I found this January 2009 press release from Takagi noteworthy not only because four of their residential units and one of their commercial heaters now have Energy Star status -- but also because they made this news into a press release. Sign of the times! Actually, they seem like one of the more ecological  companies in this field, and here is a page on their website where they say how eco-friendly they are, in quite a variety of ways. -- Lou

Five of Takagi's Highly Efficient Tankless Water Heaters Receive ENERGY STAR Status

Irvine, Calif. – (For Immediate Release)
Takagi announced today that in addition to being a proud partner of ENERGY STAR through their first ever residential water heater program, five of Takagi’s tankless water heaters will receive the prestigious ENERGY STAR rating on January 1st, 2009, marking them as some of the most energy efficient products to have in a home. Those receiving that honor are Takagi’s T-K3, T-K3-OS, T-K3-SP, T-H1 (residential heaters) and T-K3-Pro (light commercial heater).

ENERGY STAR is a government-backed program that encourages individuals and businesses to save money and protect the environment by using energy efficient products and practices. Products carrying the ENERGY STAR label are considered to have superior energy efficiency having met the strictest energy efficiency guidelines set by both the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S. Department of Energy.

For the residential water heater program and in order to receive its Energy Star rating, Takagi’s units had to meet a minimum energy factor of 0.82, meaning it had to have a thermal efficiency of 82% for either natural gas or liquid propane.

Takagi’s revolutionary T-H1 had no problems meeting this guideline as it currently maintains one of the highest efficiency rating in the industry with an energy factor of 0.94 for liquid propane and 0.92 for natural gas, while The T-K3, T-K3-OS, T-K3-SP and T-K3-Pro all featured energy factors within the 0.82 and 0.86 range.

In addition to the company’s new achievement, Takagi is excited to report that according to the ENERGY STAR website, all ENERGY STAR-qualified whole-home gas tankless water heaters, like Takagi’s five units, will qualify for the 2009 federal tax credit that gives homeowners up to $300 for installing a highly energy efficient water heater. However, ENERGY STAR-qualified high-efficiency tank-type water heaters will not qualify for the tax credit....

About Energy Star

ENERGY STAR is a joint program of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S. Department of Energy, created in 1992 to help consumers save money and protect the environment through energy efficient products and practices.

For more information, please visit www.energystar.gov.

About Takagi

Having made tankless water heaters for more than half a century in Japan and more than a decade in the United States, Takagi has built a legacy of innovation and dependability with its tankless water heating technology. Takagi provides the U.S. water heating industry with energy efficient tankless water heaters that exceed anything else on the market today. Takagi’s famous line includes six revolutionary tankless water heaters, of which its award winning T-H1 proudly maintains one of the highest energy factor rating in the industry. Takagi’s units are also the only ones of its kind to receive the Southern Coast Air Quality management District (SCAQMD) approval for their low emissions of CO2 and NOx. Takagi is dedicated to creating valuable products that will keep up with the market’s constantly changing demands and continuously bring comfort to people’s homes.

For more information, please contact Takagi USA at (888) 882-5244, or visit us on the web at www.takagi.com.

I hope you are finding the information you need. To keep up with the pages I'm adding, you can subscribe to my RSS feed. Best wishes, Lou Wright

takagi heater t-h1, very green The Takagi T-H1 water heater is one of their newest models and certainly their greenest – its average efficiency is an impressive 95% with propane and 92% with natural gas. It is meant to meet the needs of just about any large family as Takagi states, "The T-H1 can provide at least three showers' worth of water simultaneously along with one appliance at input temperature of 60ºF or greater." This does mean that in colder places in the winter, where the incoming water will be below 60 degrees, that you might have to get by with only two showers and another use!

Where you live does make quite a difference in the flow rate that any tankless water heater can deliver. With this one, for instance, let's say that you have the hot water output set at 120 degrees. If the incoming water is 60ºF then you can expect about 6.1 gallons per minute. In contrast, if that incoming water is 40ºF or less, your  flow rate would likely be about 4.3 GPM – a significant difference, but still a lot of hot water! And under ideal conditions, this water heater can put out over 10 gallons a minute.

I mentioned an output setting. The T-H1 has four preset temperatures: 113ºF, 122ºF, 140ºF, and 182ºF.  If those don't suit your needs for some reason, there is an add-on  temperature controller available.

This is more than just a home unit. It can be used in small businesses and industries. That's why there is the very hot 182ºF water setting; sometimes codes require water that hot for sanitary applications.

The gas input is variable, with the maximum being 199,000 BTU per hour. This will require some good-sized gas pipes to the unit. It then uses two heat exchangers rather than the more ordinary one, and this is how Takagi achieved the unusually high average efficiencies. As explained on their website, "Takagi has added a stainless steel secondary heat exchanger to recover waste heat from the vent stack before it leaves the unit to preheat the incoming ground water. This second heat exchanger and the resulting condensation that forms from the high efficiency operation, classify it as a "Condensing" Water Heater. The condensate that these types of heaters produce can be slightly acidic, so it's collected and sent through a built-in neutralizer, allowing for disposal into standard drainpipe."

If any units of the Takagi water heater T-H1 are currently at eBay, they should show up here:

No items matching your keywords were found.

The Bosch Aquastar Tankless Water Heater 1600P and 1600H are among the smallest Bosch units at this time. The difference between them is in the ignitation -- the H has a hydro-igniter and according to the specs at Amazon it might qualify for a tax credit, though Bosch doesn't claim that on its website.

These hot water heaters are meant for only one use at a time, so you need to be willing to live with that for them to be a good candidate for you.

Here is the product description for the 1600P: Bosch, 1 Major Appliance Or Shower At A Time, Natural Gas Tankless Water Heater, 117,000 BTU Input Delivers 3.3 Gallons Per Minute At A 55 Degree Fahrenheit Rise, Drives Standing Pilot, 1/2 Gallon Flow To Activate Burners, Vertical Venting Only, Must Use 5" Double Wall B Vent Pipe, Modulating Gas Valve From 28,000 To 117,000 BTU's For Optimal Performance, 1/2" Male Nominal Pipe Thread Gas & Water Connections, Natural Gas Pressure, Minimum 7" Water Column To Maximum 14" Water Column, Water Pressure Minimum 18 PSI To Maximum 150 PSI, Warranty 12 Years On Heat Exchanger & 2 Years On Parts, No Electrical Needed, CSA Certified.

And here it is for the 1600H: Bosch, 1 Major Appliance Or Shower At A Time, Hydro Ignition, Natural Gas Tankless Water Heater, Hydro Ignition Means No Standing Pilot Or Electricity Needed, Water Flow Spins The Hyrdro Igniter Which Generates The Millivolts Needed To Ignite The Gas To The Burners, 117,000 BTU Input Delivers 3.3 Gallons Per Minute At A 55 Degree Fahrenheit Rise, Standing Pilot, 1/2 Gallon Flow To Activate Burners, Vertical Venting Only, Must Use 5" Double Wall B Vent Pipe, Modulating Gas Valve From 28,000 To 117,000 BTU's For Optimal Performance, 1/2" Male Nominal Pipe Thread Gas & Water Connections, Natural Gas Pressure, Minimum 7" Water Column To Maximum 14" Water Column, Water Pressure Minimum 18 PSI To Maximum 150 PSI, 69% Energy Factor, 80% Thermal Efficiency, T & P Valve Included, Warranty 12 Years On Heat Exchanger & 2 Years On Parts, Qualifies For The Energy Policy Act Credit, CSA Certified.

Amazon carries them... here are links.  Read the customer reviews and you may think twice.

Bosch 1600P NG AquaStar 4.3 GPM Indoor Tankless Natural Gas Water Heater

Bosch 1600P LP AquaStar 4.3 GPM Indoor Tankless Liquid Propane Water Heater

And here is what is on eBay, if any:

No items matching your keywords were found.

The Bosch Aquastar tankless water heater 2700ES is a large model, allowing your family to be taking three showers at once, or perhaps more likely to be taking two showers while doing a load of laundry or dishes.  It is larger than most families will actually need, as  two activities at a time in a whole-house system will be adequate for most medium-sized families. Note that in very cold climates, where tankless water heaters have colder water coming into them, this unit might only do two activites at a time to your satisfaction.

Think it's a monster unit? It is in terms of capacity. You are most unlikely to ever run out of hot water, even in those colder climates. But in terms of size, like all tankless water heaters, it's really quite small and hangs on a wall in your house with various ways of achieving direct venting. It has a built-in power vent for this purpose.

Be sure that the unit is properly installed -- that meaning reading the manual and ideally having someone install it who has had experience with tankless water heaters. If not properly installed, it may not work right.

There are also outdoor installation kits available, in warmer climates only. Other bells and whistles include electronic ignition, and an optional remote thermostat.It is available for both natural gas (NG) and propane (LP).

The ES at the end of 2700ES means that it is listed as an "Energy Star" model by the US government ranking system developed by the Department of Energy. You can get a US tax credit of up to 30% of the price of this unit AND the cost of installing it.

Here are links to the LP and NG models at Amazon:

Bosch 2700ES LP Aquastar 7.2 GPM Indoor Tankless Liquid Propane Water Heater

Bosch 2700ES NG Aquastar 7.2 GPM Indoor Tankless Natural Gas Water Heater

And this should show it at eBay, or you may see add-on parts depending on how the eBay sellers do their titles

BOSCH Pro GWH 715 ES AquaStar 2700ES NG Tankless Heater BOSCH Pro GWH 715 ES AquaStar 2700ES NG Tankless Heater Paypal US $1,019.99 7d 14h 58m
Bosch AquaStar AQ3ES 2400 2700ES Horizont Vent Kit NEW Bosch AquaStar AQ3ES 2400 2700ES Horizont Vent Kit NEW Paypal US $249.00 29d 5h 2m
Bosch AquaStar AQOK Outdoor Install Kit 2400 2700ES NEW Bosch AquaStar AQOK Outdoor Install Kit 2400 2700ES NEW Paypal US $169.00 12d 5h 7m
Bosch AquaStar 2700ES NG Nat Gas Tankless Water Heater Bosch AquaStar 2700ES NG Nat Gas Tankless Water Heater Paypal US $1,099.00 9d 5h 2m
Bosch AquaStar 2700ES LP Tankless Water Heater Bosch AquaStar 2700ES LP Tankless Water Heater Paypal US $1,099.00 9d 5h 2m
Bosch AquaStar AQ3ES 2400 2700ES Horizontal Vent Kit Bosch AquaStar AQ3ES 2400 2700ES Horizontal Vent Kit Paypal US $189.99 18d 6h 15m
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This article begins what I intend to be a long series of general, informational articles on tankless water heaters. Most of these will be written by guest bloggers, as this one is. I thought this article was a nice clear explanation. -- Lou

If you have ever given a long thought to the inefficiencies of tank-type water heaters, you must have figured out many including inefficient use of energy and space. Those who figured this out before you saw the demand for tankless type water heaters and brought them into the market quickly. Still, a large number of people are used to conventional water heaters and unaware of how tankless heaters can solve some of their problems. Let's see how the concept of on-demand heating was applied to get another remarkable invention of mankind.

The main concept behind these heaters is provision of hot water on demand only. There are different types and they can utilize natural gas, propane or even electricity to heat water. Since these heaters don't have a storage tank with them, they heat up water only when it is required. The main component is a heat exchanger that gets switched on whenever the connected faucet or shower is opened. For this purpose, a flow-activated switch is used that detects the flow of water inside the pipeline. Two types of heat exchangers are used usually: gas-powered burner and electric coils. Gas-fired ones, however, are able to heat faster and more efficiently.

Tankless heaters are available in different sizes and determination of the size depends on three main factors: the amount of water that has to be heated in one minute; the temperature of water when it goes into the heater; and lastly, its preferable temperature that you want at the outlet. Unlike tank-type storage heaters that keep water at the desired temperature using a thermostat, tankless heaters heat water on demand; so the initial flow of water that you get after opening the faucet gets warmer gradually and you might need to waste some cold water before you get hot water. The amount of time it takes to get hot water after opening the faucet is known as lag time. Two types of tankless systems are available. The first one is the point-of-use heater, which is generally small in size and is used to provide hot water at a single outlet like a shower. Since it is installed in close proximity to the water outlet, a point-of-use heater typically has a lower lag time and less water is wasted. Since it is used to supply hot water at a single outlet, electric-powered fire exchangers can do the job quite well. Hence, most point-of-use systems run on electricity and can be fitted inside a cabinet or closet due to their small size.

The second type, whole-house tankless water heater, is able to heat a significantly greater amount of water per minute and can cater hot water at various outlets simultaneously. Since they need more energy to heat up larger volumes, they typically run on propane or gas. For larger houses, you may need more than one whole-house system. Showers typically necessitate addition of another whole-house tankless system because they usually need more hot water than ordinary taps. Due to their extra capabilities, whole-house heaters cost a lot more than point-of-use systems.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Scott Rodgers is a master plumber who has recently begun writing articles for both a plumbing and non-plumbing audience. To view more of plumbing articles, visit http://www.eLocalPlumbers.com

Article Source: Tankless Water Heaters: How They Function - ArticleSpan.com


By articlespan.com

NEW BOSCH POWERSTAR AE125 ELECTRIC TANKLESS HEATER NEW BOSCH POWERSTAR AE125 ELECTRIC TANKLESS HEATER Paypal 6 Bids US $350.51 1h 20m
TITAN TANKLESS WATER HEATER N120 Whole House NEW TITAN TANKLESS WATER HEATER N120 Whole House NEW Paypal 8 Bids US $205.11 4h 2m
TITAN TANKLESS WATER HEATER N210 Whole House 2Sie 1FiL TITAN TANKLESS WATER HEATER N210 Whole House 2Sie 1FiL Paypal 12 Bids US $405.00 4h 32m
TITAN TANKLESS HOT WATER HEATER SCR3 N160 New TITAN TANKLESS HOT WATER HEATER SCR3 N160 New Paypal 10 Bids US $296.88 6h 2m
Pre Sediment Filter for Titan Tankless Water Heater Pre Sediment Filter for Titan Tankless Water Heater Paypal 4 Bids US $6.27 6h 17m
TITAN TANKLESS WATER HEATER WHOLE HOUSE N120PRO DIGITAL TITAN TANKLESS WATER HEATER WHOLE HOUSE N120PRO DIGITAL Paypal 3 Bids US $152.50 8h 37m
16 gpm LPG Ventfree tankless gas water heater 10002P1 16 gpm LPG Ventfree tankless gas water heater 10002P1 Paypal US $219.00 12h 47m
32 gm Power Vent NG tankless gas water heater 10344P1 32 gm Power Vent NG tankless gas water heater 10344P1 Paypal US $339.00 12h 49m
32 gpm LPG tankless gas water heater boiler 10012P1 32 gpm LPG tankless gas water heater boiler 10012P1 Paypal US $259.00 12h 50m
32 gpm Nat G tankless gas water heater boiler 10010P1 32 gpm Nat G tankless gas water heater boiler 10010P1 Paypal US $259.00 12h 50m
Electric 220V Tankless Water Heater SHOWERHEAD 10105P1 Electric 220V Tankless Water Heater SHOWERHEAD 10105P1 Paypal 12 Bids US $31.00 12h 53m
TITAN WHOLE HOUSE TANKLESS HOT WATER HEATER N120 NIB TITAN WHOLE HOUSE TANKLESS HOT WATER HEATER N120 NIB Paypal US $200.00 25d 18h 41m
View Page:   1  2  3  4  5  6  7

With tankless hot water heaters all the rage now, you may be surprised to learn that many owners of these units are not so happy with them.  You can avoid many of their problems, though, by mastering two secrets to being happy with a tankless heater. They are: (1) be willing to adjust your habits and (2) be sure the installation is done right. Sounds easy enough, right? It is.

Be Willing to Adjust Your Hot Water Habits

If you have always had hot water from a tank system, you are used to certain things that will change when you get a tankless system. The hot water will arrive a bit differently. This is easiest to understand with an example: If you are getting ready to wash some dishes by hand with a tank system, you might wait a short while for the water to get hot, but once it starts coming out of the faucet hot, it will continue that way. Many people wash dishes by keeping a very slight trickle of hot water coming into the sink, so they can rinse as they go along.

With a tankless hot water heater, your wait for hot water initially is typically somewhat longer than with a tank system, as the heater will be sensing water moving through it and then beginning to heat it. The small-trickle method won't work because tankless water heaters require a minimum flow of about half a gallon a minute or more. This depends on the particular brand and model. Takagi tankless units require .5 GPM typically, while some other brands need more water.  So you have to run more water all the time, which is wasteful of both water and energy.

So supposing you decide to change your strategy. You will just turn the hot water off and on as needed. This is the greener way to do dishes anyway, but you may be surprised when the water coming out of the faucet is cold. The tankless heater stopped heating water when you turned the faucet off, and now it will have to get up to speed again, with another wait while cold water is coming out.

This means that an adjustment in your dish-washing methods is called for. Either rinse your dishes as you go along by being willing to use partly cold water, or just use cold water, or pile your clean dishes up and rinse them all at once… or in batches, depending on the space by your sink.

An adjustment like this isn't difficult to make, but it's good to be aware beforehand that there will likely be a variety of such adjustments. For example, depending on the size of your unit, you may have to wait to do those dishes till someone else gets out of the shower.

Tankless Hot Water Heater Installation MUST be Done Right

If you surf online and read owner's comments about their tankless hot water heaters, you will discover a good number of complaints. Many of these complaints are because the installers didn't get everything right. They didn't use large enough gas line. They installed a tankless heater in an unheated attic in Vermont and the pipes burst. They didn't run the vent correctly for a gas heater, and the unit acts up when it's windy outside or at other times. They didn't set the water hot enough. I could go on, but you get the idea. Some mistakes seem really dumb but others are more subtle.

Why are there so many bad installation jobs? Not many people are experienced in tankless wather heaters. Furthermore, a good number of the installations are done by plumbers, electricians, and skilled homeowners just doing what they are used to doing rather than checking the manual to see what is actually needed. (You can download most manuals from the internet, by the way.)

So if you get a unit installed and there are problems, have the installation thoroughly checked over. As one man commented online, "As a service provider for over 2 years I have found 95% of the over 150 heaters that I have serviced had installation issues. Once the issues were rectified the complaints disappeared."

Changing some habits and being careful about installation… these are your two keys to being happy with a tankless hot water heater.

imageThe T-K3

The  Takagi heater T-K3 is a very small tankless water heater — at 13.8 inches wide, it can fit between wall studs. It is also small another good way – it is able to activate at only one half a gallon per minute, which means that less water is wasted than with many units of various brands. This also helps with temperature stability.

It can be installed in several ways – as a direct vent model for indoors, with a vent pipe up to 50 feet with 5 elbows.  You have a choice of eight different temperature settings, ranging from 104 degrees F all the way up to 185.

It can be used  in parallel with up to three other units to generate more flow. This makes the water heater suitable for commercial applications.

There are two variations on the T-K3:

The T-K3-SP

Here SP means something: special projects. This model, which first came out in 2008, is meant for light residential use. It has a built-in power venting system which you attach to the appropriate venting. It can start heating water at .5 gallons per minute and has a maximum flow rate of 7 gallons per minute. Its four temperature settings range from 113 to 167 degrees F.  Unlike other Takagi models, the T-K3-SP cannot be linked, nor is it direct vent convertible.

The T-K3-OS

The T-K3-OS model is the outdoor model, designed for use out of doors. Its the same small size as the other T-K3 heaters, and like them it weighs only 40 pounds. Since it is only installable outside, it is meant for milder climates. It does have a power venting system built in, but this doesn't need to be attached to further venting. Its thermal rating is 83% for both natural gas (NG) and propane (LP). Like the SP model above, it has four temperature settings ranging from 113 to 167 degrees.

Takagi tankless water heaters are popular with buyers on eBay. Here are some listings:

Takagi Tankless Water Heater Outdoor Model T K3 OS NG Takagi Tankless Water Heater Outdoor Model T K3 OS NG Paypal US $822.00 29d 8h 25m
New Takagi T K3 Tankless Water Heater TK3 New Takagi T K3 Tankless Water Heater TK3 Paypal US $825.00 28d 2h 27m
T K3 Takagi Tankless Water Heater NG Model FREE SHIPP T K3 Takagi Tankless Water Heater NG Model FREE SHIPP Paypal US $945.00 26d 17h 35m
T K3 OS Takagi Tankless Water Heater Outdoor Model NG T K3 OS Takagi Tankless Water Heater Outdoor Model NG Paypal US $769.99 25d 6h 22m
Kennys One Click Package Deal 8 Takagi T K3 NG Kennys One Click Package Deal 8 Takagi T K3 NG Paypal US $1,165.00 29d 8h 21m
T K3 PRO Takagi Tankless Water Heater Natural Gas T K3 PRO Takagi Tankless Water Heater Natural Gas Paypal US $1,200.00 25d 6h 39m
T K3 OS Takagi Tankless Water Heater Outdoor Model LP T K3 OS Takagi Tankless Water Heater Outdoor Model LP Paypal US $795.00 19d 11h 56m
Takagi Flash Tankless Water Heater Model T K3 NG Takagi Flash Tankless Water Heater Model T K3 NG Paypal US $986.00 11d 6h 38m
Takagi Tankless Water Heater Outdoor Model T K3 OS LP Takagi Tankless Water Heater Outdoor Model T K3 OS LP Paypal US $822.00 29d 8h 29m
Takagi Flash Tankless Water Heater Model T K3 LP Takagi Flash Tankless Water Heater Model T K3 LP Paypal US $986.00 29d 8h 18m
Takagi T K3 Tankless Water Heater NG LPFREE SERVICE KIT Takagi T K3 Tankless Water Heater NG LPFREE SERVICE KIT Paypal US $945.00 7d 17h 32m
Takagi T K3 Tankless Water Heaters SPECIAL OFFER Takagi T K3 Tankless Water Heaters SPECIAL OFFER Paypal US $945.00 22d 4h 22m
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What is the best tankless water heater? What brand, what model, what type? Well, it depends... The best water heater for your household is one that meets all your needs, works reliably, and is as energy efficient as possible – all this without costing an arm and a leg. So which one should you buy? First I'll talk about the two types and the various brands and then about the steps you need to take to choose for yourself.

By types, I mean gas (both natural gas and propane) and electric. The best tankless water heater will always be gas, because they are more energy efficient. But they may not suit your particular needs. They are more expensive to purchase and more difficult to install correctly.

Best Gas Tankless Water Heater Brands

When it comes to brands, there do not seem to be any objective comparisons online. Consumer Reports does not have current evaluations.  Jim Dulley is a respected writer on many aspects of energy saving in the home; you can access his very inexpensive downloadable bulletins at www.dulley.com. He comments in his Update Bulletin #678, which I bought, that "Bosch, Noritz, Rheem/Paloma, and Takagi are my favorite high-output gas-powered tankless models."  He goes on to explain what features these brands have that make them his favorites. The bulletin also has detailed comparison charts of gallons per minute temperature rises.

More on brands: in doing research for this website, I read very widely all over the internet. I read customer reviews of all hot water heaters at Amazon – that link takes you to Amazon's page where they are all listed. I also read forum posts, long conversations of comments on blogs and websites, and reviews at other places. Based on all that, here is my considered assessment for gas tankless units. I haven't yet done enough reading on electric ones, but Titans are very popular – not always the same thing as being best!

  1. Noritz seems to be the very top of the line. They are not widely available online, as it seems you need to work directly with people certified by the company. I found several comments from professional installers that these are the best, in their experience.

  2. The Takagi heater (link goes to my article about this line) is very much appreciated by its owners, and I also read favorable comments from professionals. If I were buying a  unit myself right now, I would get a Takagi, and that is why I put an insert in the right sidebar of this site, showing various Takagi heaters currently on eBay.

  3. Bosch makes good units, very durable, but I did see a lot of complaints about their telephone customer service.

  4. Rinnai has many fans and a few detractors.

  5. Rheem, made by Paloma, is also mentioned by Jim Dully and is worth considering.

What is Best for YOU?

In deciding how to select a unit, you need to evaluate the extent and nature of your usage. This includes questions like how much you are willing to adjust your habits, how many people live in your home, the climate, and how many hot water uses you want to be able to do at the same time.

Here are some detailed guidelines in a useful article on another website: How to size a tankless water heater-- this  article includes a map of the US where you can estimate your incoming cold water temperature, if you live in the US, of course! (I noticed that this ecologically-oriented website sells the Eccotemp line of gas heaters, which I have not yet researched. )

Tankless water heaters are growing in popularity, and with good reason. But not all is rosy with using such a heater. Here are four things that owners of tankless water heaters like and four things that they dislike.

Four Things People Like About Tankless Water Heaters

Owners of tankless hot water heaters comment that they like them for a variety of reasons. Here are the top four:

  1. Endless hot water is great! No more running out in the middle of a long shower. Knowing you will always have enough is a good feeling.

  2. Saving money: Although tankless units generally cost over twice as much as conventional ones, over the long haul you typically spend less, as these units also last over twice as long and can be repaired where a conventional unit would have to be replaced. Also, there are tax credits available in the US for certain gas units that meet Energy Star standards.

  3. Saving space: tankless water heaters are amazingly small. They just hang on a wall and take up way less space than their conventional counterparts.

  4. Doing something for the environment by not wasting energy: It's obvious that heating a large tank of hot water 23/7 is wasteful of energy. In contrast, tankless units only heat water when you need it.

So with these benefits, the tankless units sound great! Unfortunately, it doesn't always work out that way.

Four Things People Don't Like About Their Tankless Water Heaters

Because tankless hot waters deliver water so differently from conventional tank water heaters, it takes some getting used to. You will have to adjust some habits. Plus, a lot of owners discovered unexpected obstacles during or after installation. Here are the main four things that owners report not liking about their setups:

  1. Flow delay: unless you happen to be using a unit that is right at the point of use, you will have to wait up to several minutes for hot water. Washing dishes by hand and turning the faucet on and off as you rinse? This habit works poorly with most tankless units because you'll have that flow delay every time you turn on the faucet. Besides your having to wait not necessarily patiently, another drawback is that cold water is most likely just going down the drain. (One Australian study concluded tankless water heaters waste "substantial" quantities of water.)

  2. Not having enough hot water if the water heater wasn't sized large enough: If your unit isn't large enough for your needs, you will have cooler water than you want, or if it is hot enough, there might be less of it than you like. This is more of a problem in the winter in colder climates, where the incoming water will be way colder than it would be in, say, Florida. If you have this problem, the way to fix it is to upgrade your system in one way or another. If you are still just shopping, be sure to do your homework on how to size a tankless hot water system. (Some brands, like Takagi, sell heaters that can be joined together in parallel.) Generally, people in milder climates seem to be happier with their units, probably for this reason.

  3. Problems with the heaters not working right: probably most of these issues can be traced to the installation not having been done correctly. Few contractors have experience with installations. As a result, owners' complaints on forums and review sites are numerous. Less than stellar customer service from some of the manufacturers doesn't help, either.

  4. How expensive they are: It's not too surprising that tankless units cost more than the tank style – especially the gas ones, which are better for the environment. But if you are installing one in an existing home, you are quite likely to have to upgrade your gas or electric inputs, which can be expensive. Gas ones need venting as well. Many owners reported that the totals were higher than they expected, which means their payback period is further off.

So if you are researching whether to get a tankless water heater, consider these factors. If you get one, you'll know what to watch out for!

A Takagi heater can be a good choice for a tankless hot water heater. Four of their residential models qualify for the Energy Star designation of the US Department of Energy and thus also for the US federal income tax credit of up to 30% of your cost -- that is not only a percentage of what you pay for a Takagi heater but also the cost of the installation.

To me, when a company has several of their product line meeting Energy Star standards, it warrants my attention. The models that qualify are the ones I will describe here. Some of their older models don't qualify but may be good choices too, if their energy efficiency isn't much less. (I saw a lot of favorable comments online from owners of the older T-K2.)

  • TAKAGI T-K3: This small unit weighs 40 pounds and is 13.8 inches wide so it can fit between studs. It starts heating water at .5 GPM (gallons per minute), and it comes with eight temperature settings from 104 degrees F all the way up to 185.
  • TAKAGI T-K3-OS: This is the outdoor variation of the T-K3, suitable for warmer climates.
  • TAKIGI T-K3-SP: this unit is for smaller residential situations.
  • TAKIGI T-H1: The T-H1 is extremely energy efficient, and is meant for large houses.

Installation of a Takagi Heater

An employee of Takagi demonstrates how to install a Takagi heater. Since installation is so crucial to customer satisfaction with any tankless water heater, this is a good thing to explain.

And here is a selection of Takagi heaters currently on eBay:

Takagi Tankless Water Heater Outdoor Model T K3 OS NG Takagi Tankless Water Heater Outdoor Model T K3 OS NG Paypal US $822.00 29d 8h 25m
New Takagi T K3 Tankless Water Heater TK3 New Takagi T K3 Tankless Water Heater TK3 Paypal US $825.00 28d 2h 27m
valve set for tankless water heater Takagi rinnaietc valve set for tankless water heater Takagi rinnaietc Paypal 0 Bid US $45.99 2d 13h 19m
Takagi Termperature Remote Control Tankless H2O Heater Takagi Termperature Remote Control Tankless H2O Heater Paypal US $89.99 1d 8h 30m
T KJr Takagi Tankless Water Heater LP FREE SHIP T K Jr T KJr Takagi Tankless Water Heater LP FREE SHIP T K Jr Paypal US $599.00 19d 11h 47m
T KJR Takagi Tankless Water Heater NG Model FREE SHIPP T KJR Takagi Tankless Water Heater NG Model FREE SHIPP Paypal US $589.99 25d 4h 55m
T K3 Takagi Tankless Water Heater NG Model FREE SHIPP T K3 Takagi Tankless Water Heater NG Model FREE SHIPP Paypal US $945.00 26d 17h 35m
T KJr Takagi Tankless Water Heater NG FREE SHIP T K Jr T KJr Takagi Tankless Water Heater NG FREE SHIP T K Jr Paypal US $599.00 19d 11h 42m
T K3 OS Takagi Tankless Water Heater Outdoor Model NG T K3 OS Takagi Tankless Water Heater Outdoor Model NG Paypal US $769.99 25d 6h 22m
T K3 PRO Takagi Tankless Water Heater Natural Gas T K3 PRO Takagi Tankless Water Heater Natural Gas Paypal US $1,200.00 25d 6h 39m
Takagi Flash Tankless Water Heater Model T K Jr LP Takagi Flash Tankless Water Heater Model T K Jr LP Paypal US $648.00 29d 8h 34m
TK RE02 Takagi Tankless Water Heater Temperature Remote TK RE02 Takagi Tankless Water Heater Temperature Remote Paypal US $122.99 25d 7h 29m
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You're here on this site most likely because you're researching tankless hot water heaters. As I emphasize on this website, they are not for everyone. There is a significant up-front cost made all the greater because in many (most?) cases you would need to increase the capacity of your gas or electric lines. The electric heaters place a heavy burden on the power grid during peak hours, so paradoxically may not help with overall energy savings for the society. (More about this in several places here on this site.) Read more

I was pleased to find this article from the US Department of Energy, EERE (Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy). As it's in the public domain, it can be reprinted and so I am putting it here. The original article can be found here. Even if you know the basics, some of the links at the bottom may be useful to you.-- Lou

Demand (Tankless or Instantaneous) Water Heaters

Demand (tankless or instantaneous) water heaters provide hot water only as it is needed. They don't produce the standby energy losses associated with storage water heaters, which can save you money. Here you'll find basic information about how they work, whether a demand water heater might be right for your home, and what criteria to use when selecting the right model. Read more