Our water heater is leaking, and this will be the second one we've replaced in 15 years. We're considering the tankless system, but we need to make sure if our house is wired for such a system. We'll probably buy another water heater right now, but for future reference, I would like to know how well these systems actually work. Does anyone have the tankless water heaters? What has been your experience with them? Does it give enough hot water for a family (there's five of us)? Any comments would be appreciated.
Thanks.

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Michele
Member of the Welcome Wagon
http://mommysavers.com/boards/how-navigate-mommysavers/

My next door neighbor got one last year and he just loves it. I think we'll get one when the time comes. We could use the extra room in the basement by getting rid of the water heater.

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My dh wants one so bad, you would think it's a big screen tv. I haven't heard anything bad about them, but don't have first hand experience.

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A woman is like a teabag. You never know how strong she is until she gets into hot water.-Eleanor Roosevelt

I have friends who installed one recently. They love it! I think I will purchase a tankless water heater when my tank goes out.

A couple we know had one in their home, they moved and the first thing they did in the new house was install the tankless water heater. It will be what we get next!

dh's aunt and uncle have one and they have 6 people and they are never without hot water and it is saving them money.. this is what our next one will be.

OK this is not going to be the popular answer but it was given to me by a professional plumber. DON'T GET ONE!!!!! Sure they are great in the beginning and they work wonderful until you have a problem and then..... they are the absolute devil to deal with costing you way more in repairs due to the fact that they (the plumbers) have to call the manufacturer get reset codes, and all kinds of other junk that is not stated when the item is originally sold to you. According to this plumber you will end up better in the long run to stick with the old model type as they are easier to work on, replace, etc than the new tankless ones.

I will get with him and find out all the different things that he says end up costing you and why he recommends you stick with the old one and repost.

I have one a Rinnai tankless water heater- We have had it for 4 years and have not one bit of trouble from it. A professional plumber installed it. Most plumbers now have experience with them-and I'm inclined to think that those that don't are the ones who are apprehensive about them. They would be easy to replace because they are just a small box mounted on the outside of the house. There is a small thermostat indoors that you set for what you want the water temperature to be as it comes out of the tap. We set ours when we first got it and have not changed it.

It is efficient because you only use energy to heat the water as you need it- rather than having to constantly heat a huge tank of water.
We are a family of five. Since it is on demand (rather than relying on a tank) the water heats instantaneously- YOU NEVER RUN OUT OF HOT WATER!!!! I just love mine- can't you tell?

It is definitely on our list of upgrades we will make (when $ is available).

We don't have one...but we have friends and family that do and they love it. We'd definately consider it if we had to replace ours.