Tankless hot water heater ?

[meltingfeather]

Propane is killing me, about $400.00 a month right now.
I believe the hot water heater is the main culprit as it is 12 years old and every time I check it it is running.
I figured the tank-less heater was a more efficient system but that is why I asked.

Wow... that's a lot of propane. 12 years old or not, that doesn't add up.

Consumer Reports put the annual savings at $70-$80 per year... yep, less than $7/month. Economically it makes no sense... it's all about running out of hot water if that's an issue for you.

Locally, we have had quite a few pipes/connections break at the unit during the last cold spell. Those units were in attics.

What about use in a shop/outdoor kitchen and pool bathroom/shower? Would you still do conventional? I was thinking tankless due to sparse usage but maybe conventional is the way to go?

Freezing and pipe breaks are more of a problem with tankless because they don't stay hot and people put them in creative places, including outside.
A small, under-counter conventional unit is how I handle those applications... on a switch so you can turn it on/off easily. Tankless like to be used regularly.

[Todd-ty729]

Wow... that's a lot of propane. 12 years old or not, that doesn't add up.

Consumer Reports put the annual savings at $70-$80 per year... yep, less than $7/month. Economically it makes no sense... it's all about running out of hot water if that's an issue for you.


Freezing and pipe breaks are more of a problem with tankless because they don't stay hot and people put them in creative places, including outside.
A small, under-counter conventional unit is how I handle those applications... on a switch so you can turn it on/off easily. Tankless like to be used regularly.

I agree with what you wrote but a good tank less model has freeze protection features. Doesn't cover everything but helps. Still a fan of nothing plumbing in the attic personally but water heaters in attics are so common on modern new home construction. Job security I suppose.

[Farmdog]

632.40 from Builders FirstSource

[Farmdog]

Eco Smart 27KW

[Snowflake Killa]

Had mine 10 year's love it

[C.Read]

I don't own one but do work for a wholesale distributor that sells a crap ton of tankless heaters. From that standpoint I'd advise not going electric. Our gas (LP and NG) sales compared to electric are hand over fist.