water.? ? ? ?
Dr. Phil asked:
what are the differences between tank less and a instantaneous water heaters ?
what are the differences between tank less and a instantaneous water heaters ?
and which one is better ?
which one is more expensive ?
and which one would you recommend to a customer ?
thanks PLUMBER’S !!!!!!!!!!!
i mean conventional storage type water heater. and a tankless
Caffeinated Content
Octubre 31st, 2009 at 0:05
Isn’t a tankless water heater instantaneous? Tankless water heaters use less energy so they cost less to operate. I think most folks these days go with tankless water heaters.
Noviembre 3rd, 2009 at 9:02
The main difference is one has a tank, and the other has no tank. That is obvious! Now let’s shed some light on the subject. Lets say you already have a tank water heater, and you want to replace it with a tankless model. Location is the key. If your water heater is in the garage, or the attic, there are certain disadvantages, associated with each location. Lets say your existing tank water heater is in the garage, and you have a laundry room next to the garage. Your kitchen is about 20′ away, and you have a 1/2 bath next to the laundry, and 2 full baths located on the other side of the house. Your house has 6 gas openings, and 12 fixtures that use hot water. If the new heater is gas, the BTU rating will play a key role. Normal tank water heaters are rated at 40,000-50,000 BTU’s. Depending on the manufacturer, most of the tankless heaters can provide enough hot water for 2 fixtures at one time. If you need more fixtures supplied with hot water, the BTU rating of the heater has to be bigger, thus the cost goes up. Most manufacturers will state their heaters specs for 2 -3 fixtures at a time, and they require a dual system or even triple systems, depending on house size, fixture use, and location of the heater in relation to the fixtures. These dual systems, require a controller to activate the various heaters, as more hot water is requested. The BTU rating of these types of heaters can run from 199,000 BTU”S to 450,000 BTU”s or more. This increased demand for gas, will affect the size of the gas pipe. Also, the flue pipe used for the tank type heater has to be dual wall pipe, and for the tankless type, the flue pipe has to be triple wall stainless steel. The cost for the stainless steel flue could run more than the cost of the new tankless heater. The main misconception of tankless heaters is that they supply instant hot water. Yes the heater ignites instantly, but the water sitting in the pipes has to be moved from the heater to the fixture that asks for hot water. As I stated earlier, the location of the heater, in relation to the fixtures calling for gas, plays a crucial part in how fast the hot water arrives at the fixture asking for hot water. Some manufacturers do show circulating pumps, and storage tanks in their systems, but the use of these in their systems, could reduce the warranty supplied by the manufacturer. Care should be taken when choosing these type water heaters. More and more manufacturers are coming on line with heaters of their own, so read all the data, before buying any of them. Take care when selecting an installer, as some companies know their products, while others are just looking to take your money, and don’t care to learn about the products they install. Good luck!
Noviembre 6th, 2009 at 8:57
Go to Rinnai.com, they have a working model on line, that shows exactly how it works. There is also a sizing chart that will give you the proper GPM for all fixtures.
Vinny
Noviembre 7th, 2009 at 6:06
you will need a circulation pump instaled for each room you want hot water instantly . otherwise it will take the same amount of time wether you go tank or tankless.
Noviembre 9th, 2009 at 10:07
Other considerations are that a tank heater has the advantage of a place for sediment and residue to lay, while a tankless will let anything get into your fixtures and potentially clog them.
Also, if you heat your water with electric, you won’t want to get a tankless heater, they are inefficient and inconsistent with their hot water supply. In fact, the plumbing supply house I use refuses to sell electric tankless heaters.