Natural gas hot water heater inflation

[NickD 202]

01/14/2008 my hot water tank developed a leak, was over 15 years old with a 12 year warranty, had to buy a new one. Since I wrote the date on it, was easy to find the receipt as I keep yearly records. New one back then also had a 12 year warranty. But woke up yesterday morning to a huge puddle of water under it. Last time I did add both shut valves and unions, so shut of the water, grabbed the receipt and went to the store where I purchased it, price of it was 415 buck back then.

Was told all they wanted was that receipt and the label off the old one. Thought that was strange, could have been a perfectly good water heater, I must have an honest face. Replacement was 559 bucks, said it was a new improved model. Was an inch larger in diameter with more insulation, but according to the energy label used 6 therms less gas per year. Had no choice but to buy it.

Paid the full amount of it, but begged them to take my old heater because I would have to pay an additional 30 bucks to recycle it, they said, that is exactly why we don't want your old one as we would have to pay that same amount. Was told just to bring in the label, they showed me which one and is easy to peel off. So with the help of my great neighbor, he drove me over to pick up the new tank. My kid is using my trailer, that is when you have problems like this.

Changing the tanks was easy enough after mopping up the floor, now to get my 414 buck back. The label looked easy, was plastic, but when I pulled it off, the underneath label they wanted with the serial number, DOM on it was paper, that was terrible to remove, so took that back in pieces, but like a puzzle, could make out the dates.

Woman at the refund desk commented about that, just said, I tried my best, but no need to argue, will be happy to bring back the entire tank. A different person she was, she also said no, we would have to pay to get it recycled. So she refunded by 415 bucks plus tax. My neighbor has a friend that wants my old tank, will be over at nine this morning to pick it up, so that will save me 30 bucks.

But with taxes, the additional amount I had to lay out was 150 bucks. I can't really argue this, back in 2008, a gallon of milk was $1.89, now its $3.38, price of coffee has more than doubled, paying 650 bucks more per year for property taxes, assessor tells me my home is worth that much more. Won't even discuss the price of gasoline.

I don't blame my local stores, I blame Washington DC, the dirty rotten crooks, they are the ones printing the money. We not only are getting screwed royally on taxes for services we are not receiving, but a huge extra tax in government controlled inflation. Just bend over and take it with a smile, unless the people of this country wake up.

No where could I find what the British were charging us in tea tax, but willing to bet is is nothing compared to how we are being robbed today. Another reason for the revolution was the British wouldn't let our forefathers make stuff here. Do you want to know something?

[Vi-Jay 218]

Do you want to know something?

I want to know something!

I agree with your, feeling robbed by our gov. sentiments.

but, I'm not a CPI increase hater.

I will give that point some more thought.

[Ban Hammer 13,334]

why didn't you go with a tankless water heater?

[Saddle Bronc 124]

why didn't you go with a tankless water heater?

Can you please enlighten us as to whether there is a gas-fired tankless water-heater available? Edited May 27, 2011 by Saddle Bronc

[Ban Hammer 13,334]

Can you please enlighten us as to whether there is a gas-fired tankless water-heater available?

uh yes......there are both propane and natural gas models.

[_Simpson_ 250]

Can you please enlighten us as to whether there is a gas-fired tankless water-heater available?

If you have gas going to your house you can use either one.

[I AM NOT THAT GUY 5,715]

why didn't you go with a tankless water heater?

Because they are more expensive, and suck?

BTW, part of the cost of the new water heater may be NOX reduction, at least in California. I saved about half the price, and bought an LP model. I made the conversion myself, no big deal, since I do that stuff all the time.

[Ban Hammer 13,334]

Because they are more expensive, and suck?

BTW, part of the cost of the new water heater may be NOX reduction, at least in California. I saved about half the price, and bought an LP model. I made the conversion myself, no big deal, since I do that stuff all the time.

more expensive, yes (about 2-3 times more than the tank ones). suck - depends on if you get the one or two faucet variety. the calculations i did showed me a savings after 5 years on propane costs.

[Saddle Bronc 124]

uh yes......there are both propane and natural gas models.

Thanks, I dogpiled on that (after I saw your answer), sample list:

• http://www.energystar.gov/index.cfm?fuseaction=find_a_product.showProductGroup&pgw_code=WH
• http://www.geappliances.com/products/introductions/tankless_gas_water_heater/
• http://www.gaswaterheaters.com/
• http://www.aboutwaterheaters.org/tankless_gas_water_heater.html

[NickD 202]

why didn't you go with a tankless water heater?

I have one, Charles a full house Bosch electric, brand new in the box and purchased all the copper fittings and electrical to install it. So why didn't I install it?

Because over the last few years, our electric rates have more than doubled, where natural gas prices remained about the same. During the summer months, my natural gas bill is around 15 bucks per month with more than half of that going to the monthly service and a required donation to those that can't afford to pay their bill. So I only have about 5-7 bucks per month to save on my total hot water bill.

Why didn't I buy a gas on-demand water heater? Because my city code won't let me install it in my basement, and they do require external venting. It was okay for me to install a side vented 96% efficient gas furnace, I ran the vent pipes but higher than the possible highest snow level. Besides that even on the better force vented gas on-demand heaters they have pressure sensors to turn the darn thing off if the vents are blocked for any reason. But you can't argue with city hall, no side vented on-demand gas heaters are permitted to be installed in your basement. And I sure didn't want to install this thing in my living room.

Wife is at her mom's house with a new on-demand gas water heater, says she has to run the water a lot before it warms up, and then went she does, it gets ice cold. Just replied, has to be something wrong with the installation. I was going to do that for her when I was down there, no tools, and my mother-in-law objected to me doing that kind of work for her.

Another key advantage of a tank heater, works when the electricity fails, no electrical connected to it. If its dark in the house, a good time to do, you know what, and you can take a hot shower afterwards, LOL. If the water should fail for any reason, you do have a 50 gallon supply of water you can use, I do have a check valve and a pressure relief tank installed. You don't have an storage with an on-demand heater.

But the key reason is the initial investment and the payback, only paying about 8 bucks a month for a tank type heater, will never see a return with an on-demand. They have made improvements, tank type don't cycle like they did before, same heating circuit let cold air flow up the chimney to cool it back down again. I do have a chimney vent, can put my hand on that vent while its running full blast. Couldn't do that before, your hand would burn off.

[Mr. Big Dog 10,747]

We had a tankless gas water heater in the house when I grew up. These things have been around for decades. I like them. No wasted energy keeping a huge pot of water hot for nothing. And endless hot water to boot. Whenever my water heater breaks, I'll replace it with a tankless model.

[Saddle Bronc 124]

We had a tankless gas water heater in the house when I grew up. These things have been around for decades. I like them. No wasted energy keeping a huge pot of water hot for nothing. And endless hot water to boot. Whenever my water heater breaks, I'll replace it with a tankless model.

In India, these are generally called geesers (although this term is also misapplied to tank-model heaters), exactly what was in our two apartments in Mumbai (in India, they also can provide piping-hot water, which the tanked models there can't).

[Usui Takumi 1,562]

Its hard to call this inflation when supposedly the replacement model is better. It may just be an upsell, but if it trully is a superior appliance then the additional cost may be worth it. Perhaps its a case of the cheapest model not getting enough market share and being discontinued.

[Nina~ 431]

In India, these are generally called geesers (although this term is also misapplied to tank-model heaters), exactly what was in our two apartments in Mumbai (in India, they also can provide piping-hot water, which the tanked models there can't).

You mean geyser?

[Saddle Bronc 124]

You mean geyser?

No--I spelled the word the way it's pronounced, "geyser" confuses with explosively-powerful (oft boiling) hot-springs. Edited May 27, 2011 by Saddle Bronc