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Frugal and Energy Efficient Living

Ruby the Liberal

(26,219 posts)

6. Is there somewhere online where you can do a calculation

Reply to FSogol (Reply #5)

Fri Jan 6, 2012, 11:34 AM

Jan 2012

to determine if it is worth the cost to switch to tankless?

Your link gave me 4 results for Residential, but am not understanding what the differences are between them.

We are getting to that time of year where the water heater allows for a 4-5 minute shower before starting to cool off, and I like the water to be 'room temp' feeling (not steamy/hot) so it isn't a high temperature use/desire issue.

I've been concerned about how much of my electric bill is being sucked up by the water heater, but tankless seem so expensive - are they that more energy efficient?

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21 replies

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Highlight:

Put a switch on my electric water heater, now I only turn it before I'll need really hot water.. [View all] Fumesucker Jan 2012 OP

Why not get an instantaneous (tankless) water heater? n/t FSogol Jan 2012 #1

This seems a cheaper solution than replacing a perfectly good water heater. canoeist52 Jan 2012 #2

Ok, I'll rephrase. When your tank controls/element break from being turned on/off FSogol Jan 2012 #4

Water heaters routinely cycle on and off anyway.. Fumesucker Jan 2012 #8

Two reasons... Fumesucker Jan 2012 #3

We use these for remote sinks, lavs FSogol Jan 2012 #5

Is there somewhere online where you can do a calculation Ruby the Liberal Jan 2012 #6

How many gallons is your water heater? Fumesucker Jan 2012 #7

40 and its not climate controlled. Ruby the Liberal Jan 2012 #9

You might want to check the temperature of the hot water from the closest faucet to your tank.. Fumesucker Jan 2012 #10

Thank you! Ruby the Liberal Jan 2012 #16

Tankless makes sense in a climate where one must run the air conditioner for a lot of the year Kolesar Jan 2012 #17

Fumesucker is correct kristopher Jan 2012 #18

I can do that. Ruby the Liberal Jan 2012 #19

Good for you. This will save both electricity and most likely reduce your use cbayer Jan 2012 #11

Creative frugality. silverweb Jan 2012 #12

Kudos. Used the same system for a year or so. Spartan. dimbear Jan 2012 #20

Not bad at all. silverweb Jan 2012 #21

How long have you been on this system? Curmudgeoness Jan 2012 #13

I only did it a couple of weeks ago.. Fumesucker Jan 2012 #14

I will be interested to hear how much savings you have. Curmudgeoness Jan 2012 #15