Steve@Advance
Well-known Member
I'm looking to replace my 20 year old electric water heater soon.
I have a household of 3, myself with minimal needs, but a wife and teen daughter that... do girly stuff in the bathroom involving mass quantities of hot water...
I currently have a 50 gallon that works well, or it did till the lower element went out. I'm scared to try to replace it, might start a leak and I'm sure it's full of calcium.
So, my choices are:
Go with a 50 gallon Rheem Marathon, fiberglass tank,lifetime guarantee, uses standard elements and thermostats, $800.00.
Or a 27kw tankless heater. I'v read good things about them but never actually seen one in use. Somehow it's supposed to drastically lower energy consumption, but I can't see how? It costs $500.00.
My concern is the 115 amps it requires to operate. I have a 200a service. If the water heater (115a), electric furnace(63a), dishwasher (10a?), electric range & oven(40?), dryer (30a) plus misc are all on...
As you can see I'm well over the 200a limit. I've read several reviews and no one has complained about tripping the main or dimming the lights or burning the buss bars...
What am I missing here? Is the 115 amps a worse case situation that rarely happens? Are the elements powered up one at a time only as needed? Am I sizing this properly?
Anyone have one of these or have a recommendation?
Thanks!
I have a household of 3, myself with minimal needs, but a wife and teen daughter that... do girly stuff in the bathroom involving mass quantities of hot water...
I currently have a 50 gallon that works well, or it did till the lower element went out. I'm scared to try to replace it, might start a leak and I'm sure it's full of calcium.
So, my choices are:
Go with a 50 gallon Rheem Marathon, fiberglass tank,lifetime guarantee, uses standard elements and thermostats, $800.00.
Or a 27kw tankless heater. I'v read good things about them but never actually seen one in use. Somehow it's supposed to drastically lower energy consumption, but I can't see how? It costs $500.00.
My concern is the 115 amps it requires to operate. I have a 200a service. If the water heater (115a), electric furnace(63a), dishwasher (10a?), electric range & oven(40?), dryer (30a) plus misc are all on...
As you can see I'm well over the 200a limit. I've read several reviews and no one has complained about tripping the main or dimming the lights or burning the buss bars...
What am I missing here? Is the 115 amps a worse case situation that rarely happens? Are the elements powered up one at a time only as needed? Am I sizing this properly?
Anyone have one of these or have a recommendation?
Thanks!