Best Tankless Water Heater
I’m considering installing a tankless water heater – in Hampton VA – House is 2BR 2BA – gas avail. potentially installed in a crawl space. What is the best brand and model for my application (or personal favorite)? What are Pros and Cons of the tankless system?
The operating saving on a gas tankless is 35% over a standard gas water heater. This is supported by DOE Energy Factors, it isn’t manufacturer’s claims.
The other pluses are continuous hot water, small size and sidewall venting.
There is a federal tax credit as well as many local utility incentives.
The negatives are a higher installed cost than many standard gas water heaters (not all) and a slight additional delay in getting hot water.
You need to be aware of proper sizing. You also need to be aware of the Energy Factor on the unit ( I noticed that some of the Bosch units (1600P)have an energy factor similar to a standard tank heater…yikes!) While the Bosch 1600PS had a lot of complaints from users because of the unique ignition system. Because of this, I am not a fan of Bosch units.
You also need to be aware of the special venting requirements.
My recommendations are the Rheem/Rudd/Paloma (all the same) units. They are a good product at a reasonable price.