Tankless Water Heater? (Gas)

[Up0n0ne]

We are looking at getting a new water heater and was quoted $1,200, which included water heater, install, and all the necessary equp. to bring it up to code.
Would it be better and possibly cheaper to go ahead and install a tankless water heater?

[Vertnut]

This is an ongoing debate, with a lot of variables. Do you have a gas heater now? Where is it located (tankless units need really good venting). It certainly won't be cheaper, and I know some people that find flaws with them once they are installed. $1200 sounds really high for a replacement unit.

[ceyko]

Basically going to mirror Vertnut, with different words. I know people with them that are happy, and vice versa. I don't know the details but the ones that are unhappy because of what I'll quote below (this type of thing).

There is also the counter argument about the upfront costs destroying any real ROI.

To be honest, if you have a larger family or run out of hot water with a normal tank - I'd just buy a bigger one or turn up the temp on whatever you install. That's just my opinion - I want tankless to be awesome - just does not seem like it is quite yet from what I've read.

Water runs hot and cold
Manufacturers of tankless water heaters are fond of touting their products' ability to provide an endless amount of hot water. But inconsistent water temperatures were a common complaint among our poll respondents. When you turn on the faucet, tankless models feed in some cold water to gauge how big a temperature rise is needed. If there's cool water lingering in your pipes, you'll receive a momentary "cold-water sandwich" between the old and new hot water. And a tankless water heater's burner might not ignite when you try to get just a trickle of hot water for, say, shaving.

Nor do tankless water heaters deliver hot water instantaneously. It takes time to heat the water to the target temperature, and just like storage water heaters, any cold water in the pipes needs to be pushed out. And tankless models' electric controls mean you'll also lose hot water during a power outage.

[Vertnut]

Yeah. Something that's never discussed about tankless, is that the temperature of the ground water going IN greatly affects the temperature going OUT. If you call Renai (the only manufacturer I would recommend) all they guarantee is about 20-25 degree change in the water temp. In the spring/summer, when the ground water temp is 80-85 degree's, it's great. In the winter when the ground temp is 60-65, it's not that great.

[bcoop]

Take the size of the gas line in to account too. Most of them require a 3/4" gas line. My house has a 1/2" gas line to the water heater. So when I eventually get around to making the change, I'll also have to replace the line going to the water heater.

[Vertnut]

Take the size of the gas line in to account too. Most of them require a 3/4" gas line. My house has a 1/2" gas line to the water heater. So when I eventually get around to making the change, I'll also have to replace the line going to the water heater.

A lot of times Oncor needs to know of an increase in demand from their meter's, too. Meter's are set at houses based on their demand for gas: water heaters, heater's, cooktops, dryers, etc. Especially in older homes, it can affect the supply delivered to the house.

[Up0n0ne]

This is an ongoing debate, with a lot of variables. Do you have a gas heater now? Where is it located (tankless units need really good venting). It certainly won't be cheaper, and I know some people that find flaws with them once they are installed. $1200 sounds really high for a replacement unit.

Well we have 2, the one that would be getting replaced is located pretty much in a closet in the bedroom side of the house. Although it is vented, it is in a closet so ??
The water heater is really old, possibly the original and definitely not up to code. It still works fine, but the two reasons for wanting it changed is if it were to start leaking it has no where to go but all over the house and we just put our house on the market.
Quote seemed high to me as well, he said it needed all this stuff to bring it up to code??
I'll call another company though and get another quote.
Thanks for the input.

Basically going to mirror Vertnut, with different words. I know people with them that are happy, and vice versa. I don't know the details but the ones that are unhappy because of what I'll quote below (this type of thing).

There is also the counter argument about the upfront costs destroying any real ROI.

To be honest, if you have a larger family or run out of hot water with a normal tank - I'd just buy a bigger one or turn up the temp on whatever you install. That's just my opinion - I want tankless to be awesome - just does not seem like it is quite yet from what I've read.

Didn't know all of this, so may just replace the one we have.