Hot water question

[mtman]

Does anyone have a suggestion on getting instant hot water at the other end of a large house?

I know running 5 minutes of water to get a hot shower is a waste of water. We need a cost effective method to get hot water to the other end of a large house. Help!

[TableMtn]

I'm thinking about getting one of those "instant on" gas hot water heaters.  I don't think that would solve the problem of having to run the cool water that is currently in the pipes.  the only thing I can think of is having an electrical tape that heats the water that is currently in the pipes (used in the really cold areas where pipes freeze readily).  The instant on water heaters I looked at were around $700-800.  but they are supposed to be so much more energy efficient that they save in the long run.

[Plumberford]

We recently installed a circulating pump for a customer that didn't require running a return pipe.   It can be installed in any house without the hassle of installing the return line.   It's much more economical in most cases than the circulating pump with the return line and the unit comes with a built in timer so you can set it for instant hot water when you need it and the pump won't be running when you don't need it.  You have to have an electric outlet by the water heater to plug the pump into.  You won't be filling up your septic tank with unused water.    

[mtman]

What kind of cost are you talking about?

Is it a pump or an instant hot water heater?

We recently installed a circulating pump for a customer that didn't require running a return pipe.   It can be installed in any house without the hassle of installing the return line.   It's much more economical in most cases than the circulating pump with the return line and the unit comes with a built in timer so you can set it for instant hot water when you need it and the pump won't be running when you don't need it.  You have to have an electric outlet by the water heater to plug the pump into.  You won't be filling up your septic tank with unused water.    

[Plumberford]

The average installation for the pump and labor would be between $500.00 and $600.00.  It's a circulating pump, not a water heater.

[Ensen]

The maker's of these pumps say that you'll save much more than the initial cost in terms of water and gas savings.  I do understand how less water would be used, but I don't understand how less gas would be.  It seems more would be because it's keeping a larger amount of water hot.  And I don't think the savings in water would be that significant.

[Plumberford]

[dragongirl]

Why do some people with large houses put in mutiple water heaters?  I know several homes that did that. One has 5 of them. Is that the answer?

[LasPulgas]

FIVE WATER HEATERS IN ONE HOUSE!?  

That's a lot of gas being used to percolate water just sitting there waiting to be used....

One would have to have more money than they have working brain cells.  That certainly is not energy efficient.

Where I stayed in Rio de Janeiro Brasil they didn't have water heaters at all.  They had these units on the bathroom wall, about the size of a small computer printer box.   You would turn a valve and light a pilot light and have instantly hot water for tub or shower.  THESE WORKED FAMOUSLY (1991).

Their use saved the space a water heater would occupy

AND

They only paid for the gas and the water they actually used.

Anyone know anything about these?  

Are they available in the U.S.?  

If not, WHY NOT?      

[TableMtn]

Yes, they are available in the US as "instant on" hot water heaters.  That is what I was talking about in my previous post.  They only come in gas, electric ones are rare if you can find them at all.  I am thinking about replacing my hot water tank with one.  The one I looked at at Lowes was around $750.  The other thing I like about them is I don't have to worry about some big tank falling on the ground during an earthquake.  Yes, my tank is strapped to the wall, but ya never know!   :-/

[Local]

Try looking at the RINNI tankless water heater, a little more expensive, but they last around 20 years if taken care of. I have installed these units in residential and commercial buildings, they work extremely well.

LOcal

[Nolena]

We almost installed a tankless water heater a few years back. What stopped us was the length of the exhaust pipe that's needed in order to take the extremely hot exhaust well above your roof.

[TableMtn]

hmmm, some good input--thanks for the info Local and Nolena  

[Wrightwood]

[Plumberford]

Go to grundfos.com and look under comfort series instant hot water systems

Or try here: http://www.grundfos.com/Web/HomeUs.nsf/Webopslag/2D284E62A364BCD5C1256C3D003D8118

[clint]

And now for something completely different....point of view anyway. The tankless water heaters are neat, but! I depend on that 40 to 50 gallons of perfectly good drinking as a part of my earthquake planning. Far from viewing it as a hazard, it's crucial resource. It's enough water to drink for a LONG time, and it's always being refreshed with new so there are no long term strorage problems. For this reason you should always keep the drain valve at the bottom of the water heater in good working order and occasionally drian off some water to keep it clean.

[Wrightwood]

I found a PDF file that explains more:

ftp://http://www.wrightwoodcalif.com/news/InstantHotWater1.pdf

[Nolena]

I guess the whole issue boils down to:

"No tanks!"

or

"Tanks a lot!"

[dragongirl]

Yes the big house on hwy 2 that used to be Janna Houston's has five water heaters also several wells.

[TableMtn]

Good thinking Clint--except I bought my house from George--who was a "zen" kinda guy and never did any maintenance so I don't even want to THINK about what is in the bottom of my tank....  I'm on a well that doesn't have a sand filter and hoooweee, I can just imagine the crud at the bottom (oh great! another home project for this weekend!  it never ends   )