Tankless Water heaters
 

Wouldn't it be smart if TV started putting tankless water heaters in all new homes?

Tankless electric water heaters are relatively expensive, slow to supply hot water, and costly to operate.

HW
 

I agree!

Thank you, just found some old threads on the subject too.

Their ability to supply a large quantity of water (think big garden/soaker tub) while allowing for adequate service to other parts of the house at the same time is something that would need to enter into the equation.

Bill :)

Don't some one think that a little insulation around the hot water pipes would help on keeping water warm while under ground,every time you call for hot water you waste a gallon of water waiting.Add it up, every time you turn on water one gal. now x 40,000 homes in the villages.

They have to build to code. The developers don't make the code.

If you want to look at the extreme to water conservation. We could all go in groups to pee and flush once..

No. I don't think that is a good idea either.

But always keep in mind...
chilout There is NO pee in Lake Sumter.

Gracie's wisdom of the day, before coffee.

Two other options would be:

1) reverse cycle water heater - takes heat out of the air or ground to supplement the electric elements. Cheaper to operate and not much more expensive to buy than a standard water heater;

2) rather than have one large water heater in the garage, install several smaller ones where they are needed. Piping is much shorter so you get your hot water more quickly and waste less hot water left in the pipes, plus if one heater serves only your guest bathroom you can leave it switched off when you don't have guests.

We researched the subject of waterless hot water before building our home in TV. According to info we found it appears that it would take several years to recoup your investment in tankless design. The info also said that it takes just as long for tankless to deliver hot water as it does for a traditional HW heater. I just never found a large amount of info in support of it although it does sound like a good idea. We finally went with a traditional HW system.

Standard HW uses about $30 a month in elec. hard to beat that deal.

I'm installing solar because I have all the components anyway.

Cost should be near zero, it will be an interesting test.

heating hot water
 

You can check previous threads and find that some people place a big box (metal or plastic I guess) in their attic just over the hot water heater. It fills up with water shuts off when full and delivers hot water when needed during the warm weather months. I suppose with a tee or two you can choose to use it or not...

save water idea
 

A village neighbor told us this and we think it is great. we have a nice clean plastic two gallon pail in the walkin shower. when the shower goes on all the cold water in the HW line goes in the pail. set the pail aside and use it to water plants both inside and outside. no waste.
regarding code. grace is right (as usual) but there is nothing wrong with going beyond code i.e. i really wish they would insulate the garage cielings during construction. what's another 1000 sq ft while they blowing it in? not that much, just add it on to sale price. this reduces garage temps which reduces the heat on one large interior wall and the AC airhandler, return air plenum and ductwork all in the garage, it also helps lower your attic temps which will reduce the heat on all your supply and return ductwork thus saving on electrical cost while reducing equipment run time which increases equipment life span.

A/C equipment not in garage in most models.

Solar hot water allowed?

short answer, yes. Long answer, yeeeeeeeeeeees

There are plenty of solar roof mounted pool systems, a HW system has a smaller footprint on the roof than a pool system.

Florida law forbids ordinances, deed restrictions, covenants, or similar binding agreements from prohibiting solar equipment use. Under this law, a homeowner may not be denied by "any entity granted the power or right in any deed restriction, covenant or similar binding agreement to approve, forbid, control, or direct alteration of property..." permission to install a solar collector,

We enjoy our solar hot water system in The Villages. Had to install a tempering valve since the water was sometimes coming out of the faucet at 140 degrees. With all the sunshine that we get, it is a shame to waste electricity heating our water.

Any idea of the saving per month?

HELP ME OUT Mulligan
 

Sorry to disagree but just went through all the new cottage,villas and designers... hmmm which ones do not have the AC airhandler, return&supply air plenums/ductwork in the garage closet? Maybe you are confused, these are AC split systems with the condensing unit located outside and the airhandler (the other half) located inside. There are older houses with the airhandler in the laundry room in conditioned space but this is no way close to the majority. Like in golf you got a "mulligan"

IMHO this is a dead horse in the villages. i have had both electric and gas tank-less water heaters
1: this is all in north Georgia foot of LOOKOUT mtn,just south of Chattanooga,TN
1994 : cheap TVA rural electric rates electric tank-less approx $225.00to install never really hot water in the winter,ground temperature too low,hard to increase water temp difference.summer was fine.

2) 2005 had full house gas tank-less heater install , new house, 4BR 3B full basement 4400 ft 3 persons in house ,2 gas central h&Air full gas kitchen.
propane gas 2005 @$1.55 per gal,2012 March $2.65 to 2.99 still not bad some one has to pay,there's no free lunch. 2 people can shower and run dishwasher or clothes washer no problem ! never run out of HOT water all at same time.
We like it and would love to install a gas tank-less water-heater here,in the villages.Alas, NO GAS or very little of it south of 466 and none south of 466A.
I know and have the gas bills for 6 years to prove a gas tank-less has saved me money over an electric hot water heater vs my neighbors in NGA,but with out gas as a utility this is a mute subject. thanks this is my dime and i used it sorry if i hurt anyone's feelings.

You can use propane w/ a tank buried in the front yard

when our tankless died up north it was not worth the money to replace it.