Squeak
Member
Existing tank heater is 13 years old. It is not dead yet, but wanting to get my ducks in a row when it does.
Had a plumber come out and talk me through my options, including a tankless system. I am not sold yet due to some concerns -- the biggest one being the size of the gas line. Second concern would be noise from it, as the unit would be in basement below my bedroom, and third is which brand.
1) Gas Line:
We are on a 2lb system here. I have flex gas lines running through out the house. 50' run from the meter to the manifold, and then would be 5' to the water heater. All lines are 1/2".
I have a 95k BTU, 2 stage furnace, and a 65k BTU cooktop. The gas meter outside is rated at 275CFH and 5 psi.
Recommended tankless is a Rheem 199k BTU unit.
When talking with the plumber today, I asked about gas line sizing, and after talking and he asking what I think are the right questions, he said he doesn't believe it will be an issue, but needs to the do calcs back at his office.
He said that with the right regulator at the manifold, and because we are on a 2lb system, he can get about 300-350 CFH to there. That would give me just enough to run the water heater, furnace at stage 2, and the cooktop with all 5 burners going.
Reality is the furnace is usually at stage 1 (65k BTU) given how we heat the house, and cooktop only ever has one burner on (15k BTU) at time opposite when the hot water heater would be on.
Is everything appear to be accurate from what he is saying?
Running a new 3/4" line from the meter will be tough, given that most of the path would be through finished basement ceiling.
If you are only running one shower, and need a 60 degree delta, does the heather still use up all 199k BTU, or only enough to provide that water? When does it actually use all 199k?
2) Noise:
Unit would be installed directly below my first-floor master bedroom in the basement, on the same wall as my headboard. I don't need it 100% quiet to sleep, but the A/C compressor outside my window keeps me up. How loud are these units on both start-up and normal operation? White noise is fine. Pulsating, or scrolling compressors are tougher to deal with.
I am debating insulating the open truss cavities in the basement ceiling with some Roxul between the heater and my bedroom.
3) Brand:
One plumber recommended Rinnai, the other Rheem. Rheem plumber said that Rinnai use to own the market, but the others have caught up and Rheem is just as good (if not better). Is there a material difference in brands at this price point?
Thank you in advance!
Had a plumber come out and talk me through my options, including a tankless system. I am not sold yet due to some concerns -- the biggest one being the size of the gas line. Second concern would be noise from it, as the unit would be in basement below my bedroom, and third is which brand.
1) Gas Line:
We are on a 2lb system here. I have flex gas lines running through out the house. 50' run from the meter to the manifold, and then would be 5' to the water heater. All lines are 1/2".
I have a 95k BTU, 2 stage furnace, and a 65k BTU cooktop. The gas meter outside is rated at 275CFH and 5 psi.
Recommended tankless is a Rheem 199k BTU unit.
When talking with the plumber today, I asked about gas line sizing, and after talking and he asking what I think are the right questions, he said he doesn't believe it will be an issue, but needs to the do calcs back at his office.
He said that with the right regulator at the manifold, and because we are on a 2lb system, he can get about 300-350 CFH to there. That would give me just enough to run the water heater, furnace at stage 2, and the cooktop with all 5 burners going.
Reality is the furnace is usually at stage 1 (65k BTU) given how we heat the house, and cooktop only ever has one burner on (15k BTU) at time opposite when the hot water heater would be on.
Is everything appear to be accurate from what he is saying?
Running a new 3/4" line from the meter will be tough, given that most of the path would be through finished basement ceiling.
If you are only running one shower, and need a 60 degree delta, does the heather still use up all 199k BTU, or only enough to provide that water? When does it actually use all 199k?
2) Noise:
Unit would be installed directly below my first-floor master bedroom in the basement, on the same wall as my headboard. I don't need it 100% quiet to sleep, but the A/C compressor outside my window keeps me up. How loud are these units on both start-up and normal operation? White noise is fine. Pulsating, or scrolling compressors are tougher to deal with.
I am debating insulating the open truss cavities in the basement ceiling with some Roxul between the heater and my bedroom.
3) Brand:
One plumber recommended Rinnai, the other Rheem. Rheem plumber said that Rinnai use to own the market, but the others have caught up and Rheem is just as good (if not better). Is there a material difference in brands at this price point?
Thank you in advance!