Hi There, I'm changing from an old tank heater to a tankless one. I've researched and found good reviews for EcoSmart ECO 27. I was also recommended brands like Rheem and Eccotemp. Check this for reference - thewiredshopper.com/best-tankless-water-heaters-to-buy. Has anyone tried installing the EcoSmart ECO? Any other recommendations? :smile:
Recommended tankless water heaters
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Yes. Don’t buy an electric tankless of that size unless it’s your only viable solution. You would be far better off with natural gas or propane.
That tankless is almost guaranteed to trigger a major upgrade to your electric service. It takes 6 breaker spaces, 120 amps total (3x 40 amps 2 pole) To power that thing. $$$
Edit: when a “review site” provide links and they all say “buy from Amazon”, you might want to question the “review”
That tankless is almost guaranteed to trigger a major upgrade to your electric service. It takes 6 breaker spaces, 120 amps total (3x 40 amps 2 pole) To power that thing. $$$
Edit: when a “review site” provide links and they all say “buy from Amazon”, you might want to question the “review”
Hi Mitchie and welcome to the forum.
I'm a retired energy auditor and have yet to see where a tankless water heater can save any significant money. There can be other reasons for installing one, like space issues, but add in the gas or electric supply costs and maintenance issues and other than the sales pitch there is nothing left.
Convince me!
Bud
I'm a retired energy auditor and have yet to see where a tankless water heater can save any significant money. There can be other reasons for installing one, like space issues, but add in the gas or electric supply costs and maintenance issues and other than the sales pitch there is nothing left.
Convince me!
Bud
What about having a ginormous whirlpool bathtub, and not wanting to have a 75-100 gallon hot water heater when a 50 gallon would do for the other 363 days per year?
(I guess the answer is, that makes for some expensive baths. To which the riposte is, sometimes baths are worth it, especially when all that space for >1 person is not wasted.)
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@Bud9051, two years after our install I have noticed a good reduction in our electric bill and the gas guys come up to the tank three times before they dump gas. From last July to last week $271, and we use the tankless water heater, gas logs and whole house generator. I have a game cam set up and it catches the propane truck (among others) coming and going. Electric bill, on average was about $170, and is down to $120 as of today. I am pleased with the savings, meager as it is. Just for info.
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During the winter what is your incoming cold water temperature?
If you need more than 4 gpm an electric tankless water heater will not be a good choice. Also be aware that a tankless water heater needs a flow of 0.7 gpm to activate and if you use a slow flow or shut off the tap and then turn it back on again, as when shaving for example, then there will be a slug of cold water in the line.Electric tankless work well for a single faucet but not for a whole house.
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Just replace it. Stick with a tank heater of the sort you already have.
All the above comments related to replacing a tank water heater with Tank-less one are interesting and at the same time very truth based on all things bean equal. However, things are not equal anymore. Just about every progressive city in the USA (and the federal government) have required that when replacing the "old" water heater it be replaced with a new more efficient unit. If we are to compare the average efficiency of a tank water heater of 65% with the equivalent tank-less of 96%, the outcome. The new more efficient tank units are still way below the efficiency of the tank=less but more expensive. To the point that a 8.4 gpm tank-less unit equivalent to a 40 gallon tank have about the same price (Amazon) of $790.00. The only big difference is the labor cost of the "old" versus tank-less new installation.
The days of building or remodeling a home with the least cost components are over. The new rule is "Next Code/Weather Change/Global Efficiency". It's the law.
The days of building or remodeling a home with the least cost components are over. The new rule is "Next Code/Weather Change/Global Efficiency". It's the law.
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edit: The days of building or remodeling a home with known quantity of long proven quality, highly reliable and low cost to boot...
The irony is that so many really believe it's a better path.
Georgemca, and therein lies an issue in that in general a propane tankless requires a 3/4” black pipe line (at least where I am)....so I HAVE an 80 gallon propane water heater....and it is old and thought of replacing same.....until I got the price for labor and materials to upgrade the service....which was more than the unit being installed. That said, I’ve heard good things about a hybrid “tankless” propane that can still use the existing 1/2” gas line because it uses a small holding tank. Need to check it out further.
I am considering a tankless. Below is a photo of my panel. Below that is the electrical requirements I would need for my chosen tankless. My panel only has 1 open position but that includes the 2 20amp breakers used for my current tank heater so I guess you could say I will have 3 open positions available. Would I be able to change out what is needed in my current panel to accommodate the tankless electrical or am I looking at a new panel or sub panel situation?
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25,058 Posts
My tank elec. WH lost 75w, always.
It was on 7 min each 7 hrs and when I insulated it it was on 5 min each 7 hrs.
Germany has these things and I always got a cold water sandwich if I took a shower, but a tub smoothes out the temp. fluctuations.
There are ways to equate inconvenience with dollars, just ask!
It was on 7 min each 7 hrs and when I insulated it it was on 5 min each 7 hrs.
Germany has these things and I always got a cold water sandwich if I took a shower, but a tub smoothes out the temp. fluctuations.
There are ways to equate inconvenience with dollars, just ask!
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Your post makes absolutely no sense whatsoever.
Not to you, it doesn't.
Don't bother to read my post on mortality, you'd be wasting what little time you have left.
I don't blame you for not understanding, I blame you for not trying.
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