Tankless hot water heaters....

[Tru2Chevy]

Anyone have any experience with them? Good/Bad?

We are adding a full bathroom to our basement, and we are thinking of getting one (as our current 50 gallon heater is already slightly overloaded). The benefits seem great, but I've read a lot of mixed reviews online.

I know they are more expensive than a standard heater, but many of them qualify for a $300 tax credit (http://www.cpotanklesswaterheaters.com/tax_credits_for_energy_efficient_tankless_water_he aters.html).

Thanks for any input you guys/girls might have....

- Justin

[Firebird67dude]

My older brother does heat/ac hvac work. I'll ask him if u want Justin.

[slugger27nj]

My ex-boss had one put in his house when he built it, and he loves it. He said he could basically run hot water out of every faucet in the house 24/7 and never run out. According to him, the savings were noticable longterm. Him and his wife have 3 girls and twin boys, so I guess they need a lot of hot water.

[BonzoHansen]

It appears their true benefit is size. And on-demand hot water (ie no cold water due to other shower on).

[johnjzjz]

they work real well like was said endless hot water -- savings come in in the fact that you only use energy when its on - the hot water -- the rest of the time it does not use anything no elect or gas -- comes 3 ways elect, natural gas or propane -- jz

[qwikz28]

yup my buddy has it at his house... they claim it works flawlessly and saves on a little bit of energy. they had a tank break on them so they were eager to get rid of the tank. i say do it and don't look back

[EchoMirage]

theyre best if you dont use hot water much. a big family, doing laundry, dishes, several showers a day, and itll run up the bill alot faster. if you live alone, or just a couple, and only 1-2 showers, dishes, some laundry, then itll save you money since the heat is basically on-demand. all the while youre at work, the gas/electricity isnt being used. a regular tank heater will be better for alot of use.

[DieselKickYoAss4Sure]

personal preference it would be good if it was just being used for that bathroom which is going to be the case.

[Tru2Chevy]

Yes, we aren't planning on taking out that 50 gallon tank heater that we have now...that will still provide hot water for the rest of the house. I was planning on getting a smaller unit that would only provide hot water for a shower/tub and a sink in the downstairs bathroom.

Thanks for the input so far, I'm prolly gonna get one, just have to decide which one.

- Justin

[Fast92RS]

Yeah Ive heard that the tankless ones are good if they are close to the place were the hot water is going to be used, such as being close to a bathroom. This way you dont have to wait for hot water to begin to flow out of the faucet. Ive thought of it my self as well. My water heater is on the opposite side of the house from where the main bathroom is. Sometimes it takes a little while for hot water to get to the faucet. I have tried insulating all the hot water pipes but it didnt really make much of a difference.