In-line water heaters.

[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..

[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.

[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.

[AquaPython]

there is no surprise. the water is heated up by the copper plumbing, it will stay hot for 30-60 seconds, and be quicker to warm up than normal for a while after that.

[Gas Man]

Originally Posted by derf

I use it now and I love it, hot water on demand whenever you want it, and it never runs out. The only down side is that, at least in my house the master bath is on the complete opposite side of the house from the heater so that bathroom takes a minute to get hot water, I usually turn on the shower brush my teeth then jump in the shower. But the other full bath has hot water within 5 seconds, same with the kitchen, wash room, and half bath. I really think that the water pipes just travel all over the house and it takes a solid minute for how water.

But again, it never runs out. The most hot water I've used at one time was 4 showers 2 at the same time in 2 bathrooms followed by another 2, then 2 full baths at the same time. that was probably 300 gallons of hot water in 1/2 hour and it never did flinch.

My heater, even though its on city water has a catch cleanout that I can open up to clean out any gunk. The instructions say to do it every 4 months for well water, and every year for city water.

Originally Posted by Tmall

Bingo, and that section doesn't turn cold, it was cold to begin with. It just hasn't been heated.

It's really not a huge issue, but some people don't like it. I used to turn the faucet on and off when I shaved, now I just pour the sink full of hot..

Thanks tmall. I was going to say the same thing. The cold water flush has nothing to do with the type of hot water heater you have.

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.

But really the same stands to reason with a tank as well.

Other thing to consider, and this has been "fixed" recently" is that some models require stainless steel venting. Further, limited distances. So that can be issues.

[Porkchop]

We just had our "pressure and temperature valve" fail on our tank style last night. It left a giant lake in our basement before we could get a bucket under the overflow pipe. It kept dripping most of the evening until I faceplamed myself and realized I just needed to shut off the inflow pipe. It was just a $25 piece that made a big mess.

The tank is 17 yrs old though. Not bad for a first failure....

[Papa_Complex]

Originally Posted by Gas Man

Other thing to consider, and this has been "fixed" recently" is that some models require stainless steel venting. Further, limited distances. So that can be issues.

Perhaps, but a tank heater might function quite happily for ten or fifteen years, before failing. A tankless system might fail in a single year, without proper maintenance in such conditions.