm so conflicted between all the stories on both pros and cons I'm just ready to have hubby put in a 50-80 gallon standard hot water tank.
Things that worry me about tankless:
1. this "cold sandwich" thing I keep reading about... what exactly IS that?
2. Temperature fluctuation. how consistant is the hot water supply? Our water demands aren't high, is this a worry?
3. wanting to add a dishwasher in the near future. I heard this could be a problem... why?
4. Living in North Western Pa on lake Erie we see cold long winters. How will this affect tankless performance?
Our house:
we live in a house in suburb type community. House was built in 1850 with last plumbing update likely in the late 70's. House is plumbed for 2 hot water tanks (use to be a two unit dwelling), one gas, one electric. The mainly used tank is the electric, the upstairs is gas (but we'd like to go all electric as we're planning a change to solar power in the next 5 years). The house is 3000 sq feet has 2 bathrooms (upper and lower). Upper is just a bath (going to be remodled to accomodate a nice tub tho, something jetted and deep). Also upstairs is a second kitchen that is going to be changed over to accomodate a laundry room. Downstairs is currently a bath and a seperate shower (going to be remodeled next year to just a walk in shower with 3 heads). No dishwasher as of yet but also a plan in the next year, and simple plumbing to the kitchen (no garbage disposal. That's what dogs are for ).
I asked hubby what amp for service and he says 100 in the box, also with half inch pipe. There are 4 inthe house, 2 adults, 1 teen 1 under 10. We tend to use more water for laundry than anything else. We have city water, no well.
So this is the tankless I was considering:
http://www.americanhometec.com/homeowners/index.php The AHQ-T16
and AHQ-TB32
I liked that it was no coil, and no maintenance as we do have hard water here, plus the warranty was impressive.
ON the other hand I'm so conflicted over it all I'm just ready to have hubby install the 60-80 gallon standard hw tank for the downstairs and then something like a 30 gal for the upstairs after the laundry room and bathroom are finished.
Sooo that's where I'm at... Thoughts? Advice? Please ...
I've read a lot of the threads in this section and several things scare and confuse me about tankless systems seeing as how I would need to install an electric model, live in a big house, and in a cold region. I'm at that point where I'm so conflicted between all the stories on both pros and cons I'm just ready to have hubby put in a 50-80 gallon standard hot water tank.
Things that worry me about tankless:
1. this "cold sandwich" thing I keep reading about... what exactly IS that?
2. Temperature fluctuation. how consistant is the hot water supply? Our water demands aren't high, is this a worry?
3. wanting to add a dishwasher in the near future. I heard this could be a problem... why?
4. Living in North Western Pa on lake Erie we see cold long winters. How will this affect tankless performance?
Our house:
we live in a house in suburb type community. House was built in 1850 with last plumbing update likely in the late 70's. House is plumbed for 2 hot water tanks (use to be a two unit dwelling), one gas, one electric. The mainly used tank is the electric, the upstairs is gas (but we'd like to go all electric as we're planning a change to solar power in the next 5 years). The house is 3000 sq feet has 2 bathrooms (upper and lower). Upper is just a bath (going to be remodled to accomodate a nice tub tho, something jetted and deep). Also upstairs is a second kitchen that is going to be changed over to accomodate a laundry room. Downstairs is currently a bath and a seperate shower (going to be remodeled next year to just a walk in shower with 3 heads). No dishwasher as of yet but also a plan in the next year, and simple plumbing to the kitchen (no garbage disposal. That's what dogs are for ).
I asked hubby what amp for service and he says 100 in the box, also with half inch pipe. There are 4 inthe house, 2 adults, 1 teen 1 under 10. We tend to use more water for laundry than anything else. We have city water, no well.
So this is the tankless I was considering:
http://www.americanhometec.com/homeowners/index.php The AHQ-T16
and AHQ-TB32
I liked that it was no coil, and no maintenance as we do have hard water here, plus the warranty was impressive.
ON the other hand I'm so conflicted over it all I'm just ready to have hubby install the 60-80 gallon standard hw tank for the downstairs and then something like a 30 gal for the upstairs after the laundry room and bathroom are finished.
Sooo that's where I'm at... Thoughts? Advice? Please ...