Have any of you guys used a Bosch Tankless Water Heater or any other brand before?

[Reschke]

I am looking into getting one of these and have discovered that they have been available and used in Europe for a long time. Has anyone here ever used anything similar here in the US? Or if any of the European guys have them please comment on it. My natural gas bill is getting outrageous with all the "shortages" that Katrina caused when it came up through the Gulf of Mexico before hitting the coast. BTW it's $979 USD and it qualifies for the new $300 Home Energy-Efficiency Improvement Tax Credit.

http://globaltowne.com/product_info.php/products_id/71

[beet1e]

I've not heard of this as described. The thing that sprang to mind when I read your post was the "combi boiler" This unit heats water as you use it, and is activated by the flow of water. I had one of these systems some years back, and I'm afraid it was a PITA. The problem was that the boiler did not heat the water fast enough. Oddly, by opening the hot tap (faucet) wider actually caused the water to run colder - because the water from the hot supply was then not spending enough time in the heating unit.

However, I followed your link, and your system sounds better than some of the "combi boiler" systems we have here.

[Lye-El]

I had a tankless for a while. The more flow the less hot water so if the wife did dishs while I was in the shower neither one of us got hot water.

It also didn't last. I went back to a regular hot water heater.

[rogwar]

Checked into them some time ago and while for a very small home a single unit might be OK, you really have to plan your hot water usage because you might need multiple units.

[rabbidrabbit]

They have much better ones now that will support 2 showers at a time or more.  Just be careful to not under buy one or you will experience the above.

[Chairboy]

I like the idea of having dedicated tankless heaters in each room.  Eg, I have on in my master bathroom so I have unlimited hotwater for shower, doesn't matter if the dishwasher is running.

[Reschke]

Well we are not used to $200 + natural gas bills each month and since Katrina that is about what they have been and we only have a gas hot water heater and a gas heater. This past winter it only got seriously cold a few weeks and we were able to use a good deal more wood and kept a fire going most of the winter. BUT with summer approaching we are not seeing a reduction in gas costs and the gas company is talking about another 5%-15% increase. That is on top of the ones that we had in October, December and January.

[Vulcan]

We use a Rinnai NG one at home. Its awesome, mains pressure hot water. No problems with showers etc at the same time although there is a noticeable drop in the pressure (its not too anything like a bad level, it goes down from skin removing to bareable).

I have a friend with a really huge house and they put in two.

And... I added a UPS so that during power cuts (we had a dry season a few years back) the gas hot water still operates  (looks like another dry season has come up this year)

[Gunslinger]

I keep hearing about these on the radio and wondered what they are about.  My water heater is electric so I don't know how much in savings I'll actually get.

[Curval]

Not sure if this is the exact same thing but we are going to replace our old electric style tank water heater for something like this for our kitchen and downstairs bathroom....it can be mounted inside a cupboard.

[storch]

I used one (as did everyone else) when I lived in Brasil.  they are a good idea, very efficient to an extent because the water is super heated at the point of use.  Here in the good ol' USA we utilize two separate 55 gallon traditional inefficient and wasteful water heaters to go with my 13mpg SUV.  I'm attempting to perform my part in using up all of the world's energy reserve as quickly and as efficiently as possible,  what better way than to permanently have more piping hot water than I'll ever use as I cruise about town looking for money to spend on energy.

[capt. apathy]

my mother and brother have the tank-less or in-line water heaters.  they both love them.  you're tank never runs dry. (very handy if you need to fill a hot-tub, or have several people trying to get a shower near the same time of day)

the only complaint I've heard is the time it takes to get a small amount of hot water.  for my brother it wasn't a big enough problem to worry about.  

for my moms house we just installed a small electric tank unit under the kitchen sink.  it holds about a half-gallon, uses very little electricity, and gives you instant hot water that lasts until the hot water gets to the sink.

[Vulcan]

Originally posted by Curval
Not sure if this is the exact same thing but we are going to replace our old electric style tank water heater for something like this for our kitchen and downstairs bathroom....it can be mounted inside a cupboard.

Hmm most of the gas ones sit outside for ventilation and safety stuff.

[FiLtH]

I use indirect water heaters and a boiler in all the installations I do. You never run out.  Im up north though so Im sure it wouldnt be efficient for warmer areas.  The tankless we have are the type emmersed in the boiler and bolted to the face of it. Depending on the water conditions, minerals can form inside the coil, coating the walls and insulating the water to be heated, from the boiler water. You may think "I'll just turn up the temp of the boiler".

This will work for a short time, but it actually excelerates the process, and you will eventually end up without hot water. Flow restricters do help slow the water down a bit, so it has time to heat before flying thru the coil, to the faucet.