Water Heaters - Tankless for hard water cottage in Maine?

I need to replace a water heater, and I do not know how to evaluate the tankless option.

I must replace the heater asap, because this is a week-end cottage, and a tank failure would be catastrophic [flooded utility room and crawl space, well pumped dry, pumped burned out ...]

This is for a two bedroom cottage in Maine. We currently have a standard electric water heater[30? 40? gallon] that appears to be close to failing after only five years. The inspector suggested that this is because the water is very hard and the sacrificial rod was not replaced.

I am considering a tankless because space is limited, the heat source is electric, and we turn off the heat for the water from Monday morning to Friday night.

However, the cottage [and electrical system] is older; the cottage may have six or more people any week-end; and we would like to be able to rent the place if money gets tight. And the well is dug, not drilled, so it can run dry.

So:
Does an electric tankless draw more electricity than a 30 gallon tank?

Is hard water worse for a tankless?

Will a tankless mean I draw MORE water from the well [because I don't have that 30 gallon reserve?] during times of use?

Are there other issues I should consider?

I am talking to a plumber and an electrician this week-end; what kind of issues will they bring up?

And what about mini-heaters? Four gallon tanks? Are they effective?


[BTW, I really hate the current heater; it is huge, it is by an outside wall, and about as far from the point of use as it could be. Shouldn't a water heater be as close to the point of use and/or in the warmest area possible?]

"Does an electric tankless draw more electricity than a 30 gallon tank?"

Yes, considerably more amperage.


"Is hard water worse for a tankless?"

Not necessarily. The tankless heater requires periodic "descaling" and hard water would increase the frequency of this requirement. However, since this is a weekend cabin and water usage is probably light the actual frequency cited as number of days would decrease dramatically over the same tankless heater used daily.


"Will a tankless mean I draw MORE water from the well [because I don't have that 30 gallon reserve?] during times of use?"

No. It matters not if hot water is stored or heated as needed, the flow from the well is the same.


"Are there other issues I should consider?"

Yes. How much hot water flow do you require? I rarely recommend tankless water heaters but in this situation a small tankless might be just the ticket for you. If you wash your dishes by hand, do not use a clothes washer (or use one with an internal water heater) are comfortable with using a low-flow shower and never use hot water from more than one faucet at a time then a small tankless could be ideal for your cabin.

Yes, if possible the water heater should be located as close to the point of use as is possible.

Do not waste your time and money on a "mini" water heater. They are only good to supply an amount of hot water to wash your hands after using the toilet.

Do you have propane at this cabin? Propane tankless water heaters are a viable alternative.

Thank you for the response.

I decide on the conventional heater; the wiring couldn't handle a tankless, and I want the 40 gallon reserve.