1 - At least one regular poster here continually mentions the winter
benefit of heat loss without regard to where the water heater is
located and totally ignores the AC impact in the summer.

2 - Most water heaters are not located in a conditioned space.

3 - In the grand scheme of things, this whole heat loss benefit is a
nit.- Hide quoted text -

- Show quoted text -- Hide quoted text -

- Show quoted text -

most water heaters are in basements, heat rises, so standby losses
help heat your home. or in a closet on a living floor, again standby
loss heats its suroundings, thats where you live.

again please post a link that says 20% go up the chimney........
please a link....... please........ all i see is someone stating it
must be....

since the cost beween a regular tank and a tankless can easily be a
grand, that $ could be spent for added insulation and weatherstripping