In-line water heaters.

[Tmall]

Originally Posted by Papa_Complex

They aren't install and forget, like many people treat their old tank unit. You'll need an annual service, especially when dealing with hard water, and a filter system wouldn't be a bad idea.

This as well, I can't get to the filter in mine. The previous owner must never have cleaned it, because the brass cover will NOT budge on mine. I have to cut the line coming into it, pull that piece out of the heater and replace it, and reinstall the supply line.

If you don't care about price so much, you can get an oil fired water heater. I had one in my previous house and I could not run out of hot water, I tried and failed.

[Papa_Complex]

Originally Posted by Tmall

I didn't read the replies..

I have one as a secondary unit in the summer. It's good for a nice steamy shower, but if I'm doing several things at once such as, laundry, shower, dishes it cannot keep up with the demand.

Also, if when you fluctuate or shut off the water pressure, you will get a blast of cold as they're not nearly as instaneous as I would like..

They're set to trigger at a minimum water pressure, so they cut off if there isn't a sufficient demand.

[Tmall]

Originally Posted by Papa_Complex

They're set to trigger at a minimum water pressure, so they cut off if there isn't a sufficient demand.

But also, if you're running the hot, shut it off and turn it back on, there's going to be a slug of cold water in your hot water line before you get hot again.

[tallywacker]

Originally Posted by Tmall

But also, if you're running the hot, shut it off and turn it back on, there's going to be a slug of cold water in your hot water line before you get hot again.

You are going to have cold water in your line with a tank and tank-less. I guess you could go hardcore and put electric heater elements around your pipes.

[Tmall]

Originally Posted by tallywacker

You are going to have cold water in your line with a tank and tank-less. I guess you could go hardcore and put electric heater elements around your pipes.

It's not complicated, why is it so hard to understand? If you shut the tap momentarily with an inline, the heater has to start heating again. And it's not instantaneous. If you do it with a normal water heater, you don't get the section of cold unless you give the water time to cool down in the pipes.

It's not a life changer, but if you're running an inline water heater and turn the faucet on and off, it's going to be cold for a few seconds. A bit of cold water does go by the heater before the heating elements heat back up to temperature.

[tallywacker]

Originally Posted by Tmall

It's not complicated, why is it so hard to understand? If you shut the tap momentarily with an inline, the heater has to start heating again. And it's not instantaneous. If you do it with a normal water heater, you don't get the section of cold unless you give the water time to cool down in the pipes.

It's not a life changer, but if you're running an inline water heater and turn the faucet on and off, it's going to be cold for a few seconds. A bit of cold water does go by the heater before the heating elements heat back up to temperature.

Not exactly, either heater will leave hot water in pipe AFTER the heater until it cools. What you said sounds like it gets cold instantly.

I know exactly what you are talking about, though it really isn't a big deal.

[Cutty72]

Originally Posted by tallywacker

You are going to have cold water in your line with a tank and tank-less. I guess you could go hardcore and put electric heater elements around your pipes.

Or just have a recirculating system so you always have instant hot water. Only works with a tank system though.

[Adeptus_Minor]

Originally Posted by tallywacker

What you said sounds like it gets cold instantly.

In Canadia, it does.

[anthonyk]

Originally Posted by tallywacker

Not exactly, either heater will leave hot water in pipe AFTER the heater until it cools. What you said sounds like it gets cold instantly.

I know exactly what you are talking about, though it really isn't a big deal.

You guys are probably still talking about two different things. Even if there's hot water in the line downstream from a tankless heater, if you've let the elements cool down, you're gonna get a brief shot of cold water after that hot water goes through the faucet.

Not really an issue for my house, since even though I'm not in Canadia, my hot water lines seem to cool down in seconds.

[fasternyou929]

Originally Posted by tallywacker

Not exactly, either heater will leave hot water in pipe AFTER the heater until it cools. What you said sounds like it gets cold instantly.

I know exactly what you are talking about, though it really isn't a big deal.

No, I don't think you do. You guys are talking about two different scenarios:

First time you turn on hot water after an extended period of non-use, you will get cold water until hot water reaches the faucet you've opened for both styles of water heater. Advantage: neither

If you have hot water at the faucet, turn it off momentarily,then turn it back on:

Inline heater - you will have a "section" of water that passes the instantaneous water heater while it's inactive, resulting in:
Hot Hot Hot Hot Cold Cold Cold Hot Hot Hot Hot.... in your hot water pipe.

Water tank - you would have a consistent stream of hot water in your hot water line and there wouldn't be any "surprise" coming your way in a few seconds.