I am building a new house that, due to site constrictions, is rather long and narrow. No gas where we live in the country and electric heating is the standard in the Pacific NW. The master bath will be abt 40' from the main elec water heater if I put the main in the laundry room and abt 70' away if I put the main in the garage. Obviously, I will have to wait for hot water to reach the master and will waste a few gallons every time I draw it after the water in the insulated pipe has cooled down. I was thinking to put a smaller elec water heater in the master, say a 10 gallon one, plumbed in line that would give immediate hot water without waste.
For larger draws like a shower or filling a soaking tub I figure hot water from the main will reach the secondary after a few gallons and the secondary will mostly receive hot water and pass it through without needing to come on. Do you see any problems with this idea? I've read up on tankless/on demand heaters but am not entirely sold on them given the 'cold sandwich', maintenance and warranty issues with lime buildup, initial purchase and installation cost, etc, but I'm willing to entertain other solutions from your experienced opinions. Thanks in advance.
For larger draws like a shower or filling a soaking tub I figure hot water from the main will reach the secondary after a few gallons and the secondary will mostly receive hot water and pass it through without needing to come on. Do you see any problems with this idea? I've read up on tankless/on demand heaters but am not entirely sold on them given the 'cold sandwich', maintenance and warranty issues with lime buildup, initial purchase and installation cost, etc, but I'm willing to entertain other solutions from your experienced opinions. Thanks in advance.