Tankless water heater

I had an electrician install timers on both water heaters in my house.

One for main house, the 2nd for the apt.

They now run 2 hours a day each, instead of 24 each and have plenty of hot water for my needs, a reduction in energy usage and lower WAPA bills.

Installed one in FL home too. Quite pleased with them.

Running water heaters 24/7/365 is pricey

We have ours on a switch next to a switch with our pump right by our shower.  We flip the switch to the pump off and then switch to the heater on for about 20 minutes in the morning and it almost always lasts my family of four all day on the single heat.  We have two smaller cisterns that we switch over when one runs dry so it's nice to have that switch for the pump so we can quickly shut it off instead of let the pump run dry and potentially burn out.  

If you have space on your roof, a solar hot water system works great in the VI.

@gators_mom

Aren't they very expensive?  I was looking at this.

@alana33

I have timers installed for my hot water tanks as well.  I haven't used them but have solar and small tanks, and haven't paid a bill yet.  When I add mini-splits, I may use them to help with the electrical usage.  I only use AC when sleeping so it may not be a big expense anyways.  

I found the timers considerably lowered my electric bill b0th in STT and FL.

Didn't want to deal with solar on roof. House sat a home for a couple months once when my home was being worked on and wasn't all that impressed with it. It was during a very wet period of about a month where it rained everyday. Very little hot water. I'm sure things have improved but my days of getting on the roof to do this, fix that and clean anything are done!

Plus cost of solar was beyond my budget.

@daveb722

If you purchase before the end of this year, I think you can still qualify for a tax credit. Next year the credit will be less but still in existence. You'd have to read the rules to see if this fits your tax situation.  Online prices range from $1K to well over $5K. I don't know the equivalent to the tank we have.

Our tank is on top of our house and we inherited it when we purchased our property 7 years ago.  Scalding hot water is the greatest issue we have. In our guest bathroom, we installed a color coded showerhead (red light hot, blue light cold) so visitors wouldn't burn themselves. 

@Alana33

I inherited the solar panels, replaced them after Maria with insurance monies.  My bill with renters there (temp past 4 months) and my permanent renter without solar would be around $400.00 a month, that's with only a window ac in the master bedroom.  If you look at that, my solar panels pay for themselves in less than 3 years (400 x 12 = 4800 x 3 = 14,400, replaced for 11k), so I'm happy about them unless they get ripped off the roof again ☹️, but my solar guy thinks they weren't fastened correctly as a few were still on the roof and he was able to inspect them and my neighbors weren't even touched.  

@gators_mom

Yeah I saw the pricing after you mentioned it, but thought it was pretty expensive, even if I could install one for 3K, it would take 10 water heaters replaced to break even and with the solar it wouldn't be cost effective I guess. I'm lucky enough I can do the work myself, so I only need to buy the unit.  

Take a look at the smaller Heliatos Solar hot water panels - instead of one huge glass panel, they're modular little 2'x2' panels with multi-wall polycarbonate top surface.  Way easier to install, and you can get a few at first and add on later if needed.  Their system can tie into an existing HWH with solar capabilities, or through the drain valve of an existing non-solar tank.  

Easy DIY, pre-installed connectors, good instructions for install.  Add check valves on both lines so water doesn't thermosiphon all night, and make sure the little solar pump is mounted vertically so bubbles don't get trapped inside.  

Paradise Lumber on STJ carries them, or it looks like you can order them online for USPS shipping again.

I'll be interested to read more replies because my water heater is getting to be a bit elderly but I'd have to have electric. Didn't know they also worked with propane.

@fhpooiks

I installed one of these in a 2 bed / 2 bath condo on STX in 2015 and it works great.

We do only have showers, no tubs, so at 1.56 gpm it may take a little longer to fill a tub.

https://www.homedepot.com/p/8-kW-Self-Modulating-1-55-GPM-Electric-Tankless-Water-Heater-ECO-8/203316214?MERCH=REC-_-Pip_Alternatives_Non_HDhome-_-203316215-_-203316214-_-N

Just be aware you can't replace a standard electric tank water heater with tankless without having a licensed electrician upgrade the size of the circuit (wiring and circuit breaker).  For example the HD unit above requires a 40A circuit, you likely have only a 25A or 30A with existing standard tank heater.

@Scubadoo

You are coreect.

I hired a licensed plumber and electrician to install this for me.

The electrician installed the correct size breaker and also pulled heavier wire.