ltdiver 3 #26 January 11, 2008 Quote The house (manufactured home, whatever the hell you wanna call it) had an electric before it was vandalized. It's under renovation now - I'll check into the pros/cons (and legalities) of the tankless heaters when they finish rebuilding it, since I have to get new appliances anyway. Sorry to hear about the vandalization! Not nice. Guess new appliances kind of eases the burden, though? I have a friend who's house was hit by lightning a couple years ago. Her home owners insurance replaced everything. Electrical appliances (including her computer, tv, stereo, etc), her carpeting, her drapes, painted her outside and inside walls....etc. And they put her up in a hotel while the renovation was happening. She actually came out ahead in the long run. ltdiver Don't tell me the sky's the limit when there are footprints on the moon Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ltdiver 3 #27 January 11, 2008 Quote Means they have to lay less pipe..... Yeah, but is the length of pipe the reason the price is so prohibitive, or is it the conversion factor? ltdiver Don't tell me the sky's the limit when there are footprints on the moon Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ltdiver 3 #28 January 11, 2008 Quote The problem with them is that they suck up power. More than a conventional water heater turning on and off throughout the day? ltdiver Don't tell me the sky's the limit when there are footprints on the moon Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
mnealtx 0 #29 January 11, 2008 SOMEone had to say it!!! Gas pipe in/of itself ain't cheap...the closer the better! re: vandalism - I got a whole 3k from the insurance company... wasn't that nice of them? Mike I love you, Shannon and Jim. POPS 9708 , SCR 14706 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ltdiver 3 #30 January 11, 2008 Quote The venting was a single 5" PVC tube - exhaust on the inside, air intake around the outside. A 5" hole saw made short work of my basement header board. Guess we're uber conscience here in CA. Our permits stipulate stainless steel vents for these. ltdiver Don't tell me the sky's the limit when there are footprints on the moon Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
mnealtx 0 #31 January 11, 2008 Quote Quote The venting was a single 5" PVC tube - exhaust on the inside, air intake around the outside. A 5" hole saw made short work of my basement header board. Guess we're uber conscience here in CA. Our permits stipulate stainless steel vents for these. ltdiver "Pimp My Tankless Water Heater"Mike I love you, Shannon and Jim. POPS 9708 , SCR 14706 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
BillyVance 34 #32 January 11, 2008 Quote SOMEone had to say it!!! Gas pipe in/of itself ain't cheap...the closer the better! re: vandalism - I got a whole 3k from the insurance company... wasn't that nice of them? Fucking scrooges if you ask me. "Mediocre people don't like high achievers, and high achievers don't like mediocre people." - SIX TIME National Champion coach Nick Saban Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
mnealtx 0 #33 January 11, 2008 Quote Quote SOMEone had to say it!!! Gas pipe in/of itself ain't cheap...the closer the better! re: vandalism - I got a whole 3k from the insurance company... wasn't that nice of them? Fucking scrooges if you ask me. Like I said, gives me an opportunity to change things I didn't like about the place when it was bought.... I'm looking on the bright side.Mike I love you, Shannon and Jim. POPS 9708 , SCR 14706 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
SansSuit 1 #34 January 11, 2008 OK, I have a question. I lived in Germany in the 70's. Every apartment I had was equipped with a tankless. They didn't seem all that complicated. Why are they such a big deal 30 years later? You would think they would have all the bugs worked out by now.Peace, -Dawson. http://www.SansSuit.com The Society for the Advancement of Naked Skydiving Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
mnealtx 0 #35 January 11, 2008 Quote OK, I have a question. I lived in Germany in the 70's. Every apartment I had was equipped with a tankless. They didn't seem all that complicated. Why are they such a big deal 30 years later? You would think they would have all the bugs worked out by now. The one's that you're probably thinking of weren't tankless...merely miniature hot water heaters (compared to stateside models)Mike I love you, Shannon and Jim. POPS 9708 , SCR 14706 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
psw097 0 #36 January 11, 2008 Uber something but conscience would not have been my guess. The cold air intake is the only pipe that passed through the building. The exhaust is inside the intake. If the cold air intake gets hot enough for combustion something really bad happened and stainless isn't going to help much at that point. Now the inner exhaust may be stainless - I'd have to go look but its cold, dark and rainy outside. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ltdiver 3 #37 January 11, 2008 Quote Quote OK, I have a question. I lived in Germany in the 70's. Every apartment I had was equipped with a tankless. They didn't seem all that complicated. Why are they such a big deal 30 years later? You would think they would have all the bugs worked out by now. The one's that you're probably thinking of weren't tankless...merely miniature hot water heaters (compared to stateside models) A Little History Lesson. ltdiver Don't tell me the sky's the limit when there are footprints on the moon Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Amazon 7 #38 January 11, 2008 Its a tankless job.... but someone has to do it. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Gene03 0 #39 January 11, 2008 “The only fool bigger than the person who knows it all is the person who argues with him. Stanislaw Jerzy Lec quotes (Polish writer, poet and satirist 1906-1966) Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
SansSuit 1 #40 January 11, 2008 Quote A Little History Lesson. ltdiver Tanks That article jogged a memory. I remember that you did have to have good sized flow going in order to make the water hot. There was no such thing as getting a "little" hot water.Peace, -Dawson. http://www.SansSuit.com The Society for the Advancement of Naked Skydiving Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
novacaine 0 #41 January 11, 2008 The biggest draw back to the tankless system is that something like 64oz needs to flush through the system before it started to heat up. I am a carpenter in Canada, and the trend with the three home builds I contract out to, are mving to this type of hot water system. Though it is an expensive start up cost, n the long run, it will save much money on both water cost, and natural gas fees. My plumber recently informed me the other day, that if you don't see the saves in the first 6 months, south is wrong with the unit. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
TrophyHusband 0 #42 January 11, 2008 that was horrible "Your scrotum is quite nice" - Skymama www.kjandmegan.com Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
billeisele 130 #43 January 12, 2008 i've installed 4 propane units: 2 in a commercial kitchen/dining hall with bathrooms - these required venting, 2 on a shower house - these were outdoor units thus no venting expense they all work great, if you can use an exterior unit the installation is easyGive one city to the thugs so they can all live together. I vote for Chicago where they have strict gun laws. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ltdiver 3 #44 January 12, 2008 Quote i've installed 4 propane units: 2 in a commercial kitchen/dining hall with bathrooms - these required venting, 2 on a shower house - these were outdoor units thus no venting expense they all work great, if you can use an exterior unit the installation is easy Actually I -just- found this out last night doing a little more internet research. Another check down and a few more to go. I've sent out requests for a few quotes. We'll see what happens. I might still go with a tank system (cost) but tankless sure sounds nice. ltdiver Don't tell me the sky's the limit when there are footprints on the moon Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
critrgitr 0 #45 January 12, 2008 I just installed a large Rinnai (will do 3 showers at once) in my home about 3 weeks ago. I did the work myself so didn't have to pay for installation. I put it inside the house on an outside wall so venting was very simple - one 90 and a short piece of straight pipe. I did have to run 70 feet of 1" GasTite inside the house and 40 more feet of steel gas pipe in the garage out to the meter. Again did the work myself so cut down on the cost. I paid about $1200 for the unit and venting kit (internet) and another $300 on pipe and fittings but my bid was over $3000 to have it done by someone else. Oh and I may have forgot to get a permit but I did have the gas company come out a put in a much larger meter (free) because these units suck huge amount of gas for short periods of time. I did pressure check the gas lines for double the pressure and double the time required to be safe. This was a prudent move since I found 3 leaks in the steel pipe and leaks in both of the Gas Tite connections on the first try. Another full turn cured those issues. This is the second tankless I have installed. The first unit was a Korean brand that was very problematic but my wife loved it when it worked so I got another one for this home but went with Rinnai so hopefully won't have any problems. Tankless is the only way to go for my family of 7 - continuous hot water for less money than a tank (in the long run). Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ltdiver 3 #46 January 17, 2008 So here's the scoop. 2 different Takagi installers came by to give estimates. Since the water heater is in a closet (although it's entry is from the outside) there is a need for venting up through the roof. 1st estimate: $2,469. 2nd estimate: $3,000. Rinnai estimate: $3,400. Regular tank water heater purchase and installation: from $800 to $1,100. Since there is only one person in this house (me), a tankless water heater really won't save me $$...even in the long run. NOW, if I had a large family (or used an inordinate amount of water myself) it would be a good consideration. For now, it would just be a 'coolness factor' playing in if I bought one. What DID prove very interesting today: Upon one plumber's suggestion I called the City's Water District Office. I reported alot of sediment in the water coming into my house. ( I thought this was from an old water heater that was just breaking down). They came out today. Just left. They saw the sediment in my house. They went to the main valve in the street...And started to flush (thinking they wouldn't find anything...and thus point to my house having the problem). The "Jones Valve" was opened and WOW!!! The sludge (large amount of sediment) that came through was AMAZING! It even surprised the water rep. Seems that the line we're on is a 'capped line'. It's not connected on 2 ends, so what comes into this area stays. And the line hasn't been flushed for quite awhile. I've lived on this street since 1989 and have never had a sediment problem. This year it ruined my hot water heater! My neighbor just had hers replaced, thinking that it was her tank that was the problem (like I thought of mine). Called the City Water District just now and left a message with the Supervisor there. I'm pointing to the sediment being in my hot water heater (so much so that it would not flush at all) as being the result of their not flushing THEIR lines. I even have a picture to prove it (taken with my cell phone. Will upload later). So there. Let's see what the City has to say about THIS! ltdiver Don't tell me the sky's the limit when there are footprints on the moon Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
TrophyHusband 0 #47 January 17, 2008 find out if there is an ordinance or maintenance procedure that states they must flush the line every so often. if so, maybe they owe you a portion of your new water heater, depending on the life expectancy of your old one. "Your scrotum is quite nice" - Skymama www.kjandmegan.com Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ltdiver 3 #48 January 17, 2008 Quote find out if there is an ordinance or maintenance procedure that states they must flush the line every so often. if so, maybe they owe you a portion of your new water heater, depending on the life expectancy of your old one. How do I find that out? I mean, I can ask the super when he calls back this afternoon, but is there anywhere else I can look this up? ltdiver Don't tell me the sky's the limit when there are footprints on the moon Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
lawrocket 3 #49 January 17, 2008 Quote Let's see what the City has to say about THIS! "Go fuck yourself." - expected City response. My wife is hotter than your wife. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
mnealtx 0 #50 January 17, 2008 Quote Quote Let's see what the City has to say about THIS! "Go fuck yourself." - expected City response. She lives in NYC? Mike I love you, Shannon and Jim. POPS 9708 , SCR 14706 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
