TECO offer of Free Tankless Water Heater
 

Has anyone taken advantage of TECO's program of a free Rinnai Tankless Water Heater? Their offer does not cover the cost of installation which is about $850 if I chose to mount the unit outside. If I chose to leave have the Tankless Water Heater inside, a special double wall vent must be installed to the roof to replace existing vent. That would add about $450 to the installation.

I've heard that many Villages residents have had units outside mounted. If so, I'd welcome comments about how this is working and how well the installation was.

Thanks.

Tankless Heaters Are Great...
 

...and this seems to be a prety good deal. But be careful whether the proposed exterior locartion of the unit adds 20-30 feet to the distance between the heater and your most commonly used hot water. As an example, when I spoke with the contractor he said that the location on my house where he'd mount the unit would add 20-30 seconds to the time it takes to get hot water at the spigot--in my case, the bathroom. My water already takes about 30 seconds to get from the tank, and adding another half minute to that was unacceptable to me. So I'm going ahead with the inside installation at the additional cost.

Rinai is a highly rated brand and the discounted unit is well-sized for a couple or even three people using all the water they want. I have had tankless heaters in two homes up north and I think they're terrific. You'll save about a third on your gas bill.

After talking at length to the plumber, we decided to have the outside one installed next month.

We have one of these in our home in Maine and love it. It does take a while to get the hot water flowing because the flow demand triggers the heating, but the hot water is endless, with no tank, and there is no need to keep 40 gallons of water heated 24/7. I just bought in TV and wish that it had gas available - I would change over immediately.

I must be missing something......my gas bill is only 30 - 40 per month now with standard water heater, gas dryer, outside grill, gas pool heater and furnace. What am I missing here?

I do not know what the savings, if any, will be - I just hate having a gas water heater in the garage. I have not had gas before moving here this summer, and it scares me. Also, my husband sure could use the extra space.

I thought the water heaters in the Villages were all electric :shrug:

Nope - some are gas. I also have gas stove and dryer.

How is that? Are you in an older section. I dont think it was even an option for me.

...we're goin' tankless in a couple of weeks... have to run a gas line and install a meter first...hubby is a plumber so that will save some...he converted several up north and was impressed with their functionality, cost effectiveness and just the darn concept! Will eventually convert to total gas, we're gas people!!

We're located in Duval near the Seabreeze Rec Center. We have natural gas.

Penguin, natural gas service hasn't been an option for any home built since about the '07/'08 timeframe. I believe Duval was probably the last Village that had gas service.

Bill :)

Whatever you decide, don't forget to wash behind your ears.

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ditto for us also
 

We are in LaZamora, gas heat, dryer, stove etc.

Anyone know if the gas tankless units can be converted to propane?