Water Heaters - Tankless Hot Water suggestions

Hello,

Does anyone have any reccommendations on tankless hot water heaters (brands, size, etc.)

I have three bathrooms, and would like to at least run two showers at once, so I am reading that the higher GPM units are needed.

Also, it has to be LP- and I do have access to vent vertically, then out the rim joist horizontally to the outside.

Any suggestions on brand name? I am looking at somewhere in the $1000 range if possible.

THanks in advance

Rinnai and Noritz are brands often mentioned. Rheem also has a good line.

Make sure you calculate your winter ground water temp, then estimate your degree rise needs. The LARGE print in tankless ads often gives a GPM for 40º rise, where the FINE print gives the much lower number for 80º , which is what you really need.

You might get by with one unit in the $1k range, but you really imply that your usage might dictate 2 units.

The install will cost a lot more than the unit....larger gas lines, all stainless steel vents, etc.

I came across SEISCO electrick tankless water heaters that are used in PATH demo and concept homes (and elsewhere).

I don't personally have it but am, like you, inventigating tankless variety. Natural Gas tankless quotes I recceived had 7+ years for financial payback and because of the special venting required the unit to be installed on the outside wall 30 feet away form the current hot water tank's location.

I like the idea of a unit not requiring any special venting, although still looking into any special wiring needed...I've seen comments saying yes and comments saying no. I won't know for sure until I get an official installation quote for our home.

Dan

I've been looking into tankless systems too. In my case, for a country cottage with very low consumption. Came across the Titan brand from an eBay dealer. Entry level unit around $220. This is electrical unit. Requires special wiring (draws a lot of current) but sounds appealing. My problem is that they don't have CSA (Canadian Standards Assoc) certification and since I live in Canada, that would be a big issue; and raises the Q., why not? Didn't apply, or were turned down (they do have UL). Anyone have any info on this product?
Frank

My problem is that they don't have CSA (Canadian Standards Assoc) certification and since I live in Canada, that would be a big issue; and raises the Q., why not? Didn't apply, or were turned down (they do have UL). Anyone have any info on this product?

It could be that they didn't apply (it does cost money) or it could be they failed the testing.

Generally speaking you get what you pay for. I am not a fan of tankless water heaters in general and even less so in the case of electric models. I suggest that a small tank-type water heater may be better for you or to at least keep looking if you really want a tankless.

Furd,

Ever hear of an electric tankless used to heat a slab?

My sister built a house 9 years ago and used an oil fired boiler to heat the slab. The house is about 28x40 with way too many windows for northern Minnesota. More glass in the walls than wood.

Anyway, they were using a tank of oil a month $$$$$ so they bought a tankless unit that will run at night and the boiler in the day time (duel fuel plan).

I don't know but this sounds crazy to me.

Comments?

Thanks

Baldwin

Sounds crazy to me also. While some domestic water heaters are approved for space heating most are not. Many local jurisdictions do not approve them for space heating applications regardless of the manufacturer's approval for such use.

If the price of gas per BTU is significantly less than an equivalent amount of oil where your sister lives it might make some sense but I think in the long run it is just swapping one bill for a different bill. I suspect that she could get a far better return on her money by working on the entire heating system rather than by some stop-gap measures.

I got a call a while back form a homeowner who had a Takagi setup to supply both domestic hot water water and to heat a slab. The arrangement was blessed by Takagi, but was giving her endless grief because she could find no no one able to service the valves and controls once installed.

So the question is which one, there are many different kinds out there but which are good, the takagi is a good model but the venting is stainless steel and needs 6" clearance from combustables, meaning if you run it in your joists, horizontaly you need to line the pipe with galvanized pipe 6" in diameter and use proper spacers to keep the stainless pipe in the center of that pipe so that you can get your clearance from combustables. We have installed a takagi to run infloor heating, and with domestic priority, but have had nothing but problems with it! big problems!!
Another product out there is Rinaii which I have installed in my house, I have a big shower that has body sprays and a handheld, it can run 3 bodysprays at one time not to bad, but when another shower comes on at the same tie, you lose your flow due to it can't heat it as fast as you want it, so you get less water at the same temp. also with these two tankless they are still MID efficient as the flue gas leaving is still fairly warm, the venting on a rinaii is pastic, and fairly easily installed the price is resonable, if you are going a short distance.
Another product which I will be installing soon is call a Navien, it is a high efficient device, meaning the flue gas condensates as the heater is using as much heat as possible to heat the water. the venting you need 636 CSA piping for the exhaust, but the intake can be ABS(cheaper) the Navien also has a built in electric tank which has a pump on it for a recirc. line, which means at your farthest away fixture you run a water line back to your mech room and voila you have hot water there almost instantly, the tankless takes over when you turn on a tap (this is just an option and does not work well with the home-run system)
any questions??

the navien is about the same price as the rinaii, so I sugest the navien

An FAQ on my experience with tankless units, at my own properties and at home inspections:

http://paragoninspects.com/tankless-heater-home-inspection-evanston-chicago-il-faq.html

I installed a Noritz on the outside of my home about 1 month ago and it's driving me crazy. It's Model N-0931M-OD - this is the model with the gas vent located on the front of the unit. Since installation my plumber and I have been trying to get Nortiz to come out and listen to a loud electronic noise the unit makes each time the hot water is turned on and off. Instead, the technician has had us try, at my expense, adding a valve check and pressure regulator -- neither of which has stopped the noise. Noritz now tells my plumber "This is the loudest Unit we have," and "It's probably the servo (a device that tells the burner to come on) and is normal."
Before I return the Unit and fight Nortiz on reimbursing me for all the expense, has anyone else had a problem with an electronic noise on Noritz. It lasts only for a few seconds but you notice it each and every time hot water is turned on anywhere in the house. Even more strange, when my plumber flushed the system, the noise stopped completely for about a day but was back within 48 hours.
My plumber has been so disappointed with Noritz's response he's recommended a client not buy 4 of the systems for his large home. Update: I just got a return call from Noritz and they say they are sending a tech out tomorrow - if this actually happens, I'll post an update. But, please, if anyone has any trouble-shooting thoughts, I would love to have your input. Many thanks.