Advice - Tankless Water Heaters !

[sandy2982]

Hi ,

I finally decided to replace the water heater I have with a tankless one. After some research, I narrowed the choices down to two "finalists": Takagi and Rinnai tankless water heaters. Rinnai seems to have some advantages, among them higher output (8.3gpm vs. Takagi's 6.9gmp) and, most important, lower kick-off flow (0.5gpm vs. Takagi's 0.75gmp). On the other hand Takagi seems more spread than Rinnai and also I could find a lot of information for Takagi and almost none for Rinnai.

Need some advice from people who are using these water heaters.

[Cass]

What is your incoming water temp in the winter, what is the hardness of your water, what is the max. temperature rise of the units, will you have enough gas flow to the unit with your existing piping, where are you venting it.

[jimbo]

At what temperature rise are those gpm numbers spec'd? Huge difference if it is at 40º or 90º. Also, do you know what it will cost you to install the required large gas supply pipe, and the new larger STAINLESS STEEL flue.?

[hj]

Or even the same sized stainless steel flue. If you are going to do it yourself, you may have to scratch the Rinnai, because they are only supposed to be sold to certified installers.

[Gary Swart]

Seems like the idea of tankless water heaters comes up about 2 or 3 times every month. It sounds great doesn't it. Just heat water when you need it and don't pay to keep a tank of water hot when it's not needed. A really money saver! Wow, it's about time! Only thing is, after all is said and done, these things cost more to own and operate than conventional water heaters over a period of time. Here are some of the pitfalls. High initial cost of the unit; high installation costs, including larger gas or electric service; frequent repairman calls to clean the innards and keep the thing operating, if you can find a repairman; limited hot water output in cold weather; high operation cost; and finally, they don't last forever and when replacement is needed, the circle of life begins again.

[robertsmu]

Excellent information (and videos) are available at http://www.tanklessuniversity.com

It's a Bosch site. "Ed Sullivan" has a hysterical New England accent.

[master plumber mark]

its funny how you hear more and more about people
wanting the tankless units and the people
who complain about them after they own them

over time it simply has to fail
its just a matter of when. and how soon......

just like the last thread where the 2 year old Takagi went down and
the home owner jury rigged up his own repairs for it.....

http://terrylove.com/forums/showthre...461#post131461


going green is a fad that should not spread to things as complicated and
expensive as these are


I just had a homeowner
today calling about the tankless units at about 12.30,
but before I could get back to him -- having a Friday power lunch---
he had gone to LOWES and now is
hell-bent hooked on a Bosch....

took the bait ....hook, line and sinker......

I wont be able to talk him out of it no matter what I try to tell him....

Hell, I just do this for a living,,
the guy at LOWES is the expert.
....

[Mikey]

Excellent information (and videos) are available at http://www.tanklessuniversity.com

It's a Bosch site. "Ed Sullivan" has a hysterical New England accent.

And both of them need a lot more practice using the TelePrompter...