Toggle sidebar

OT: Tank vs Tankless Water Heater

NikkiSixx

NikkiSixx

Senior
May 31, 2022
749
794
93
Bought a place that has a water heater that is 23 years old and still functioning..

Do I replace with another tank, or just go tankless.. I think it would be fairly easy to install the tankless if it stays at regular 120 volts electric levels. If I need to run a 240 line, it could be done, just runs up the costs. Maybe the tankless works best on the higher electric only?

Thoughts or experience with doing something like this?
 
Baxter48

Baxter48

All-Conference
Nov 2, 2015
1,176
1,406
103
NikkiSixx said:
Bought a place that has a water heater that is 23 years old and still functioning..

Do I replace with another tank, or just go tankless.. I think it would be fairly easy to install the tankless if it stays at regular 120 volts electric levels. If I need to run a 240 line, it could be done, just runs up the costs. Maybe the tankless works best on the higher electric only?

Thoughts or experience with doing something like this?
Click to expand...
What I was told tankless doesn’t really save you money because it takes more btu for instant hot water compared to a tank heater. Imo can you go gas or propane? We switched from electric to gas, you can go with a smaller tank and It’s money saving lot less monthly bill. We went with a power vent it’s a little more expensive but worth the investment
 
  • Like
Reactions: Nuts McClanahan and NikkiSixx
M

Man Woman & Child

All-Conference
Dec 31, 2003
3,220
1,072
113
NikkiSixx said:
Bought a place that has a water heater that is 23 years old and still functioning..

Do I replace with another tank, or just go tankless.. I think it would be fairly easy to install the tankless if it stays at regular 120 volts electric levels. If I need to run a 240 line, it could be done, just runs up the costs. Maybe the tankless works best on the higher electric only?

Thoughts or experience with doing something like this?
Click to expand...

I looked into this and was told by 3 "experts" (a licensed plumber, a long time home inspector and a long time realtor) that you can't do tankless with electric. They're for gas only. Well, technically you can do it, but the electric bills will break you. The only tankless products that make any sense with electric is like an under sink instant hot water faucet type thing. If you can run gas to it, go tankless all day. But if you're stuck with electric, you're screwed. Edit to add - quick google search seems to dispute this, so maybe there are products out there that are efficient enough?
 
Last edited:
  • Like
Reactions: 4.6.3 and NikkiSixx
NikkiSixx

NikkiSixx

Senior
May 31, 2022
749
794
93
sounds like I'll just choose the tank replacement option..

this place could indeed become a rental/seasonal home

Sadly, no gas option here, all electric. Appreciate the insights!
 
S

SeaOfRed75

All-Conference
Dec 5, 2010
3,217
1,141
113
Early on when tankless we're becoming a thing, had a friend look into getting one and iirc couldn't get one without replacing the vent pipe all the way as it needed double walled due to hotter vent temps? Older home and a long time ago so I could be off.
 
H

H2M

Redshirt
Dec 14, 2018
34
17
8
Man Woman & Child said:
I looked into this and was told by 3 "experts" (a licensed plumber, a long time home inspector and a long time realtor) that you can't do tankless with electric. They're for gas only. Well, technically you can do it, but the electric bills will break you. The only tankless products that make any sense with electric is like an under sink instant hot water faucet type thing. If you can run gas to it, go tankless all day. But if you're stuck with electric, you're screwed. Edit to add - quick google search seems to dispute this, so maybe there are products out there that are efficient enough?
Click to expand...
Correct. Electric tankless is normally only practical for a remote sink, it just can't keep up with the demands and takes too long for hot water. I've installed a propane driven tankless for the main part of the house but also have a tank for the kitchen sink & dishwasher which is quite aways from the tankless source.
 
  • Like
Reactions: 4.6.3
Baxter48

Baxter48

All-Conference
Nov 2, 2015
1,176
1,406
103
NikkiSixx said:
sounds like I'll just choose the tank replacement option..

this place could indeed become a rental/seasonal home

Sadly, no gas option here, all electric. Appreciate the insights!
Click to expand...
is propane available in your area? If so I’d sure look into getting a 500 gallon tank, heating the house is more economical with gas/propane let alone hot water heater and cooking stove. Our 100 year old farm house is heated by propane plus hot water and I think we use roughly 1000 gallons for the year, we hooked up a generac 18 kw to run the house when there is a power outage
 
  • Like
Reactions: NikkiSixx
4.6.3

4.6.3

Senior
Jun 4, 2022
894
983
93
Electric tankless takes a ton of amps to put out limited hot water.
 
4.6.3

4.6.3

Senior
Jun 4, 2022
894
983
93
NikkiSixx said:
Bought a place that has a water heater that is 23 years old and still functioning..

Do I replace with another tank, or just go tankless.. I think it would be fairly easy to install the tankless if it stays at regular 120 volts electric levels. If I need to run a 240 line, it could be done, just runs up the costs. Maybe the tankless works best on the higher electric only?

Thoughts or experience with doing something like this?
Click to expand...
You won’t just be running 240. If you want it whole house you’ll probably be upgrading your service and panel., or installing a sub panel because of load demand on them
 
  • Like
Reactions: NikkiSixx
HuskerInCarolina

HuskerInCarolina

All-American
Dec 2, 2024
3,533
5,156
112
WHCSC said:
I have tankless 120v and am constantly waiting for hot water 🤷‍♂️
Click to expand...
Same! I don’t like the tankless. The side of the house where the water heater is gets warm water in 30 seconds. The other side of the house, 2 minutes if I’m lucky. Although, for some reason the shower on the other side of the house gets hot quick. But the 2 sinks in the bathroom, 2 minutes or more. It’s insane. And yes, I am turning the hot water knob for those sinks lol
 
  • Like
  • Haha
Reactions: NikkiSixx, WHCSC and SuperBigFan69
SuperBigFan69

SuperBigFan69

All-Conference
Apr 17, 2021
4,371
3,973
113
HuskerInCarolina said:
Same! I don’t like the tankless. The side of the house where the water heater is gets warm water in 30 seconds. The other side of the house, 2 minutes if I’m lucky. Although, for some reason the shower on the other side of the house gets hot quick. But the 2 sinks in the bathroom, 2 minutes or more. It’s insane. And yes, I am turning the hot water knob for those sinks lol
Click to expand...
That is funny!
 
  • Haha
Reactions: HuskerInCarolina
Anon1707625086

Anon1707625086

All-Conference
Feb 10, 2024
1,357
1,669
98
NikkiSixx said:
Bought a place that has a water heater that is 23 years old and still functioning..

Do I replace with another tank, or just go tankless.. I think it would be fairly easy to install the tankless if it stays at regular 120 volts electric levels. If I need to run a 240 line, it could be done, just runs up the costs. Maybe the tankless works best on the higher electric only?

Thoughts or experience with doing something like this?
Click to expand...
Electric tankless sucks. You won’t have hot water at 120 other than hand washing.
gas tankless is good, requires some maintenance, need to close to the outside to vent or $$$$
 
  • Like
Reactions: NikkiSixx
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top Bottom