Which water heater for my cabin?
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Which water heater for my cabin?
I have a cabin in northern Vermont with a propane 40gal HW heater. It seems a shame to keep it hot all the time when I'm only using it on weekends now and then. Is there an easy way to turn it on/off only when I come/go? Or would I be better off switching to an electric version? The current heater is about 10 years old.
#2
You are approaching end of life, so within a couple of years you could set your sights on an electric unit, or a propane tankless. They only run with demand. I think in a cabin setting a tankless propane is the way to go. I will probably do the same thing to my cabin, although I am total electric up there, now. Adding a propane tank wouldn't be rocket science and I wouldn't have to worry about turning off the breaker when no guests are in residence.
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Really? I was thinking tankless at first too, mainly because they take up a lot less space. But when I looked up reviews for tankless water heaters on-line they seemed to get a bad rap. Very expensive and complicated to install, and everyone seamed to have problems with them within the first year or two.
#4
I have had several customers opt for the tankless when I do basement remodels. I don't install them, I just have to make accommodations for them to be installed during the reno. They all still seem satisfied with their selection. Now, electric ones aren't as up to the muster as the gas ones. They are expensive at the onset, but you have to calculate in substantial energy savings as well as natural attrition. They are too simple to install. I have watched the gas guys install several of them, and aside from needing special exhaust piping, their installation is quite easy.
My main reason for wanting one is you aren't heating water while you are at work, out of town, or while asleep.
My main reason for wanting one is you aren't heating water while you are at work, out of town, or while asleep.
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Ok, thanks Chandler.
Can anyone provide feedback (good or bad) about their experience with on-demand water heaters?
How about draining it to keep it from freezing. Is that an issue?
Can anyone provide feedback (good or bad) about their experience with on-demand water heaters?
How about draining it to keep it from freezing. Is that an issue?
#6
There is a built in drain that you use when cleaning it, so that will help in the winter time when it is totally off. I would use this in addition to draining the cabin in dead of winter.
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freezing is not an issue if you install tankless water heater inside the home in your closet. just remember if electricity cuts off, you're not going to have hot water too. so, you have to decide between gas or electric.
by placing gas tankless water heater on outside wall (direct-vent type), you can also save on venting parts.
Buyer's Guide to Tankless Water Heaters
by placing gas tankless water heater on outside wall (direct-vent type), you can also save on venting parts.
Buyer's Guide to Tankless Water Heaters
#8
I beg to differ, Peter. During a recent -30F cold snap (two weeks ago), the water lines inside several hundred vacation homes here (Ruidoso, NM) froze and burst. Several days later, when thawing ensued, we had a water emergency as we lost several million gallons of water because it was running out of the homes and onto the ground. A major contributor was the coinciding loss of electrical power which disabled heating systems. Ruidoso is in south central NM to boot. Bottom line, freezing can be an issue and a tankless heater is a lot easier to prep for wintertime owner absence than a 40 or 50 gallon tank-style heater. Plus, there's nearly zero delay for hot water when you return. P.S. We've had a Rheem tankless in our home for two years now and it has lived up to the "Never run out of hot water" advertising. We have been very satisfied with this unit.