On Sun, 15 Jan 2012 05:25:52 -0800 (PST), ransley
wrote:

On Jan 14, 10:09Â*pm, The Henchman wrote:
Just had a new furnace installed and now looking at replacing the
water heater so I can eliminate the need for a chimney.

Current water heater is 50 US gal flue/chimney vent type. Â*It's only 9
years old. Â*It's rented at $14 a month. No idea what the efficiency
factor is.

Possible replacement is a 40 US gal power vent, rental, for $22
dollars a month or a 50 US gal for $23 a month. Efficiency factor I'm
told is .67

Government of Canada may pay me $190 to seal up my chimney as it a big
source of drafting but will not pay me to convert to power vent
heater. Â*The only other reason to replace the water heater is to pick
a more suitable place where it does not have to rely on chimney
location. Water heater is presently in an annoying position.

Because my small town has very hard water, I'm keen to rent only and
not buy. Â*Current family size is 2 adults plus baby with one
dishwasher load a day so a 40 US gallon might just suit our needs
until babies become teenagers

So if the rental cost is increased 8 bucks a month for me, what sort
of efficiency gains can I expect from a power vented water heater. Â*Is
there any way to calculate if I can make back some of that 8 bucks a
month if we don't change hot water usage habits? Â*Or is the only gain
getting $190 back for sealing up an unused chimney?

Rental terms are 7 years so that is an 8 dollar a month increase over
84 months.

How hard is your water, how long do neighbors heaters last, renting as
I see It
Is a waste of money. You present tank may be 45-50 EF but now you add
the
Cost of running a fan. Buying a tankless or condensing tank for the
money you will
Waste renting would save . I don't know if you will save anything now,
does the EF rating
Include electricity, and at what cost per kwh?


DON'T waste your money on a tankless.
Cost more to buy.
May need larger gas supply
Maintenance, particularly in hard water areas in ONEROUS. and they
don't last.
I know plumbers who will install them, but will NEVER recommend or
sell one.
They've gotten better over the years, you say???
It'll take a LONG time before they are good enough to be worth the
trouble.