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Old 07-02-2012, 09:45 PM   #79 (permalink)
JacobAziza
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Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: Oakland, CA
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Big Orange Work Truck - '83 Ford F-250
90 day: 27.54 mpg (US)

Jessica's - '04 Toyota Matrix
90 day: 41.21 mpg (US)

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Quote:
Originally Posted by redpoint5 View Post
Please describe the pros and cons of the unit you have, along with your impression.

Seeing the knobs on the front, it appears there is no digital circuitry that regulates temperature output. If someone turns on another faucet while taking a shower, does the temperature drop?

The tankless systems I have seen have a powerful fan that turns on when the system is heating water. This moves fresh air into the combustion chamber and vents out the exhaust. Since this runs on batteries, it appears it does not have forced air handling?
I've never owned a high-tech feature rich instant, so my impression is in comparison to a standard tank style.
With a regular old tank heater, if someone turns on another faucet, the temp drops.

Except - I set the temp on mine to exactly however hot I want my shower to be, so when I shower I only turn on the hot water (why make it hotter than I want, just to cool it off again?). Therefor the temp doesn't change if someone turns on a faucet. In theory the pressure would drop, but the low flow shower had already restricts the pressure to below whats coming in from the city, so I don't notice that either. I imagine if I was running a 2nd shower, dishwasher, or washing machine, the pressure (and/or temp) drop would likely be noticeable.

No forced air, the heater is installed on an exterior wall and the exhaust only has to travel a few inches before venting outside. Wouldn't blowing air over it too fast reduce thermal efficiency.
All the batteries are for is the spark ignition.

So anyway, comparing only to tank heaters, my impression is that I like the instant heater much better. The only difference I feel is that the hot never runs out.
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Piwoslaw View Post
A few months ago I returned home just as my neighbor pulled into his driveway. It was cold (around freezing) with some rain and sleet, and he yells to me: You rode your bike? In this weather?!?

So the other day we both returned home at the same time again, only now the weather is warm, sunny, with no wind. And I yell to him: You took the car? In this weather?!?
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