I'm temporarily in a rental that is a large
one-story house with an
ancient gas fired water heater. The pilot light is
very large and
it alone uses about $8/month. In addition the
heater is about 30'
from the main bathroom.

A plumber came by one day and I asked him whether
an electronic
ignition could be fitted to the heater to
eliminate the pilot light. He said no.

I am now considering installing a tankless
electric heater in the
bathroom under the sink.

Experiences appreciated.

"RF" wrote in message
...
I'm temporarily in a rental that is a large one-story house with an
ancient gas fired water heater. The pilot light is very large and
it alone uses about $8/month. In addition the heater is about 30'
from the main bathroom.

A plumber came by one day and I asked him whether an electronic
ignition could be fitted to the heater to eliminate the pilot light. He
said no.

I am now considering installing a tankless electric heater in the
bathroom under the sink.

Experiences appreciated.

Is that just for the sink or is it for the entire bathroom?

That $8 pilot light only adds cost in the summer when you don't want heat.
The rest of the year, it is just another heat source for the house that
you'd pay for anyway.

On Jun 7, 7:35�pm, "Edwin Pawlowski" wrote:
"RF" wrote in message

...

I'm temporarily in a rental that is a large one-story house with an
ancient gas fired water heater. The pilot light is very large and
it alone uses about $8/month. In addition the heater is about 30'
from the main bathroom.

A plumber came by one day and I asked him whether an electronic
ignition could be fitted to the heater to eliminate the pilot light. He
said no.

I am now considering installing a tankless electric heater in the
bathroom under the sink.

Experiences appreciated.

Is that just for the sink or is it for the entire bathroom?

That $8 pilot light only adds cost in the summer when you don't want heat.
The rest of the year, it is just another heat source for the house that
you'd pay for anyway.

a tankless in the bathroom will only provide a little hot water
quickly, and since electric nearly always costs more than gas it
wouldnt save you any money.

On Jun 7, 6:30*pm, RF wrote:
I'm temporarily in a rental that is a large
one-story house with an
ancient gas fired water heater. The pilot light is
very large and
it alone uses about $8/month. In addition the
heater is about 30'
from the main bathroom.

A plumber came by one day and I asked him whether
an electronic
ignition could be fitted to the heater to
eliminate the pilot light. He said no.

I am now considering installing a tankless
electric heater in the
bathroom under the sink.

Experiences appreciated.

The pilot doesnt use 8$ , keeping water warm and using it could cost
8, but since you live there and use that HW how could you even try to
calculate the pilot at 8, you wont save with elec,

Edwin Pawlowski wrote:
"RF" wrote in message
...
I'm temporarily in a rental that is a large one-story house with an
ancient gas fired water heater. The pilot light is very large and
it alone uses about $8/month. In addition the heater is about 30'
from the main bathroom.

A plumber came by one day and I asked him whether an electronic
ignition could be fitted to the heater to eliminate the pilot light. He
said no.

I am now considering installing a tankless electric heater in the
bathroom under the sink.

Experiences appreciated.

Is that just for the sink or is it for the entire bathroom?

Entire bathroom and another one on the other side
of a wall

That $8 pilot light only adds cost in the summer when you don't want heat.
The rest of the year, it is just another heat source for the house that
you'd pay for anyway.

The heater is in an uninsulated very large double
garage.

wrote:
On Jun 7, 7:35�pm, "Edwin Pawlowski" wrote:
"RF" wrote in message

...

I'm temporarily in a rental that is a large one-story house with an
ancient gas fired water heater. The pilot light is very large and
it alone uses about $8/month. In addition the heater is about 30'
from the main bathroom.
A plumber came by one day and I asked him whether an electronic
ignition could be fitted to the heater to eliminate the pilot light. He
said no.
I am now considering installing a tankless electric heater in the
bathroom under the sink.
Experiences appreciated.
Is that just for the sink or is it for the entire bathroom?

That $8 pilot light only adds cost in the summer when you don't want heat.
The rest of the year, it is just another heat source for the house that
you'd pay for anyway.

a tankless in the bathroom will only provide a little hot water
quickly, and since electric nearly always costs more than gas it
wouldnt save you any money.

Electricity is used ONLY when the water is
running. Even if it costs more than
gas per thermal unit , it should still cost less
overall. At present there are losses from the
existing tank in an uninsulated garage 24
hours/day and 30' of copper piping (with R-6
insulation) when the water is running.

ransley wrote:
On Jun 7, 6:30 pm, RF wrote:
I'm temporarily in a rental that is a large
one-story house with an
ancient gas fired water heater. The pilot light is
very large and
it alone uses about $8/month. In addition the
heater is about 30'
from the main bathroom.

A plumber came by one day and I asked him whether
an electronic
ignition could be fitted to the heater to
eliminate the pilot light. He said no.

I am now considering installing a tankless
electric heater in the
bathroom under the sink.

Experiences appreciated.

The pilot doesnt use 8$ , keeping water warm and using it could cost
8, but since you live there and use that HW how could you even try to
calculate the pilot at 8, you wont save with elec,

Please read the other two responses above.

In article , says...
I'm temporarily in a rental that is a large one-story house with an
ancient gas fired water heater. The pilot light is very large and
it alone uses about $8/month.

I doubt that very much. How did you arrive at that figure?

"RF" wrote in message
...
I'm temporarily in a rental that is a large one-story house with an
ancient gas fired water heater. The pilot light is very large and
it alone uses about $8/month. In addition the heater is about 30'
from the main bathroom.

A plumber came by one day and I asked him whether an electronic
ignition could be fitted to the heater to eliminate the pilot light. He
said no.

I am now considering installing a tankless electric heater in the
bathroom under the sink.

Experiences appreciated.



For a unit that can handle two bathrooms you are going to need somewhere
between 100 and 200 amps of power at 230 volts dedicated to the water
heater. This may be more than your electric service to the entire house.
Did you ask the plumber for specifications (GPM needed, rate of rise, etc.)
for a unit? Unless you plan on staying there several years you may not
realize a total payback with the installation cost.

"RF" wrote in message
Electricity is used ONLY when the water is running. Even if it costs more
than
gas per thermal unit , it should still cost less overall. At present there
are losses from the existing tank in an uninsulated garage 24 hours/day
and 30' of copper piping (with R-6 insulation) when the water is running.

That may or may not be entirely true. In our area electric rates are about
17¢, about twice the cost of gas for the same energy. After considering the
cost to buy, install, and get enough power to the unit, that gas becomes
very reasonably priced here. Just take everything into consideration,
including the cost of getting power to that electric heater.

On Sun 08 Jun 2008 10:42:51a, RF told us...

Edwin Pawlowski wrote:
"RF" wrote in message
...
I'm temporarily in a rental that is a large one-story house with an
ancient gas fired water heater. The pilot light is very large and
it alone uses about $8/month. In addition the heater is about 30'
from the main bathroom.

A plumber came by one day and I asked him whether an electronic
ignition could be fitted to the heater to eliminate the pilot light.
He said no.

I am now considering installing a tankless electric heater in the
bathroom under the sink.

Experiences appreciated.

Is that just for the sink or is it for the entire bathroom?

Entire bathroom and another one on the other side
of a wall

That $8 pilot light only adds cost in the summer when you don't want
heat. The rest of the year, it is just another heat source for the
house that you'd pay for anyway.

The heater is in an uninsulated very large double
garage.

If you are "temporarily in a rental" why would you even consider installing
an expensive appliance on a property that doesn't even belong to you and
where you won't be staying long enough to justify the cost? I can't
imagine by doing this that you would be saving any money in the long run.

--
Wayne Boatwright
-------------------------------------------
Sunday, 06(VI)/08(VIII)/08(MMVIII)
-------------------------------------------
-------------------------------------------
I wouldn't touch the Metric System
with a 3.048m pole!
-------------------------------------------

Wayne Boatwright wrote:
On Sun 08 Jun 2008 10:42:51a, RF told us...

Edwin Pawlowski wrote:
"RF" wrote in message
...
I'm temporarily in a rental that is a large one-story house with an
ancient gas fired water heater. The pilot light is very large and
it alone uses about $8/month. In addition the heater is about 30'
from the main bathroom.

A plumber came by one day and I asked him whether an electronic
ignition could be fitted to the heater to eliminate the pilot light.
He said no.

I am now considering installing a tankless electric heater in the
bathroom under the sink.

Experiences appreciated.
Is that just for the sink or is it for the entire bathroom?
Entire bathroom and another one on the other side
of a wall

That $8 pilot light only adds cost in the summer when you don't want
heat. The rest of the year, it is just another heat source for the
house that you'd pay for anyway.
The heater is in an uninsulated very large double
garage.

If you are "temporarily in a rental" why would you even consider installing
an expensive appliance on a property that doesn't even belong to you and
where you won't be staying long enough to justify the cost? I can't
imagine by doing this that you would be saving any money in the long run.

I had planned to locate it under a sink and hook a
branch of the cold water line
into it. It would be temporary and only one bath
applicance at a time would be used. I would take
it away with me when I moved. I am still
considering all the angles and I do appreciate all
the inputs I am getting here.

Doug Miller wrote:
In article , says...
I'm temporarily in a rental that is a large one-story house with an
ancient gas fired water heater. The pilot light is very large and
it alone uses about $8/month.

I doubt that very much. How did you arrive at that figure?

I read the meter before I went away and again when
I returned. I
subtracted the figures and arrived at the cu.ft.
used. Multiplied by the
cost per unit and bingo!, there was my figure.

It might even have already been used at the time
of the installation.

Have you ever heard of the Day and Night Mfg Co?
They operated in
the LA area from about the 1920s on and in the
1930s they were making solar water heaters. The
manager decided to try to do some business with a
local military
barracks. He sent some drawings and other details
to the commander and some time later he had a
response. In the commander's opinion getting heat
from the sun was like getting gold from goldfish.

John Grabowski wrote:

"RF" wrote in message
...
I'm temporarily in a rental that is a large one-story house with an
ancient gas fired water heater. The pilot light is very large and
it alone uses about $8/month. In addition the heater is about 30'
from the main bathroom.

A plumber came by one day and I asked him whether an electronic
ignition could be fitted to the heater to eliminate the pilot light.
He said no.

I am now considering installing a tankless electric heater in the
bathroom under the sink.

Experiences appreciated.



For a unit that can handle two bathrooms you are going to need somewhere
between 100 and 200 amps of power at 230 volts dedicated to the water
heater. This may be more than your electric service to the entire
house. Did you ask the plumber for specifications (GPM needed, rate of
rise, etc.) for a unit? Unless you plan on staying there several years
you may not realize a total payback with the installation cost.

My intention was to have one small heater and use
only one appliance at a time.
I would just install it myself. I have been a
DIYer since I was able to lift a screwdriver ;-)

At present I am beginning to design an eco-house
- almost all energy from solar
and I doubt I'll be here much longer than a year.
When I moved in I discovered a 20'
long x 15" diameter heating duct in the attic that
was totally bare. Of course, I
wrapped it - my contribution to the environment.

More ideas rattling around: Another possibility I
am looking at is a solar water heater. Both
bathrooms are at the south side of the house. The
unit would be outside and only 3 holes need be
made in the wall. Of course, I would take the
heater with me or sell it
to the owner.

Thanks to all for the contributions.

Edwin Pawlowski wrote:
"RF" wrote in message
Electricity is used ONLY when the water is running. Even if it costs more
than
gas per thermal unit , it should still cost less overall. At present there
are losses from the existing tank in an uninsulated garage 24 hours/day
and 30' of copper piping (with R-6 insulation) when the water is running.

That may or may not be entirely true. In our area electric rates are about
17¢, about twice the cost of gas for the same energy. After considering the
cost to buy, install, and get enough power to the unit, that gas becomes
very reasonably priced here. Just take everything into consideration,
including the cost of getting power to that electric heater.

I didn't realize that the difference between the
gas and electric was that big.
Where are you located? I am in CA.

On Sun 08 Jun 2008 03:08:21p, RF told us...

Wayne Boatwright wrote:
On Sun 08 Jun 2008 10:42:51a, RF told us...

Edwin Pawlowski wrote:
"RF" wrote in message
...
I'm temporarily in a rental that is a large one-story house with an
ancient gas fired water heater. The pilot light is very large and
it alone uses about $8/month. In addition the heater is about 30'
from the main bathroom.

A plumber came by one day and I asked him whether an electronic
ignition could be fitted to the heater to eliminate the pilot light.
He said no.

I am now considering installing a tankless electric heater in the
bathroom under the sink.

Experiences appreciated.
Is that just for the sink or is it for the entire bathroom?
Entire bathroom and another one on the other side
of a wall

That $8 pilot light only adds cost in the summer when you don't want
heat. The rest of the year, it is just another heat source for the
house that you'd pay for anyway.
The heater is in an uninsulated very large double garage.

If you are "temporarily in a rental" why would you even consider
installing an expensive appliance on a property that doesn't even
belong to you and where you won't be staying long enough to justify the
cost? I can't imagine by doing this that you would be saving any money
in the long run.

I had planned to locate it under a sink and hook a
branch of the cold water line
into it. It would be temporary and only one bath
applicance at a time would be used. I would take
it away with me when I moved. I am still
considering all the angles and I do appreciate all
the inputs I am getting here.

Oh, well, if you'd be taking it with you, that's another story.



--
Wayne Boatwright
-------------------------------------------
Sunday, 06(VI)/08(VIII)/08(MMVIII)
-------------------------------------------
-------------------------------------------
All I want is a warm bed, a kind word
and unlimited power
-------------------------------------------