We put in a tankless water heater in 2004, I think. Best thing we did. Ours is a Bosch with the hydroservo ignition so there is no pilot light and no plugged in electric start.
I think the only concern about using it with a well is the water pressure and more importantly the amount of water flow. I can't remember what the required flow rate is for ours, something like 2 to 4 gallons per minute, it probably depends on the model, but check that with the model you are looking at and then check what your well produces. One thing about a well is it can pump water while you are not using it and keep it in a pressure tank or a hot water tank. I recall the tankless water heaters can't be used in mobile homes. Can't remember anything about using with a well. We are on city water so water flow is not a worry for us. My household: 5 people, 5 showers a day 1930 farm house cellulose insulated walls and attic w/double paned windows. about 1100 sq.ft. Bosch Tankless water heater Asko clothes washer (at least 8 loads a week probably more like 10) Electric clothes dryer newer non energystar fridge Gas stove (Premier/Peerless) no glow bar (We cook everyday, usually two meals plus heating water kettle) Danby 18" dish washer Old Rheem gas furnace Jotul Wood stove (2 1/2 cords per year) Our fireplace is in the middle of the house with an open floor plan. Our house was in the 70s yesterday with a slow burning fire in the stove Over two years our monthly averages: 233 kwh 38.3 Therms We have three TVs with DVD players and video machines, two computers, 2 stereos, an aquarium and many lights on at night, all CFs. So we have many electric appliances. In other words we live like a "normal" energy consuming family, I just try to make smart choices so we actually use less than a normal family would. Jim On Nov 17, 2008, at 10:23 PM, Gay Nicholson wrote: > That finding from Consumer Reports surprises me. My on-demand water > heater paid for itself in a little over two years. Even if it breaks > down earlier than its expected 20-year lifespan -- it is still a good > idea compared to the standard ones with their 8-year lifespans. > > But my propane savings of 45% is higher than many households would > achieve. The higher the number of people in your home (and presumably > the more people are using up the hot water), the less the on-demand > heater will save you because you aren't keeping water hot 24/7 for > only an occasional use. > > Gay > > On Nov 17, 2008, at 9:13 PM, [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: > >> Can't answer the question asked, BUT ~ >> >> Dad the plumbing & heating guy has long said that they aren't what >> they're cracked up to be. Having designed systems for schools & >> banks & assisted w/ some design at Cold Spring Harbor labs, he's >> *real big* on efficiency. >> >> But that's just Dad, so in shopping I checked Consumers Reports. >> They listed a few drawbacks to on demand water heaters but the one >> that changed my mind is that the savings in energy will never come >> close to the extra cost of the system, the system will bite the >> bullet first. >> >> Consumer Reports had lots more on water heaters. We decided to buy >> one with a 12 year warranty ~ better insulated and heftier heating >> coils. Next year . . . . >> _______________________________________________ >> For more information about sustainability in the Tompkins County >> area, please visit: http://www.sustainabletompkins.org/ >> >> RSS, archives, subscription & listserv information for: >> [email protected] >> http://lists.mutualaid.org/mailman/listinfo/sustainabletompkins >> free hosting by http://www.mutualaid.org > > ---------------------------------------------------- > Gay Nicholson, Ph.D. > > 607-533-7312 (home office) > 607-279-6618 (cell) > > 1 Maple Avenue > Lansing, NY 14882 > [EMAIL PROTECTED] > > Sustainable Tompkins > Program Coordinator > www.sustainabletompkins.org > > Southern Tier Energy$mart Communities > Regional Coordinator > Cornell Cooperative Extension of Tompkins County > 615 Willow Ave., Ithaca, NY 14850 > [EMAIL PROTECTED] > > > > > > _______________________________________________ > For more information about sustainability in the Tompkins County > area, please visit: http://www.sustainabletompkins.org/ > > RSS, archives, subscription & listserv information for: > [email protected] > http://lists.mutualaid.org/mailman/listinfo/sustainabletompkins > free hosting by http://www.mutualaid.org _______________________________________________ For more information about sustainability in the Tompkins County area, please visit: http://www.sustainabletompkins.org/ RSS, archives, subscription & listserv information for: [email protected] http://lists.mutualaid.org/mailman/listinfo/sustainabletompkins free hosting by http://www.mutualaid.org
