In hot water

[nolawitch58]

My water heater decided to start leaking a two weeks ago this coming Friday. Rather than wait for it to completely fail in all its seals, I had an appointment for kitchen design at Lowes the next day, so I checked out their water heaters. I saw a nice tankless one and heard good things about them. Unfortunately, they didn't have them in stock. The sales assistant gave me the name and number of a local plumber. He came and quoted a price and said he could get me one in a couple of days. The only snag was that my ancient circuit box wouldn't handle the load, so I had to replace it. What the hell. Go ahead. It will save money in the long run and there's a tax credit still.

I put a container under the drip and hoped for the best. Monday, they came and yanked out the old tank, installed the tankless and the new breaker box. Works like a charm. Now I have to paint inside the laundry island. It looks pretty rough.

The windows are on order. Progress is being made.

My second writing workshop class was last night. Good stuff. Work is busy. October looms. I'm dizzy thinking about all the events and activities ahead.

Comments

[ms-issicran.livejournal.com]

It's funny how with the change of the season summer seemed to slip by unnoticed. Good on you for getting in under the wire on those energy credits. I'm leaning toward a tankless next too, but first the whole water softening magilla will have to go in.

I'm looking forward to October - it's a Fall thing.

[voxwoman.livejournal.com]

I have both an on-demand water heater for the attic bathroom, and a regular water heater for the rest of the house (which we replaced just before Irene). I love the tankless. Mine runs on natural gas instead of electricity.

[saminz.livejournal.com]

Hell, I completely forgot that you had gas! Of course, these tankless heaters are wonderful. I used to have on in my first apartment and have missed it since. My gas stove as well, of course.

And being able to just buy another fuse box? Wow. I envy you mightily ;-D.

[nolawitch.livejournal.com]

I don't have gas. That's why I needed another breaker box. The cost really ate into my budget for home improvements. I'm thinking something is going to be pushed off by a month or so.

[saminz.livejournal.com]

Boah. Learn something every day.... I didn't know you could have tankless without gas.

And yeah, I can imagine that this wasn't cheap. But then, it IS a very useful investment!

[7tree-hugger.livejournal.com]

Woohoo for new water heaters! I'm guessing this one is all energy efficient and stuff. Very cool.

[real-skeptic.livejournal.com]

That's an interesting idea. It never occurred to me that on-demand heaters would be more efficient than tank heaters. Here in Israel, the standard setup is a solar heater with electric backup for rainy days. I never heard of an on-demand electric heater, only gas-based, and those are not very popular here. I am thinking that if the backup system for the solar was an on-demand heater that was close to the shower, rather than the electric heater in the tank which is on the roof, it could be much more efficient.

It's a thought for that time in my life when I'll have my own house, which is probably never. :-(

[spiffikins]

mmm, my water heater is old and I'm constantly worried it will decide to blow any moment!

I've looked at the prices for the tankless systems, and I know I'd need to replace my main electrical panel as well - I don't have natural gas anywhere near the plumbing, so switching to gas would likely be cost-prohibitive.

Reminds me though, I should see about getting someone to come in and let me know whether it would be feasible to move the water heater out to the garage and switch to gas...fun fun.