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upnorth · 09-04-2008, 01:31 PM

We also installed a propane-fired tankless heater and I love it. Water is very hot and we've never run out. I have to say that I haven't noticed any real delay (probably because we have pex piping throughout the house, as compared to our oil-fired hot water heater coupled to copper pipes back home in MA). The builder recommended we go tankless and the cost differential over a propane fired hot water heater was only $170. Interestingly, when we tried to estimate what level we ought to be for propane pricing (per the deal with Our Town and Eastern propane) -- this being our first year with a new house -- the customer service rep commented that the Rinnai Tankless is very efficient and hardly enters their calculus. On the downside, every single time the hot water is turned on at the faucet for even a moment, the tankless fires up and you can hear it in certain areas of the home -- I'm sure I'm the only one that notices...

As for hard water damaging the equipment, well our water is so hard that we had to install a water softener and so that issue is off the table. (In case anyone is interested, we went with Culligan out of Laconia -- Don Morin -- super nice guy and their prices are competitive).

I can't imagine there being any issue with draining the system for the winter shutdown. The unit only turns on when there is water flowing through. No water, no power. It seems that all that needs to be done is to be sure the water is out of the system and then simply pull the plug from the electric outlet and shut the gas valve.

09-04-2008, 01:31 PM	#3
upnorth Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Posts: 64 Thanks: 0 Thanked 2 Times in 2 Posts	Rinnai We also installed a propane-fired tankless heater and I love it. Water is very hot and we've never run out. I have to say that I haven't noticed any real delay (probably because we have pex piping throughout the house, as compared to our oil-fired hot water heater coupled to copper pipes back home in MA). The builder recommended we go tankless and the cost differential over a propane fired hot water heater was only $170. Interestingly, when we tried to estimate what level we ought to be for propane pricing (per the deal with Our Town and Eastern propane) -- this being our first year with a new house -- the customer service rep commented that the Rinnai Tankless is very efficient and hardly enters their calculus. On the downside, every single time the hot water is turned on at the faucet for even a moment, the tankless fires up and you can hear it in certain areas of the home -- I'm sure I'm the only one that notices... As for hard water damaging the equipment, well our water is so hard that we had to install a water softener and so that issue is off the table. (In case anyone is interested, we went with Culligan out of Laconia -- Don Morin -- super nice guy and their prices are competitive). I can't imagine there being any issue with draining the system for the winter shutdown. The unit only turns on when there is water flowing through. No water, no power. It seems that all that needs to be done is to be sure the water is out of the system and then simply pull the plug from the electric outlet and shut the gas valve.