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Old 04-16-2016, 12:21 PM   #1
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Tank-less LP water heater?

Is a tankless water heater a better option than a 6 gal water heater? A few units seem similarly priced between the two.

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Old 04-16-2016, 03:20 PM   #2
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I guess it depends on how much hot water you need. The 6 gallon water heater will take a bit of time to recover, but on the other hand 6 gallons is a lot of hot water. The tank-less units vary widely in price but are supposed to supply a steady stream of hot water for as long as you need it. If it can heat 3 gallons of water per minute I'm pretty sure that's all you'd need. I forget how the ratings are on the tank-less heaters.
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Old 04-16-2016, 04:09 PM   #3
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I have a tankless, and I will NEVER have anything else - it is awesome, not sure why anyone gripes about them? I guess they want to constantly boil water and heat up the house, burning gas all the time?
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Old 04-16-2016, 05:08 PM   #4
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I have two propane household sized water heaters I bought some years ago that are in storage. Vent that into the bus as a source of heat, and a big tank of hot water to boot.
Yes there's the venting issues, but with propane there are always venting issue to get rid of the moisture. Close your top hatch on a wooden cooking spoon and it works fine. For a couple months this winter I needed some real heat to compensate for all this glass while it's freezing outside. I'd really like a floor heating system and some people use dedicated tankless water heater in a floor system.
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Old 04-16-2016, 08:45 PM   #5
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I have a tankless, and I will NEVER have anything else - it is awesome, not sure why anyone gripes about them? I guess they want to constantly boil water and heat up the house, burning gas all the time?
I agree. I don't know why anyone would use anything else.
Unless you like running out of hot water during your shower.
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Old 04-16-2016, 09:14 PM   #6
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I agree. I don't know why anyone would use anything else.
Unless you like running out of hot water during your shower.
sounds like tankless is the way to go then. I will start researching them now , thanks!
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Old 04-16-2016, 09:23 PM   #7
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For anyone with experience with the tank-less water heaters, what are the most dependable brands and how much output is needed?
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Old 04-16-2016, 10:35 PM   #8
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I agree. I don't know why anyone would use anything else.
Unless you like running out of hot water during your shower.
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For anyone with experience with the tank-less water heaters, what are the most dependable brands and how much output is needed?
ALL OF THIS ^^^^^^^^^ up here!
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Old 04-17-2016, 05:38 AM   #9
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this is what ive used for 2 years, no problems. im getting the l10 for my home.
Eccotemp L5 Portable Tankless Water Heater - 119693, Portable Toilets & Showers at Sportsman's Guide
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Old 04-17-2016, 09:02 AM   #10
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this is what ive used for 2 years, no problems. im getting the l10 for my home.
Eccotemp L5 Portable Tankless Water Heater - 119693, Portable Toilets & Showers at Sportsman's Guide

Do you use the shower head that comes with it, or have you hard plumbed it into your current system? I'm just wondering about hot water for my sinks as well.

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Old 04-17-2016, 03:10 PM   #11
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I just ordered one anyway. How did you vent yours? Everywhere I read says it's meant for outdoor use. I am sure I can install some ducting, was just curious how you did yours.
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Old 04-17-2016, 04:40 PM   #12
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I dealt with 20 & 5 litre boilers in Germany. They don't heat up until you turn them on. So you had to wait a bit. Big deal. Likewise demand heaters. While I love the idea of instant hot water, I don't like the idea of keeping beaucoup gallons lying about doing nothing.

Demand heater for me as well.
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Old 04-17-2016, 05:40 PM   #13
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Yeah, I like that idea too. But I've got two big propane water heaters. It is a large volume of water but the exhaust can be vented into the bus to provide a source of heat. Most of us use the bejebees out of these catalytic propane heaters that vent into the room anyway. Maybe I should just take apart the water heater and use the burner to heat the bus without 40 gallons of hot water sitting there.
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Old 04-17-2016, 06:57 PM   #14
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i installed the w h in my bathroom. its hard piped but i only heat the water "shower hot". im going to use this unit on my bus and get the l 10 for my home. i have a bath fan right above the unit. ill try and post a pic
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Old 04-17-2016, 07:49 PM   #15
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And...tankless use a fraction of the LP that a "standard" tank type uses.
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Old 04-17-2016, 11:24 PM   #16
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I bought one of the eccotemp L10's also, and am trying to figure out how to plumb it into future kitchen/bathroom area... not sure if to just use with shower, or if can have hot water in kitchen, etc...
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Old 04-18-2016, 05:48 AM   #17
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I bought one of the eccotemp L10's also, and am trying to figure out how to plumb it into future kitchen/bathroom area... not sure if to just use with shower, or if can have hot water in kitchen, etc...
I M O with on demand if you have to mix cold with your hot water your heating it to much. its not like you have a tank of hot water to run out, you have endless hot water. put it in an area you can easy get to. doing dishes? just turn it up a little more.im single and i can go over 3 months on a grill tank of gas. these little units are amazing.
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Old 04-18-2016, 06:18 AM   #18
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love pex, wouldn't use anything else.
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Old 04-18-2016, 06:20 AM   #19
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So you don't have any exhaust issues with it being inside? I'm not the most knowledgeable when it comes to cng or lpg.
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Old 04-18-2016, 03:10 PM   #20
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There are two categories of tankless. Basically built for either indoors or out. You can modify an outdoor unit by building in an exhaust system for it but need to know what you are doing. That is what Jack ("Ol' Trunt") did on his '35 Chevy. CO2 poisoning.

Unless done properly, you risk CO2 poisoning.
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