How To Install a Tankless Water Heater - Complete Installation!

[@donhuffer5167]

Great vid as always Ben. I’ve implemented so many things that you did videos on and I’m forever grateful. But we installed an electric water heater tankless 27kw. We are total electric community unless you want to use propane. My electric panel, Mana Block manifold and tankless are all in a 6’ space. Both main bathrooms are next to them. In Florida in August our electric bill was $110. The highest usage month of the year. It takes 12 seconds to get hot water for a shower in either bathroom. We are very happy with how it preforms. We also have a variable speed three stage heat pump. Keep the vids coming.

[@BenjaminSahlstrom]

That's a massive electric load! How are you able to keep your electric bill so low? Solar I assume? Glad I've been able to help you with some projects over the years!

[@donhuffer5167]

@@BenjaminSahlstrom We built a sip home. Super insulated but not a super cost. Our blower door test was 1.65. Very tight. We also use an ERV. Plus, we have no children in the home. Thermostat is set at 78 daytime and 77 to sleep. Our heat pump (Ruud)is shaded but not choked off from plenty of air circulation. Installed Sence. Every light is LED. We are living in a 2 story 1800 sq ft new home we built. Smart insulation and building practices cut energy costs rather than solar helping to pay for them. And who do you think turned me on to the Sence?

[@BenjaminSahlstrom]

@@donhuffer5167 Sense is awesome! Mine has been great to me over the years. 👍

[@BenjaminSahlstrom]

@@donhuffer5167 That's awesome. Sounds like you've got a fantastic home!

[@LawpickingLocksmith]

Mum converted electric tank h/w to gas tankless in the hope of saving money. But at the end she nearly doubled h/w cost over a 10 year span. Latest in Europe: they use heat pumps with CO2. With the right contractor cost will be down to 1/4 over 20 years. That is how long them German makers guarantee a CO2 system.

[@OBD01]

Great video. I had one installed about 2 months ago. It was a quick and easy install. We love the built in recirculation, now no more waiting for hot water in the kitchen. This is where we put the crossover. I would have preferred a dedicated return but in my case cost prohibited. The smart learn does take about 2 weeks to settle out but not bad overall. I am waiting on the wireless module you used just so I can monitor and adjust the schedule if needed. It was on backorder when we installed the unit. Now I know exactly how to hook it up when it arrives. Thanks Ben!

[@LeroulAbderezak]

thank you man for your very clear, easy and professional explanation

[@briancarlisi2224]

Good vid. For those in the trade, Rinnai offers free 2 day install/ troubleshooting classes at their Peachtree, Ga. headquarters. Well worth the time!

[@rogerhodges7656]

Those screens may keep birds out but they won't keep wasps out. I have had my unit down every two years due to dead wasps at the burner shutting down the unit. I added metal window screen over the concentric vent and haven't had any more problems.

[@timbrown9305]

Just installed one 30 days ago for my Uncle. Water softener was installed first.

[@nsa45-bp5lv]

Should that vent be terminated so close to the A/C condenser unit? Will the condensate cause corrosion, or will the warm exhaust getting sucked into the unit affect its efficency when both A/C and water heater are running?

[@fvrrljr]

*yep, installed a tankless heater at my brothers garage no one would do because of the wall it was strapped too. genuine 100% asbestos panel. been there done that Got Her Done* *excellent video*

[@chippydog2]

Ben, do you recommend a certain name brand of tankless water heater for domestic hot water? I’ve got four bathrooms one located in basement won’t be used on an everyday basis Also I’ve got pex heat in my basement floor and soon will be installing pex heat for main floor along with the loft roughly 3500 square feet Can I use just one heater for all three floors?

[@BenjaminSahlstrom]

I believe so! If you want to do both hydronic heating as well as use it for domestic hot water then a combi boiler like this i120CN might be the way to go: amzn.to/4gtuGp1 This unit can do 5.1gpm which should be adequate for 4 bathrooms in my opinion. If you had all 4 showers going at once you might be pushing the limits of what it's capable of though. Also would want to make sure that we're sizing correctly for the heating you want to do. You could also use a separate tankless water heater and boiler but that would obviously be more expensive. The tankless unit I installed in this video (amzn.to/4cVjIp2) can do 11.1gpm which is seriously impressive and would definitely be able to handle the 4 bathrooms simultaneously.

[@chippydog2]

@@BenjaminSahlstrom what about two separate tankless heaters! I would think that one could handle it like the one you suggested Just stumped on how many loops of three hundred feet it can handle ( got five in basement alone ) I would think it would be close to that on the main floor and probably three loops in the loft

[@chippydog2]

Thinking of using a larger tankless for the Radiant heat and a smaller one that could handle the domestic hot water

[@BenjaminSahlstrom]

@@chippydog2 I would not recommend using a tankless water heaters for the heat. The Rinnai boilers are purpose built for this and will work better for that purpose. I do like the idea of two separate units though!

[@chippydog2]

Ben , I’m taking your advice and going with a boiler for the floor heating! Is there one that could handle approximately 3500 square feet of floor space? The Tankless you installed here I think will do wonders for my application ( 199 in )

[@quevicular]

so the exhaust doesnt get hot enough to melt or deform the PVC?

[@JoseLgamer05]

If it's a condensing heater or furnace, like this one, the exhaust gases ain't hot enough to do any harm to the PVC.

[@quevicular]

@@JoseLgamer05 perfect.

[@rayramez6544]

Are expansion tank and water filter not required?

[@NewStateLegend]

What was the link for the isolation valve? It has the same link as the hot water heater itself.

[@chipjumper]

I want to go Tankless combi but my well water is quite calcified. My 1972 boiler and 1996 water heater still work though. It's my understanding that hard water is murder on these.

[@raymonddaniels2346]

You may get away with that reduction bell on your supply for propane, but you definitely want to supply NG with 3/4".

[@Garth2011]

I'd like to know how many BTU's or Therms of gas these consume compared to a 50 gallon water heater when heating water.

[@VacMaster2020]

They mostly go from 160,000 BTUs to 199,000 BTS

[@Garth2011]

@@VacMaster2020 Wow, a tank uses 40,000

[@VacMaster2020]

@@Garth2011 we’re still using a half inch gas line on our 157,000 BTU unit

[@ateamofone]

You should have a way to flush the system with white vinigar when it gets a buildup inside the heater manifold.

[@BenjaminSahlstrom]

That's what the valve kits are for. I'm hoping to do a water heater flush video at some point.

[@ateamofone]

@@BenjaminSahlstrom When i installed mine the directions never mentioned it.

[@BenjaminSahlstrom]

Really? That's no good. Maintenance is key to having a long lasting unit.

[@Garth2011]

I still believe in tank water heaters...mainly due to the expense in converting over because of the need for electricity to make either version run. A 50 gallon gas water heater in our area is about $600 plus labor. We have plenty of hot water for our needs and can count on one hand how many times we ran out for one reason or another. I have been to several homes where the owners had converted over to tankless gas and all of them take too long to produce hot water first thing in the morning or after a few hours since the last time hot water was used. That part bothers me most. The second bother is having to clean them once a year. Third is they can fail due to more working parts. All for more money.

[@ny10980]

But I would have preferred you installing an electric since it takes a 60 amp panel and the non specific directions from Stiebel are a bit sketchy! Maybe next time!

[@LawpickingLocksmith]

Wonder what water pressure there is? I would say: American installation: Good for 5 years. Australian install: Good for 10 years. European install: Good for 20 years?

[@BenjaminSahlstrom]

Haha, how do you come to that conclusion? Water pressure is around 50psi or 3.5 bar.

[@LawpickingLocksmith]

@@BenjaminSahlstrom Europe crimps everything in stainless steel. Gas lines have certified fittings. Exhaust should be high up in air just in case of CO emissions.

[@BenjaminSahlstrom]

@@LawpickingLocksmith Interesting!

[@nsa45-bp5lv]

@@LawpickingLocksmith Europeans over-engineer everything. Lots of gas installations with black steel pipe that are 50-100 years old that work fine, no leaks. And there are rules for terminating exhaust (in terrms if distances to door/windows/walkways, etc.). There should be no CO unless the appliance is malfunctioning, and in any event, an unvented gas stove indoors is a much bigger risk for CO poisioning.

[@LawpickingLocksmith]

@@nsa45-bp5lv If it comes to over-engineering, Europeans were even using 3 phase on the smallest circulation pump. Yes good old quality cast pipes last forever. I have installed some 45 years ago with the right greased hemp torqued to perfection. Switzerland uses a genius system of double walled water piping. They cement in a curly shroud where the inside plastic tube can easily be replaced. This became necessary when water treatment changed from plain chlorine to a more advanced ozone and ascorbic acid system where ph balancing is an even bigger challenge.

[@danbyrne6501]

Good gob,beware of the Karen's

[@danbyrne6501]

Job! no morning coffee yet.

[@MarcKemp-q6n]

It's a big turn off to me when I hear people say they don't have time to study anything. Yet they'll tell me all about a whole bunch of TV shows I've never even heard of... and am certainly not going to give myself to watch episode after episode after episode and then I come away knowing nothing new and I'm filling my mind with carnality. I mean... you'll catch me watching sports before I start watching things that could potentially lead my mind away from my purpose.

[@condor5635]

It’s a simple install… don’t😂

[@BenjaminSahlstrom]

😁

[@igfoobar]

WiFi enabled, so it can tie your private network back to the Chinese who made it.

[@timcat1004]

Garbage. Check out an IBC. It just fires for a few seconds for freeze protection. 4 moving parts. Easy to service. It takes ten minutes to replace a heat exchanger if it goes bad.