Comments on: Deciding against tankless water heaters for our new home http://crosslandteam.com/blog/2007/08/27/deciding-against-tankless-water-heaters-for-our-new-home/ Austin Real Estate Blog Fri, 11 May 2012 17:13:15 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.2 By: The Green Plumber http://crosslandteam.com/blog/2007/08/27/deciding-against-tankless-water-heaters-for-our-new-home/#comment-170458 The Green Plumber Sat, 03 Dec 2011 05:11:36 +0000 http://ben.crosslandteam.com/blog/2007/08/27/deciding-against-tankless-water-heaters-for-our-new-home/#comment-170458 The Rennai r94 model is about $1300.00 and you can add about $200.00 for a condensing unit that reclaims the waste heat which includes the valve kit.Where possible use an outdoor mounted unit as there is no venting to deal with and no interior space sacrificed.I always have my clients buy the unit thru my supplier so that they get the best price.additionally it does not cost any more when constructing a new home as opposed to an existing home with a traditional gas tank water heater which requires revisions in the make-up water and gas service.The same is the case when doing a complete renovation on an existing home because all new piping is required.so if you are committed to "greening up" go ahead and have your grey water separated and made forward compatible with future accessibility.This is a practice I provide to my clients at no extra charge when doing new or major renovations. The Rennai r94 model is about $1300.00 and you can add about $200.00 for a condensing unit that reclaims the waste heat which includes the valve kit.Where possible use an outdoor mounted unit as there is no venting to deal with and no interior space sacrificed.I always have my clients buy the unit thru my supplier so that they get the best price.additionally it does not cost any more when constructing a new home as opposed to an existing home with a traditional gas tank water heater which requires revisions in the make-up water and gas service.The same is the case when doing a complete renovation on an existing home because all new piping is required.so if you are committed to “greening up” go ahead and have your grey water separated and made forward compatible with future accessibility.This is a practice I provide to my clients at no extra charge when doing new or major renovations.

]]> By: Steve Crossland http://crosslandteam.com/blog/2007/08/27/deciding-against-tankless-water-heaters-for-our-new-home/#comment-873 Steve Crossland Fri, 31 Aug 2007 01:00:16 +0000 http://ben.crosslandteam.com/blog/2007/08/27/deciding-against-tankless-water-heaters-for-our-new-home/#comment-873 Walt, Thanks for the links. Great info. Steve Walt,
Thanks for the links. Great info.
Steve

]]> By: waltsatan http://crosslandteam.com/blog/2007/08/27/deciding-against-tankless-water-heaters-for-our-new-home/#comment-878 waltsatan Thu, 30 Aug 2007 19:22:49 +0000 http://ben.crosslandteam.com/blog/2007/08/27/deciding-against-tankless-water-heaters-for-our-new-home/#comment-878 Here is some information regarding gas vs. electric: http://www.tankless-water-heaters.com/gasvelectric.htm http://www.e-tankless.com/gas-vs-electric.php I was going to install a gas unit initially, but switched to electric because it has better efficiency - not to mention a less complicated install (I'm a DIYer). Cost efficiency comes down to actual fuel costs though. ws p.s. I have a small house too, and my lights don't dim when the unit is on (2x60 amp circuit). Here is some information regarding gas vs. electric:

http://www.tankless-water-heaters.com/gasvelectric.htm
http://www.e-tankless.com/gas-vs-electric.php

I was going to install a gas unit initially, but switched to electric because it has better efficiency – not to mention a less complicated install (I’m a DIYer). Cost efficiency comes down to actual fuel costs though.

ws

p.s. I have a small house too, and my lights don’t dim when the unit is on (2×60 amp circuit).

]]> By: Scott http://crosslandteam.com/blog/2007/08/27/deciding-against-tankless-water-heaters-for-our-new-home/#comment-877 Scott Thu, 30 Aug 2007 17:45:02 +0000 http://ben.crosslandteam.com/blog/2007/08/27/deciding-against-tankless-water-heaters-for-our-new-home/#comment-877 Electric would not require venting, but it does require one stinking heavy duty circuit and some big honking wire. I am not sure if it would save over a gas unit in usage costs though. I would truly doubt it. I personally like the tankless units in theory. I think they make a lot of sense. Funny how they have been used in European nations for quite some time (albeit sans the good venting). Electric would not require venting, but it does require one stinking heavy duty circuit and some big honking wire. I am not sure if it would save over a gas unit in usage costs though. I would truly doubt it. I personally like the tankless units in theory. I think they make a lot of sense. Funny how they have been used in European nations for quite some time (albeit sans the good venting).

]]> By: Tricia http://crosslandteam.com/blog/2007/08/27/deciding-against-tankless-water-heaters-for-our-new-home/#comment-876 Tricia Thu, 30 Aug 2007 13:24:52 +0000 http://ben.crosslandteam.com/blog/2007/08/27/deciding-against-tankless-water-heaters-for-our-new-home/#comment-876 I read that if you are going tankless, electric can actually be more energy efficient. Any truth to this? Would an electric be cheaper to install? I read that if you are going tankless, electric can actually be more energy efficient. Any truth to this? Would an electric be cheaper to install?

]]> By: Steve Crossland http://crosslandteam.com/blog/2007/08/27/deciding-against-tankless-water-heaters-for-our-new-home/#comment-875 Steve Crossland Thu, 30 Aug 2007 12:36:56 +0000 http://ben.crosslandteam.com/blog/2007/08/27/deciding-against-tankless-water-heaters-for-our-new-home/#comment-875 > Gee. Be careful posting on the web in Austin about NOT choosing the greenest option for something. Heh, point well taken. > Gee. Be careful posting on the web in Austin about NOT choosing the greenest option for something.

Heh, point well taken.

]]> By: Tommy http://crosslandteam.com/blog/2007/08/27/deciding-against-tankless-water-heaters-for-our-new-home/#comment-874 Tommy Thu, 30 Aug 2007 11:32:28 +0000 http://ben.crosslandteam.com/blog/2007/08/27/deciding-against-tankless-water-heaters-for-our-new-home/#comment-874 Gee. Be careful posting on the web in Austin about NOT choosing the greenest option for something. I used an electric tankless on a small house and loved the way I didn't need dimmer switches. I could just crank up the 50 Amp unit and have a nice dinner by candelight :) As for paying $3k for a gas unit, it does sound like a poor economic investment for a 3-5 year house. Gee. Be careful posting on the web in Austin about NOT choosing the greenest option for something. I used an electric tankless on a small house and loved the way I didn’t need dimmer switches. I could just crank up the 50 Amp unit and have a nice dinner by candelight :) As for paying $3k for a gas unit, it does sound like a poor economic investment for a 3-5 year house.

]]> By: Uday http://crosslandteam.com/blog/2007/08/27/deciding-against-tankless-water-heaters-for-our-new-home/#comment-872 Uday Thu, 30 Aug 2007 05:22:47 +0000 http://ben.crosslandteam.com/blog/2007/08/27/deciding-against-tankless-water-heaters-for-our-new-home/#comment-872 waltsatan, you are only saving the energy which is used to maintain the water temp at, say, 120F. Very less! waltsatan,

you are only saving the energy which is used to maintain the water temp at, say, 120F. Very less!

]]> By: waltsatan http://crosslandteam.com/blog/2007/08/27/deciding-against-tankless-water-heaters-for-our-new-home/#comment-871 waltsatan Thu, 30 Aug 2007 04:49:13 +0000 http://ben.crosslandteam.com/blog/2007/08/27/deciding-against-tankless-water-heaters-for-our-new-home/#comment-871 I switched to an electric tankless last year and love it, even though it was more expensive. Traditional water heaters are a complete waste of energy and they don't age very gracefully. ws I switched to an electric tankless last year and love it, even though it was more expensive. Traditional water heaters are a complete waste of energy and they don’t age very gracefully.

ws

]]> By: Uday http://crosslandteam.com/blog/2007/08/27/deciding-against-tankless-water-heaters-for-our-new-home/#comment-870 Uday Wed, 29 Aug 2007 16:31:49 +0000 http://ben.crosslandteam.com/blog/2007/08/27/deciding-against-tankless-water-heaters-for-our-new-home/#comment-870 Hi Steve, I went thru the same dilemma and decided to not to go for Tankless Gas Water Heater. Builder quoted $2500 for each unit installed. For my house, we require 2. So, it too expensive! Instead of spending so much one can simply go for water circulation pump installed near the tank which cost $250. Annual approx saving are around $20! See this...http://rewci.com/whhohotwaci.html Did you consider any other things like... Ridge and Soffit Venting Vinyle windows Rainwater harvesting awnings Hight Efficiency Toilets (HET Toilets) etc Hi Steve,

I went thru the same dilemma and decided to not to go for Tankless Gas Water Heater. Builder quoted $2500 for each unit installed. For my house, we require 2. So, it too expensive!

Instead of spending so much one can simply go for water circulation pump installed near the tank which cost $250. Annual approx saving are around $20! See this…http://rewci.com/whhohotwaci.html

Did you consider any other things like…

Ridge and Soffit Venting
Vinyle windows
Rainwater harvesting
awnings
Hight Efficiency Toilets (HET Toilets)
etc

]]> By: Steve Crossland http://crosslandteam.com/blog/2007/08/27/deciding-against-tankless-water-heaters-for-our-new-home/#comment-869 Steve Crossland Wed, 29 Aug 2007 03:07:39 +0000 http://ben.crosslandteam.com/blog/2007/08/27/deciding-against-tankless-water-heaters-for-our-new-home/#comment-869 Hi Kim, > can’t you consider it an investment that you can add to the cost when you sell? I wish it worked that way. My "similar to a hybris" comment refers to the fact that sometimes, we spend money on things for reasons other than pure econimic benefit. I'm glad your hybrid has paid for itself. I had heard it would take about 7 years? Steve Hi Kim,

> can’t you consider it an investment that you can add to the cost when you sell?

I wish it worked that way. My “similar to a hybris” comment refers to the fact that sometimes, we spend money on things for reasons other than pure econimic benefit. I’m glad your hybrid has paid for itself. I had heard it would take about 7 years?
Steve

]]> By: kim http://crosslandteam.com/blog/2007/08/27/deciding-against-tankless-water-heaters-for-our-new-home/#comment-868 kim Wed, 29 Aug 2007 00:28:42 +0000 http://ben.crosslandteam.com/blog/2007/08/27/deciding-against-tankless-water-heaters-for-our-new-home/#comment-868 well, i bought a hybrid car in 2003 and it has paid for itself without a doubt. and better for the environment. can't you consider it an investment that you can add to the cost when you sell? i guess i personally would like to see more energy saving features in new homes. well, i bought a hybrid car in 2003 and it has paid for itself without a doubt. and better for the environment. can’t you consider it an investment that you can add to the cost when you sell? i guess i personally would like to see more energy saving features in new homes.

]]> By: Steve Crossland http://crosslandteam.com/blog/2007/08/27/deciding-against-tankless-water-heaters-for-our-new-home/#comment-866 Steve Crossland Tue, 28 Aug 2007 02:47:42 +0000 http://ben.crosslandteam.com/blog/2007/08/27/deciding-against-tankless-water-heaters-for-our-new-home/#comment-866 Hi Jim, The units alone are about $1200 each, http://www.foreverhotwater.com/model-r85e.php plus the additional plumbing to have them mounted on the exterior of the home instead of the locations where the current water heaters were to be, minus the savings from not purchasing the original units. I'm not sure how much cheaper it would have been if planned in from the start. Even with the rebates, it wasn't going to make sense in the short term. It's a similar equation as deciding on a hybrid vehicle for $3K more. steve Hi Jim,

The units alone are about $1200 each,
http://www.foreverhotwater.com/model-r85e.php
plus the additional plumbing to have them mounted on the exterior of the home instead of the locations where the current water heaters were to be, minus the savings from not purchasing the original units. I’m not sure how much cheaper it would have been if planned in from the start.

Even with the rebates, it wasn’t going to make sense in the short term. It’s a similar equation as deciding on a hybrid vehicle for $3K more.

steve

]]> By: FlatGreg http://crosslandteam.com/blog/2007/08/27/deciding-against-tankless-water-heaters-for-our-new-home/#comment-867 FlatGreg Tue, 28 Aug 2007 02:22:04 +0000 http://ben.crosslandteam.com/blog/2007/08/27/deciding-against-tankless-water-heaters-for-our-new-home/#comment-867 $3k seems high for a new home, although in existing homes the cost to route larger gas lines and the higher temp exhaust can add up to a lot. Did you factor both the austin energy and federal rebates into the picture? I believe they're $300 each, which can make a tankless actually cheaper than a normal water heater. Labor though will still be higher on a tankless. $3k seems high for a new home, although in existing homes the cost to route larger gas lines and the higher temp exhaust can add up to a lot. Did you factor both the austin energy and federal rebates into the picture? I believe they’re $300 each, which can make a tankless actually cheaper than a normal water heater. Labor though will still be higher on a tankless.

]]> By: M1EK http://crosslandteam.com/blog/2007/08/27/deciding-against-tankless-water-heaters-for-our-new-home/#comment-865 M1EK Mon, 27 Aug 2007 19:20:25 +0000 http://ben.crosslandteam.com/blog/2007/08/27/deciding-against-tankless-water-heaters-for-our-new-home/#comment-865 I guess for a McMansion it's probably negligible, but for those of us in sensibly-sized homes, simply recapturing the closet space is worth quite a bit. I guess for a McMansion it’s probably negligible, but for those of us in sensibly-sized homes, simply recapturing the closet space is worth quite a bit.

]]> By: Jim http://crosslandteam.com/blog/2007/08/27/deciding-against-tankless-water-heaters-for-our-new-home/#comment-864 Jim Mon, 27 Aug 2007 17:33:59 +0000 http://ben.crosslandteam.com/blog/2007/08/27/deciding-against-tankless-water-heaters-for-our-new-home/#comment-864 Is it really $3000 for the upgrade? What is costing so much? The additional venting requirements? just wondering Is it really $3000 for the upgrade?

What is costing so much?

The additional venting requirements?

just wondering

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