Need to replace hot water heater in Section 8 duplex.. Tank vs. tankless?

Question

I'm almost done closing on a duplex (Long Island, NY) with Section 8 tenants. Each side of the duplex has 3 bedrooms, 2.5 bathrooms, washer/dryer, and dishwasher.

Each unit has a family of 5 living in it.

Would it make more sense to replace the hot water heater with a tank or a tankless setup?

John Underwood · Answer

1st it is a water heater,  not a hot water heater. I used to say this wrong as well till my contractor corrected me.

It's a rental, just put in a standard tank water heater unless these are very high end units.

Matthew Paul · Answer

If it aint broke , dont fix it .   My water heater at my house id 28 years old , still works fine ,  when it doesnt I will get another regular one .  With a tankless you can take a hot shower for ever . I have 2 boys and when they are in the shower too long I go down and slowly turn off the hot water .

Bjorn Ahlblad · Answer

Having had both I definitely vote for the regular hot water heater with the tank. The tankless models will often require some keyboard attendant (that was me) to run interference and get stuff going again. And then there is leakage and failure. I had three tankless systems in 5 years. Yes, the replacement heaters were warrantied but the plumber was not! Had I not sold the property, heater number 4 would have been the old type!

I recently installed two hot water heaters in my primary in Wa and I was happy to see the tanks!!

Dan H. · Answer

OP in their section 8 duplex should use tanked water heater.  Even this tankless fan believes that it the case.  All our rental units, including our small units, have tanked water heaters.

Colleen F. · Answer

@John S. ok  I would not replace a tank for just being old.  If it looks like it is rotting through of course do it.  If you have the capacity /space to make one per unit this might be the time to do it, if that means they pay for the electric/fuel.  If you are covering the electric / fuel then one tank it is. Sometime you can drain a tank and replace the heating element but just old doesn't sound like that is an option.  I assume it is working now so get some quotes.

Experience with on demand. We have one on demand on our oil boiler in a 5 unit and it works great but it is the northeast so the heat is on anyway and there is a reserve water tank.  We have an on demand electric on one place it was good but we had to upgrade the electric to do it so that would wipe out any savings for you. Propane on demand is a pain, takes too long for the hot water.

John S. · Answer

Each unit has it's own water heater tank currently

Bruce Woodruff · Answer

100% agree with everything! Tankless def have their place!

Bruce Woodruff · Answer

Yeah, but only if sized right and I've seen a lot that weren't. And on a large house with lots of showers and people, you have to add multiple tankless units, whereas a large tank would have worked. But I have had them and they are fine for the right situation.

And if building a 'Green' house or a Leeds certified house, you absolutely have to use a tankless....

Dan H. · Answer

If they get descaled when required, the warranties are significantly longer than tanked heaters.  I believe the ones at my home are 20 year warranties.  Of course, the descaling is significantly more effort than drawing 5 gallons from the bottom of a tanked heater (which takes less than 5 minutes).  They also have unlimited supply so more supply than an 80 gallon tank water heater.  They also usually are more energy efficient as the water is heated as needed and not heated to store in a tank that might not be used for many hours and tanked heaters typically have heated more water than needed (and this is desired because running out of hot water is a bummer).

I do not want an annual maintenance effort as large as descaling a tankless water heater at my rentals.  At home it is ok for the benefits.

Need to replace hot water heater in Section 8 duplex.. Tank vs. tankless?

Most Popular Reply