Tankless Hot Water Heaters

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Jay I'm not sure I catagorized this right so feel free to change it to the catagory you feel it belongs in. Also feel free to edit and correct spelling errors.

Okay here is the info on my tankless hot water heater. First of all I have to tell you I love it.

I first saw the ad in CS magazine and called the company, they also have a web page. Aquastar is the US distributor. Bosh is the maker. If you understand technical stuff the lable says this unit uses 207 therms year. It also says that it costs $197. per year, estimated, to operate. I couldn't tell you is this is right. It does not use electricity,is propane gas (you can get natural gas, the started is battery operated. Basically is was more expensive initially to buy, I think about $600., than a normal 40 gallon heater. I also had to pay someone to put it in for me, I don't have the skills needed. The tech support was great, the plumber had to call a few times and they were wonderful.

I bought mine at Menards, I know Home Depot sells them too! Check any large home improvement store. They do not look like a hot water heater. It is a box that is about 3'x 2'x 8" and mounts on a wall. I first realized that they had them in this country when I visited a friend in Calf. and he had his shower and bath outside and the heater also was outside. As I said before I knew them from England and loved them. He said he found his at the local dump and fixed them up. You NEVER run out of hot water, unless you run out of gas. The battery needs to be changed about once a year, it is just a "D" battery. It is pretty simple! I have a well so if I lose electricity I'm screwed either way but if your water is not dependant on electricity this will operate with out electricity.

Susan

-- Susan in MN (nanaboo@paulbunyan.net), May 30, 2002

Answers

I salvaged one form the local dump area, wasn't sure what exactly it was at first but it had a thermostat control and all the stuff, looked to have come out of a PU camper or motor home. Did manage to salvage the aluminum holding tank and plan to rig up another burner for it with a new thermostat, when the situation allows for such. Now use a solar setup, which is seasonally OK in the spring and the fall.

-- BC (desertdweller44@yahoo.com), May 30, 2002.

Nope doesn't sound like it! There is NO tank on this at all. Copper coils is all and a very small open flame. It works when the water goes through the ciols and passes over the flame. The copper of course heats up and the water is heated as you use it and as it passes through the hot coils and the flame.

-- Susan in MN (nanaboo@paulbunyan.net), May 30, 2002.

My aunt brought one from Germany. She had to get a power converter because hers was electric though.

-- Jay Blair in N. AL (jayblair678@yahoo.com), May 30, 2002.

Perhaps mine is not considered a tankless setup, since I do have a tank. My setup allows for heat to move up through the center of the tank via a 4 inch pipe setup, thereby allowing for a much greater heating area and a much reduced heating time. Engineers will design all sorts of things, based on the same principles.

-- BC (desertdweller44@yahoo.com), May 30, 2002.

The point of the tankless isn't so much the endless hot water. Although for me that is one of the best things about it! It is that you are not spending money to keep however many gallons of water hot in order to use the amount needed. This heats on demand and does not need to store the water anywhere. It is a pretty clever but simple idea.

-- Susan in MN (nanaboo@paulbunyan.net), May 30, 2002.


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