Tankless Water Heaters-again

TnTnTn · #1 08/09/10, 08:16 AM

I think my propane tank water heater is on its way out. I have been thinking when I replace it I would go with a tankless version. I have read a few threads over the last few years about them and seem to remember that Bosch was considered a good heater for the money. I think the Rennai(spelling) was considered good but a lot more pricey.
Any way as I said I use propane for heating water so what are your recommendations and experiences with the Bosch or any other tankless for that matter? Thanks for your input. TnTnTn

DamnearaFarm · #2 08/09/10, 10:02 AM

Interested in the responses as we are looking at going tankless as well- but electric instead.

ronbre · #3 08/09/10, 10:43 AM

mother earth had a story on changing to tankless water heaters back a few months..try going to their site and searching for the story

danielsumner · #4 08/09/10, 01:47 PM

We put a Stiebel Eltron Tankless Water Heater in our retirement home. Its mounted in the attic. All of our plumbing is pex lines. I just looked up the receipt from when we bought it in 07. I paid $693 total with shipping. It's a whole house heater. I tried to run out of hot water one time. Turned on all the showers, washer, dishwasher, sinks ect. and let run for 15 minutes. I used my temp gun on the water coming out. Never fluctuated one bit. It has more than paid for itself, by not having a big tank of water heating all the time. I also feel better knowing that I won't have a water tank leak and cause a mess. Heres a link to the brand that I bought.
http://www.stiebel-eltron-usa.com/tempra.html

Daniel

rancher1913 · #5 08/09/10, 02:30 PM

they are great unless you have hard or mineral water, the exchangers will scale up and plug with hard water unless you descale them like once a month or sooner depending on the hardness of your water. most warrenty's are void if your hardness is over a certain percent. they had to stop selling them around here because our hardness is sometimes 100 grains and it was destroying them.

crunchy_mama · #6 08/09/10, 03:44 PM

That is good to know about the hard water. Ours is y extremely hard, dh had already ruled them out as he thought it wouldn't work w/ are growing family but I guess that seals the deal.

Curtis B · #7 08/09/10, 04:44 PM

The better units come with a maintenance schedule. The ones I have installed call for periodicly running vinegar through them for a set time period (ie. once a year for 1 hour). This is supposed to clean the mineral deposits and scale out.

orangehen · #8 08/09/10, 06:39 PM

rancher 1913, I've had a propane tankless water heater for 9 years, and I have EXTREMELY hard water (in NW Illinois - all limestone underneath). I've had no problems so far (knock on wood). I think I read somewhere that if you don't have them turned up to scalding all the time, you won't be so bothered with limning up. I keep mine just a little over comfortable doing dishes by hand. So far, so good. I'd get another one in a heartbeat over the big tank types. Mine is hanging on the wall in my basement, takes up almost no room, and I really love it.

Fae · #9 08/09/10, 07:25 PM

I have had one about 6 months now and I love it. I wash my dishes by hand and have found I don't have hot water if I am turning the water off and on but as long as it runs it gets very hot and I no longer run out of hot water for my shower. My propane usage has gone down since I got it also.