electric tankless water heater for addition?
Loster
4 years ago
Featured Answer
Sort by:Oldest
Comments (23)
dadoes
4 years agoulisdone
4 years agoRelated Discussions
Electric tankless water heater or not
Comments (5)Kats_Meow, I'm in TX, SW of Houston. I'm on a private well, semi-rural area at edge of my town. My pump tank is in my (detached) garage. My well and (submerged) pump is wayyyy around on the other side of the property due to logistics and requirements of sufficient space for both a well and septic, so it's a long (but underground) run from the pump to the tank. During the occasional cold snaps like this past winter, incoming water temp can drop to less than 40°F. In heat of the summer it may be 80°F or a tad more. My electric tankless is a 120amp unit. It doesn't have any problem generating 135°F to 140°F output when I (occasionally) want that high a temp for washing a load of whites. Otherwise I set the tankless at 100°F to 102°F in summer, 104°F in winter for normal use. That low temp is fine for dishes, my dishwasher has on-board heating and can work with a cold input. My tankless unit varies its power draw per the input temp, output temp, and flow rate. It may operate at little as 5% of full power or at 85%+ ... so obviously it doesn't always pull 120 amps, but the circuit must be able to supply full power when needed....See MoreElectric tankless water heater
Comments (11)To achieve 4 GPM at 60 temp degree rise it with require about a 30 KW unit. Which should be adequate for two 2.5 GPM showers set at 105 degrees. At 240 volts (most homes have 215-230, so even less output) it will take 120 amp service alone to heat the water, even on a 200 amp service, doesnÂt leave you enough to run heat pump, dryer, range/oven and lighting. In addition you mention turning off gas at furnace so will you be adding more electric coils to the ductwork for when the heat pump canÂt keep up when itÂs cold out? If you hate gas that much, install a 60 gallon plus electric water heater, pull furnace and install air handler with electric resistance back up heat, and then complain about the high energy bill while the rising electric costs continue to climb since they are closely tied to Nat gas costs because of production. Most people donÂt have a concept of how much input or energy is required to heat water with electric, especially on-demand units. Look at the gas units, instead of a 40 gallon tank with 40,000 BtuÂs the gas on-demand units are 200,000 BtuÂs to meet the draw demand....See MoreOn-Demand Electric Tankless Water Heater Questions
Comments (17)Tankless heaters have used as a marketing idea that they will increase efficiency by not having hot water sitting around in a tank all day not being used. It's an easy concept for consumers to grasp, but it's not true. On an electric heater, the difference in the energy factor is very small between a tank and a tankless heater. A tank heater will be in the area of 0.93 and a tankless might be 0.95 - not enough difference to talk about and certainly not enough to provide payback. That represents the amount of heat lost through the walls of a well insulated tank. With gas heaters it's different. The vast majority of the efficiency gain is in the lowered flue temps. Second is not having the heat loss through the center of the tank. For your situation, what you should know is that a properly installed and operating electric tank heater is extremely reliable and efficient. Get yours replaced or repaired and the TPV properly routed to the drain so that it doesn't cause damage. Since you have lost confidence in your heater, I would just replace it rather than repair. Make sure that you are addressing thermal expansion issues that might have caused the TPV to open. If you want more space, consider a stacking washer and dryer and eliminating the sink. The front loading LG's are full size (huge inside) stack and don't use much water - eliminating the overflowing washtub issue. That would be a cheaper way to get space than a tankless heater and they are great machines....See MoreTankless Electric Water Heater Below an Electrical Panel
Comments (9)Have to disagree with GreenDesigns who states, "they offer almost zero improvement in efficiency of a new high quality tanked electric heater. ...electrical tankless is only truly practical if designed for a new build from the beginning. Retrofitting is extremely expensive and won't give you a payback for the cost differences inside of your lifetime." I put a whole-house electric tankless in my 1906 house and will never store water in a tank again. Absolutely love it! It's mounted on the wall, directly to the side and just above the dryer. I did not bother to hide the water lines inside the wall, but since they're [mostly] hidden by the dryer, who cares? Sometimes, putting plumbing pipes in the wall is highly overrated. Mine is in the bath/laundry room and I've never found it to be unsightly. Yes, the tankless requires quite a bit of power: Mine requires two, double-pole 60amp breakers with 6g wire. So, here's where distance from the electric panel is a cost consideration....See MoreUser
4 years agolast modified: 4 years agoJake The Wonderdog
4 years agoLoster
4 years agoLoster
4 years agobranson4020
4 years agoLoster
4 years agodadoes
4 years agoHarriet Desimone
4 years agoJake The Wonderdog
4 years agoLoster
4 years agoJake The Wonderdog
4 years agolast modified: 4 years agodadoes
4 years agosuezbell
4 years agoLoster
4 years agogirl_wonder
4 years agoUser
4 years agolast modified: 4 years agogirl_wonder
4 years agoPatricia Colwell Consulting
4 years agolast modified: 4 years agoLoster
4 years agoJake The Wonderdog
4 years agolast modified: 4 years ago
Related Stories
GREAT HOME PROJECTSHow to Switch to a Tankless Water Heater
New project for a new year: Swap your conventional heater for an energy-saving model — and don’t be fooled by misinformation
Full StoryGREAT HOME PROJECTSHow to Add a Solar Water Heater
Lower energy bills without a major renovation by putting the sun to work heating your home’s water
Full StoryBATHROOM DESIGNWater Damage Spawns a Space-Saving Bathroom Remodel
A game of inches saved this small New York City bathroom from becoming too cramped and limited
Full StorySAVING WATER11 Ways to Save Water at Home
Whether you live in a drought-stricken area or just want to help preserve a precious resource, here are things you can do to use less water
Full StoryGREEN BUILDINGWater Sense for Big Savings
Keep dollars in your pocket and preserve a precious resource with these easy DIY strategies
Full StoryREMODELING GUIDESMovin’ On Up: What to Consider With a Second-Story Addition
Learn how an extra story will change your house and its systems to avoid headaches and extra costs down the road
Full StoryGREEN DECORATINGEasy Green: Big and Small Ways to Be More Water-Wise at Home
These 20 tips can help us all make the best use of a precious resource. How do you save water in summer?
Full StoryDISASTER PREP & RECOVERYRemodeling After Water Damage: Tips From a Homeowner Who Did It
Learn the crucial steps and coping mechanisms that can help when flooding strikes your home
Full StoryMIDCENTURY HOMESAddition Gives Michigan Couple a Midcentury-Style Retreat
A designer adds 600 square feet to her family’s home, creating a dream master bedroom and a second living room
Full StoryLANDSCAPE DESIGN10 Ideas for a Creative, Water-Conscious Yard
Check out these tips for a great-looking outdoor area that needs less water
Full Story
Patricia Colwell Consulting