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Author:
CalGuy (CA)
This is a general question for the plumbing industry. Bear with me. I had a tankless water installed several years ago. Because of the distance the water now has to go to get to the flash heater on the side of the house, it now takes a full 3 to 4 minutes for the kitchen faucet to get hot. I have been told by plumbers that the remedy for this would be to install another flash heater under the kitchen sink, which would cost $1200 and up. So here is my question: Since there are heating elements in dishwashers and washing machines that provide instantaneous heat, and since one can purchase a washing machine or dishwasher for as little as $300, why does a flash heater underneath the sink cost so damn much? Why can't those elements in dishwashers and washing machines be somehow engineered for attachment to the kitchen faucet?
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Author:
hj (AZ)
Those heaters are NOT "flash heaters", they fill with water and then it is heated for as long as necessary before the cycles continue. For what you want, the water basically has to be heated as fast as it flows through the heater and THAT takes a lot of wattage, and cost.
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Author:
KCRoto (MO)
The problem isn't quite that simple. A device heating flowing water requires more surface area to be heated at one time, it isn't the same as an element immersed in water; that water is basically the same water getting reheated over and over. Also keep in mind that the elements you refer to are produced in massive quantities. Specialty heaters are not. Just like with hot water tanks, 30 gallon tanks are more expensive than 40-50 gallon models of the same type generally, because less people use them, they make less, and fewer supplier stock them. You can get a cheaper point of use hot water device, but it has a drastically limited flow rate.
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Author:
North Carolina Plumber (NC)
Even with a point of use heater, you'll still likely get some cold water.
A recirculation system maybe the way to go.
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Author:
CalGuy (CA)
Thanks for the feedback. It just seems that with today's technology and know how that there would be a more affordable solution to this problem. And I know I'm not the only one who has encountered this issue after putting in a flash heater. I've spoken with at least four homeowners who all have the same complaint about their tankless heaters. So what we save on our energy bills, we lose on the increased water bills. I use up literally five gallons of water waiting for my kitchen faucet to heat. And we're in a serious drought her in California.
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Author:
KCRoto (MO)
What you are complaining about is a common theme that I pointed out to my customers that wanted a tankless install. With the unlimited water hype, they automatically assumed that since the water was instantly heated that they also got instant hot water. Unlimited hot water isn't instant hot water. If you want to save water, I suggest you carry a jug of hot water from the bathroom to the kitchen if you don't want to install a second heater.
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Author:
hj (AZ)
Your problem is NOT with the "instant heater", but with its location and ANY heater would have the same problem unless it has a circulation system to deliver the hot water to the faucet constantly.
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