Tankless Water Heater
- Thread starter fordman
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Vicious_Cycle
Well-known member
I have a TK Jr made by Takagi, and I think it's great. Mine is used strictly for my hydronic radiant heat, but based on the ease of install and reliable, quiet operation, I wouldn't hesitate to use one for its intended purpose as a water heater.fordman said:
There is alot of info out there on the net about this unit.
http://www.takagi.com/web2003/c03.htm
i would be using a electric verision..i talked to a friend of mine who owns a pretty good size plumbing company here in town he said they were bad units buts its been 5years or so since he has used them...i was looking at this company....http://www.sets-systems.com/product.asp?spec=280#280
Is this for the garage? What will it be used for?
To get decent hot water output with multiple sources running (dishwasher AND a shower) you need a large unit. The electric ones require a bunch of electricity. Plan on your meter spinning pretty quickly...that's if you panel will support it.
Go for a gas unit if you can.
If it's for handwashing in the garage, then you can go for a smaller electric model.
To get decent hot water output with multiple sources running (dishwasher AND a shower) you need a large unit. The electric ones require a bunch of electricity. Plan on your meter spinning pretty quickly...that's if you panel will support it.
Go for a gas unit if you can.
If it's for handwashing in the garage, then you can go for a smaller electric model.
yeah this will be for the whole house....the biggest reason i wan this is b/c i have a big garden tube in the master bath but can't use it b/c the 50gallon heater i have now runs out of water before the tube is full my only other opition is getting a 80gal heater ...i don't want to spend more money on that but i will if i have to..that unit only runs when you use hot water so it shouldn't run that much..i would like use propane but the house is not set up for propane i don't know anything about would i have to pay for a tank?
PAToyota
Well-known member
I've been considering a tankless heater for my house as well - seems unnecessary to keep 40 gallons of water heated all the time when there is just a shower in the morning, hot water at the sinks through the evening, and laundry... I'm trying to figure out if it will work to just have one or if it would make sense to have two - one to serve kitchen/laundry (one area) and the other for the bathrooms (another area) as there is likely 50 feet of piping between the two areas. I've got natural gas, so that is the route I'd take for fuel.
We HAD these at my moms house. Not sure what the previous owner had them do, but they worked fine for about 3 months of us owning the house, and then it started acting up. Be in the middle of a shower, and it would get cold in a hurry.
I'm not sure if the man before was a cheapo, and since it was only him and his wife living in a 5 bedroom house, they got a smaller unit which, with 5 of us living in the house burned it up, or what, but they are now with a like 60 or 80 gallon standard unit.
I'm not sure if the man before was a cheapo, and since it was only him and his wife living in a 5 bedroom house, they got a smaller unit which, with 5 of us living in the house burned it up, or what, but they are now with a like 60 or 80 gallon standard unit.
ramrod2624
Member
I just installed a tankless heater in my home.it replaced a 40 gallon unit. The cost was much higher then a regular water heater , but in the long run I am hoping it will pay back. I have a rinnini unit. the biggest one I could get. it will handle a shower and 2 other fixtures at the same time. you will never run out of hot water with a unit like this. there is some maintence on them that you dont do with regular heaters. you will need to flush the unit about 2 x a year. it removes calcuim hard water deposits. other then that you need to make sure your gas line is sized right. I like mine so far!
I highly recommend a "Tankless Water Heater". I had one installed for our new garage/apartment built last year. They take up very little space (outside wall) and are easy to plumb a propane line to. It only uses energy when you need hot water instead of heating water 24/7 whether you need it or not. I usually wait under a minute for the hot water to start flowing.
I had a 300 gallon propane tank set in the back yard and it easily supplies my water heater and furnace.
Do not consider an electrical unit. They are nowhere near as efficient as the gas models. You won't run out of hot water as long as you have propane.
We will be building our house next year and I plan to have the same type tankless water heater installed there too.
I had a 300 gallon propane tank set in the back yard and it easily supplies my water heater and furnace.
Do not consider an electrical unit. They are nowhere near as efficient as the gas models. You won't run out of hot water as long as you have propane.
We will be building our house next year and I plan to have the same type tankless water heater installed there too.
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I've been looking into these too. There are some factors you have to consider aside from the cost/size of the unit:
Most units require an exhaust vent of their own. You cannot replace a standard water heater that is vented together with your furnace and use the same exhaust stack. The material of the exhaust is usually required to be stainless, since these units put out an order of magnitude more heat in the exhaust than even a furnace. This makes the exhaust piping/kit quite expensive if you have a long run to the exterior wall. Most want to vent horizontally.
Many require a 1" gas line for a supply. If you happen to have 3/4" line, it will need to be replaced. Can get expensive.
Cold water in and hot out is usually required to be 3/4". Shouldn't be a problem normally, but if your lines are smaller, they will need to be replumbed.
I know what you mean about the tank not being able to fill the tub. Ours only fills half the tub before it runs cold. I'm getting an estimate done on a tankless heater probably Monday. We'll be using the area the hot water heater was in as a linen closet for the bathroom next door. Better use of the space IMO.
Most units require an exhaust vent of their own. You cannot replace a standard water heater that is vented together with your furnace and use the same exhaust stack. The material of the exhaust is usually required to be stainless, since these units put out an order of magnitude more heat in the exhaust than even a furnace. This makes the exhaust piping/kit quite expensive if you have a long run to the exterior wall. Most want to vent horizontally.
Many require a 1" gas line for a supply. If you happen to have 3/4" line, it will need to be replaced. Can get expensive.
Cold water in and hot out is usually required to be 3/4". Shouldn't be a problem normally, but if your lines are smaller, they will need to be replumbed.
I know what you mean about the tank not being able to fill the tub. Ours only fills half the tub before it runs cold. I'm getting an estimate done on a tankless heater probably Monday. We'll be using the area the hot water heater was in as a linen closet for the bathroom next door. Better use of the space IMO.
Charles (in GA)
Well-known member
Before you consider an electric tankless water heater, look closely at the current draw of the unit and your electric capability where you plan to install it. The current draw is HUGE and you may find yourself with not enough amp capacity in your panel to handle it.
For simple washing of your hands, etc, in a shop, get a small tank unit, such as 20 gal or so, you will be better off. I installed one of those tiny point of use, 2.5 gal units under my sink, way too small to even wash your hands. Eventually I will replace it with a 20 gal or so unit with a very large heat element, mounted up above the sink on the wall.
Charles
For simple washing of your hands, etc, in a shop, get a small tank unit, such as 20 gal or so, you will be better off. I installed one of those tiny point of use, 2.5 gal units under my sink, way too small to even wash your hands. Eventually I will replace it with a 20 gal or so unit with a very large heat element, mounted up above the sink on the wall.
Charles
Spacepig
Member
As part of a major remodel of house and garage finished about 6 months ago, we installed a Takagi TK-2 tankless heater, and it is great. We never run out of hot water, even with a 13 yr old daughter who will take 40 minute showers if allowed. Never need to think about when to do laundry etc. We also installed a an instant hot water circulation system, so there is no waiting for the water to get hot when the system is on (its on a timer, and only operates in the morning and evenings). Added benefit of the tankless is increased space in the garage; by getting rid of the old tank I was able to add a couple of feet to my new workbench.
David
David
I've had the Tagaki unit in my house for about 5 years. It's works better than I thought. It has no trouble keeping up with demand in my house. Although, it takes alittle longer for the hot water to arrive at the particular fixture. My basement is 90% finished living space so the original 40 gal water heater used valuable space in a closet we had down there. The new heater fits great in the small mechanical room for our furnace.
My personal opion is that these things are one of the most over sold ideas to come down the pike in a long time. Just because it is from Europe or Japan dosn't automaticly make it better. They may make good cars, but have you ever been in their homes? Give me American construction any day.
That said, it sounds like your present set up works except for filling your soaking tub. If so, all you need is a smaller tankless unit for the tub. Go with electric so you dont have to worry about venting it.
Or look into the stuff they use for hot tubs. They use a combo pump/heater unit. It may be cheaper.
That said, it sounds like your present set up works except for filling your soaking tub. If so, all you need is a smaller tankless unit for the tub. Go with electric so you dont have to worry about venting it.
Or look into the stuff they use for hot tubs. They use a combo pump/heater unit. It may be cheaper.
Ed ke6bnl
Well-known member
My understanding is that they have a limit on the gpm that they can flow. They can recover the hotwater as long as it stays under a certain gpm. They can only pass so much water through them and still bring the water to temp. Ed k6bnl
It also wastes a lot more gas for standby heating. $$$
Something else I forgot to mention earlier - the incoming water temperature makes a big difference to the heating ability of the unit. If you have a well like I do and the water comes up really cold, the smallest tankless units may not be able to heat the water to your preferred temperature, so gpm rating is not the only factor to consider when sizing the unit.
Something else I forgot to mention earlier - the incoming water temperature makes a big difference to the heating ability of the unit. If you have a well like I do and the water comes up really cold, the smallest tankless units may not be able to heat the water to your preferred temperature, so gpm rating is not the only factor to consider when sizing the unit.
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i called s.e.t.s. twice and left a message and emailed them once serval days ago and haven't heard anything from them i guess they don't want to sell one that bad ..i might just says screw it and go buy a new 80gal tank heater and put that in ...