JerseyHarold Posted December 3, 2011 Report Share Posted December 3, 2011 My boss just gave me a brand new Rinnai tankless water heater. He bought it then decided not to intall it at his house (he does stuff like that). Our water heater is 15 years old and I want to replace it as a preventative measure. I've noticed a lot of tankless water heaters for sale online which makes me wonder why people are getting rid of them. What are the pros and cons of one of these? Any input appreciated. Harold Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
54Illinois Posted December 4, 2011 Report Share Posted December 4, 2011 If you really have an issue with "not enough hot water" then it might be worth your while. Other than that, I would give it back or sell it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wayfarer Posted December 4, 2011 Report Share Posted December 4, 2011 ...not a big fan...yeah, the enviro-wackos support them for not heating standby water but they consume alot of energy, electric or gas, because of the fast ramp-up. It will be alot easier to replace the one you have, as is where is. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Don Coatney Posted December 4, 2011 Report Share Posted December 4, 2011 Have you searched for a tankless water heater forum? You should do so and post your question there. There is a forum for everything these days. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Don Coatney Posted December 4, 2011 Report Share Posted December 4, 2011 Now I am really confused. OK to talk about hot water heaters but not to talk about a Plymouth vert:D I've even got a convertible....it's a red '66 Sport Fury. I've had it since 1985 and haven't done much with it (what else is new...). The last time I drove it was in the late 1990's. I haven't mentioned it here because this is a flathead-era forum. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dodgeb4ya Posted December 4, 2011 Report Share Posted December 4, 2011 I'd keep what you have. You know it works and the cost to run it. leave it alone and sell the tankless heater. Try to make a buck! Don't tell the boss though! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Robert Horne Posted December 4, 2011 Report Share Posted December 4, 2011 I like the tankless water heater if, it is placed near the point of use. The problem of having a big house is the water has to travel very far before you get hot water to the point of use, tankless or tank type. My rental unit tank was very old, so I put a small tank type at one end, and another small unit at the other end, not running so much water before it comes out hot. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dezeldoc Posted December 4, 2011 Report Share Posted December 4, 2011 I put mine in over 6 years ago and would never go back to a conventional water heater. They are great and never run out of hot water, plus you are not heating a tank of water for no reason. If installed wrong or the wrong size is used then they will not seem worth a damn. Installed right with a circulating pump and the right size you can run all the faucets wide open and not have a problem. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
deathbound Posted December 4, 2011 Report Share Posted December 4, 2011 Let me know if you decide to sell it, I may be interested, depending on size/specs. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
William Davey Posted December 4, 2011 Report Share Posted December 4, 2011 I have a Ranai tankless water heater that is far more trouble than it is worth. Luckily you got one free, because I'll never recover the purchase and installation cost. Natural gas usage is higher than the old conventional tank was. I got talked into this thing so we'd have enough hot water to fill a new whirlpool tub. Not the most reliable things either - like comparing one of our old cars to a brand new one. Computers, wires, sensors and widgets everywhere. Mine has recurring trouble with the flow switch that senses an open faucet and ignites the fire. The first time it happened, the controller gave an Error Code 38, but the manual stops at Error Code 37! I had to Google the @##$$^T% thing to find out why I was taking a cold shower! Also had trouble when a lot of snow slid off the roof and buried the air intake. Because the heater only runs on demand, it won't keep the snow melted like the furnace with similar intake/exhaust piping. I'd sell the one you've been offered and buy at least 2 spare conventional heaters. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
faucet47custom Posted December 5, 2011 Report Share Posted December 5, 2011 Our carpet cleaning machines use propane heaters that are tankless. They have a basic on off thermostat and get really hot really quickly and we run them through 250 feet of hose and within a minute or two they are putting out 200-225 degree water/steam. It is a bigger unit, I believe they are rated at 120,000 BTU. It's a Little Giant 3HT unit for size comparison if you're curious. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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