Quote:
Originally Posted by HABckb
Since my Rheem water heater is approaching 10 years in age I am considering having a tankless electric water heater installed instead. I am aware of the cost for electrical hook up as well as cost of the tank but am wondering what thoughts others have in regard to this consideration. I find it a waste of money to have water being maintained at temperature in existing 40 gal tank and thought a tankless system in the long run would be more efficient as well have a longer longevity. thoughts appreciated.
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There should be no reason to replace a 10 year old water heater. Save your money and, instead, have the tank flushed and the sacrificial anode replaced and you'll get another 10 years service out of the present water heater.
Tankless water heaters are expensive. They also require yearly servicing to "descale" the tubes in which the water is heated. Although it is unlikely you will need it, should you lose your water service in a storm, you'll have 40 gal of water for emergency use if you have a regular water heater.
Many people believe that a tankless water heater will give them "instant" hot water. Not so, unless you have a tankless unit at each faucet. It will take just as long for hot water to reach the furthest faucet in your house if the tankless unit is installed at the same location as your present water heater. If you have to move the location of the tankless unit to outside your house, which you probably will, it may take even longer for hot water to reach your faucets.
If one of your goals is to have "instant" hot water, you should have the plumber who replaces the anode rod install a Watts recirculating pump at the hot water outlet of the water heater. These pumps cost $219 at Home Depot. They work in a unique manner. In addition to the pump, the kit includes a "manifold" which you install at the faucet furthest from the water heater (in some houses in TV, you will need two manifolds as the hot water line is split after entering the house, sending hot water in two directions). The manifold has internal valves that, when the hot water faucet is closed, directs the hot water into the cold water line and back to the tank. Hence when the hot water is not running, the pump is continuously pushing hot water at very low pressure throughout the house. Then, when a hot water faucet is opened, there will be hot water already at the faucet and you do not have to wait for it to travel all the way to the tank.
As the water being circulated travels from the tank, around the house, and back to the tank, it loses some of its heat. Thus, the hot water at the faucet closest to the tank will be very hot, the water at the last faucet in the circuit, not so hot. However, it only takes a few seconds for the hot water to arrive and it will be hot as the pipes in which it is flowing will already be warm.
The other downside, is that the cold water at a faucet will take some time before it is really cold. However, most everyone agrees that it is preferable to have hot water in a short time vs. always having cold water. (No one likes standing in the shower waiting for the hot water to arrive).