Using Propane Tankless Units to Heat a Home

[hausdok]

Some interesting reading in this article for those curious about the claims made by tankless water heater manufacturers.

Enjoy,

ONE TEAM - ONE FIGHT!!!

Mike

[Jim Katen]

Originally posted by hausdok

Some interesting reading in this article for those curious about the claims made by tankless water heater manufacturers.

Enjoy,

ONE TEAM - ONE FIGHT!!!

Mike

Wow! An article in which nearly every sentence is inaccurate.

- Jim Katen, Oregon

[kurt]

Didn't read the whole article so I can't attest as to accuracy, but this is interesting.

We did an off the radar remodel last year at my friends house where we used a tankless for radiant heat. Had to be surreptitious, 'cuz the local wonderboy AHJ's didn't like the idea.

Worked wonderfully.

I'll read the rest of the article this evening.....

[charlieb]

Originally posted by kurt

Didn't read the whole article so I can't attest as to accuracy, but this is interesting.

We did an off the radar remodel last year at my friends house where we used a tankless for radiant heat. Had to be surreptitious, 'cuz the local wonderboy AHJ's didn't like the idea.

Worked wonderfully.

I'll read the rest of the article this evening.....

Another view. Consider the source.

[kurt]

[:-thumbu] I stand by my assertion that it works wonderfully.

Say what you will about the source and the off the radar approach, but I know what works. Still working on figuring out what doesn't work on a daily basis. [:-apple]

[Jim Katen]

Originally posted by kurt

[:-thumbu] I stand by my assertion that it works wonderfully.

Say what you will about the source and the off the radar approach, but I know what works. Still working on figuring out what doesn't work on a daily basis. [:-apple]

The system might work great. I'm just amazed at the crappy information in the article.

Just a small sample:

The arrival of new tankless water heaters and hydronic heating systems such as radiant floor heating systems are key drivers in this trend.

Neither of these things is new.

Together, these two heating innovations can deliver incredibly efficient heating systems that cost less than traditional forced air, but deliver a much larger payback in terms of reducing ongoing energy costs while improving the overall comfort and air quality of a home.

How does an on-demand water heater and a radiant heating system improve air quality?

Gas is a much more efficient fuel source for heating water because gas has a much faster recovery rate.

Gas certainly does have a faster recovery rate, but that has nothing to do with efficiency. Electric water heaters are practically 100% efficient in that 100% of the electricity that they use is converted to hot water. Gas can't come close. The inefficiency relating to electric water heating takes place at the power generation plant.

As the table shows, a homeowner can significantly reduce energy costs by replacing a 50-gallon conventional tank water heater powered by electricity with one fueled by gas (propane or natural).

The table does not show that. The table is rigged. Whether a homeowner saves money or not depends on what the homeowner pays for electricity vs what he pays for gas. In some areas, the cost difference is insignificant. In at least one town on my area, the electric water heater would be cheaper.

Builder market research conducted by the propane industry found that while consumers prefer gas for water heating, they defer the decision to the homebuilder. The research also found that many builders are still recommending that electric water heaters be installed in homes. This paper explains why electricity is the wrong choice for water heaters, and how propane can help a builder to offer a home heating system that is hyper-efficient and delivers tremendous value in reducing a

homeowner’s ongoing energy costs.

This set of statements is remarkably condescending. Consumers prefer gas for water heating but they leave the decision up to the builder? Can I see the research please? Propane delivers a "tremendous value"??? Has anyone checked the price of propane lately? Electricity is the "wrong choice" for water heaters?

. . . but their attractiveness is also supported by the inherent ability of gas to heat water better and faster than electricity.

Gas has an "inherent" ability to heat water better and faster than electricity? I never knew that gas could heat electricity. The grammatical faux pas aside, there's no such "inherent" ability. And what does it mean to heat water "better?"

Am I the only one who feels that this article is just a teeny bit biased?

Here's the thing. When you lie, you lose credibility. Once you've lost credibility, people tend to not believe you. If you say that “gas heats water better than electricityâ€

[kurt]

OK. I finally read the article. It's the propane version of "Thank You for Smoking".

Maybe Hank Hill wrote it.

[randynavarro]

I haven't read the whole thing, just glanced over it. I tend to agree with Jim, although I wasn't quite as offended.

Yes, its biased and making the case for tankless water heaters as viable options whereas they weren't thought much of before.

I'm still in the middle of confusion and research myself on whether these tankless water heaters are viable and more cost-effective than traditional boilers.

[kurt]

So far, the system we installed is reasonably efficient and cost effective. Probably (approx.) 15-20% cheaper to use than a conventional cast iron boiler.

[Tom Raymond]

Originally posted by kurt

So far, the system we installed is reasonably efficient and cost effective. Probably (approx.) 15-20% cheaper to use than a conventional cast iron boiler.

It also only has 15-20% of it's original warranty.

The only reason my home system isn't set up this way yet is that most manufacturers limit the warranty for radiant heat applications, and some will void it, I know 'cause asked every one of them at the IBS. If they can't stand behind their unit running the heating cycles for more than 3-5 years, then it ain't ready for my project.

Tom

[kurt]

True enough if you say so.

I figure if the damn thing is set up to go on and off hundreds of times a year for showers and washing, it'll handle heating loads. It'll last.

My experience w/warranty stuff is less than satisfactory anyway. It's all luck of the draw. If the sucker breaks (probably won't), I'll put in another one.