[HomeGirl]

I know this is just a little bit off topic...kinda...

...but I'd like to know if any of you have or have had a tankless water heater. It seems like it'd be part of a miracle solution for my kitchen space problem - if I could have a tankless heater and put my laundry machines in the shed, I could have at least another six feet of counter space.

I am told that the tankless heaters are very efficient but to make sure to shop carefully. Do any of you have personal experience with these?

[sinamin]

Hmmm.........I never heard of them. What are they exactly?

I mean the name suggests it has no tank. But how can that be? Where would the hot water be stored after it heats up the incoming cold water?

It sounds like it would be handy for your space constraits if they really work.

[HomeGirl]

Tankless Water Heaters heat water directly without the use of a storage tank. Therefore, they avoid the standby heat losses associated with storage water heaters. When a hot water tap is turned on, cold water travels through a pipe into the unit. In an electric Tankless Water Heater an electric element heats the water. In a gas-fired Tankless Water Heater a gas burner heats the water. As a result, Tankless Water Heaters deliver a constant supply of hot water. You don't need to wait for a storage tank to fill up with enough hot water. Typically, Tankless Water Heaters provide hot water at a rate of 2 – 5 gallons (7.6 – 15.2 liters) per minute. Typically, gas-fired Tankless Water Heaters will produce higher flow rates than electric Tankless Water Heaters. Some smaller Tankless Water Heaters, however, cannot supply enough hot water for simultaneous, multiple uses in large households. For example, taking a shower and running the dishwasher at the same time can stretch a Tankless Water Heater to its limit. To overcome this problem, you can install a “whole house” type Tankless Water Heater or install two or more Tankless Water Heaters, connected in parallel for simultaneous demands of hot water. You can also install separate Tankless Water Heaters for appliances—such as a clothes washer or dishwater—that use a lot of hot water in your home. - Quoted directly from TanklessWaterHeaterGuide

If you do a google search for the term, you can come up with several pictures and lots of information about these little gems. I didn't know they existed until about a year ago when I started getting really antsy about my current setup.

[sinamin]

That's really interesting. It comes at a good time for me as well. Last year, my hot water tank leaked all over and one of the switches had to be replaced.

Then last week, I went down downstairs and saw it was gradually leaking again. Maybe not the same problem but at the very least, I need it repaired again. This gives me some other options to think about.

[ss1129]

I heard about these while listening to Bill Oreilly and Ill tell you what, if these are half as good as I hear I would be all over them if I actually owned a house.

[ACCER]

When my water heater died I opted for a tankless.

BEST appliance decision I've ever made! I can literally cook myself and never ever run out of hot water. That's the first plus. The second one is that the water heater was in an unheated basement so it worked like a demon all winter to keep the stored water hot. That used electricity. The tankless heats it on demand and doesn't store it.

My oldest also went with a tankless when her water heater (in an unheated garage in St. Louis) died. She loves hers as well.

[robbijk]

Wow, that is the first time I have heard of such a thing. Thanks for the info Homegirl.

[ACCER1]

Robbi,
Many Lowes are now putting them on display in their stores. Ask your local one about it. Just the idea that you can take as long a hot shower as you want was enough to sell me on the idea!

[nangel78]

Are these more affordable than the tanked water heaters?

[miss my oven]

How efficient are tankless hot water heaters in cold climates? Here, the lakes (municipal water supply) freeze solid here in the wintertime so the water is frigid in the taps from December to early May. Does anyone know if the tankless hwh are suited to northern climates? Thank you.