Friendly reminder. Don't forget to flush........

[Vmass]

Vmass, Everybody has different opinions. I was in the gas distribution business for a long time then retired from it. Do you use a tankless water heater? Those things use so much more gas, when running, many houses in our town had to install larger supply lines to the "Tankless" just to get enough gas to operate properly. Also the fastest I've ever seen the little hands spin on a residential gas meter was because of a Tankless water heater. Luck to the folks that have and like them, never run out of hot water, but for me, I'm out... Just my guess, within the next 6 or 8 yrs. they'll be like the solar panels on roofs 25 yrs. ago for hot water, we never see them any more.

Philllips, I have had a few of them installed over the years, including in my primary residence. When I purchased this home in 2012 it had a 60 gallon propane HW tank in the basement. I had it removed and installed both the Navien on demand unit and a sink in the gargage...two birds with one stone! I had it serviced last year just because I thought I should. I have 3 full baths, laundry etc. and it has performed flawlessly. I don't recall having to increase my gas line on this one, but I know that is a concern. I think I may have had 3/4" already.

[Burque73]

Thanks for the info, Rich. And just like that, there are signatures haha. Guess I'm a creature of habit and always have latest activity checked.

[rphillips]

Well, I hope most everybody is satisfied with what they have, even the ones with the old 2 solar panels on their roof. Hopefully if not next time they find something that suits them better. There's a relatively newer thing available, a Heat pump water heater. I know little about them but there's both a local retired building contractor and a local retired electrician who have installed them and they think that's the way to go. No clue what they're basing their opinion on, but both like them a lot.

[dgates1]

I'm going to buy one of those Amazon do hickies.

Just saw a post this morning of a "home made" one just using a garden hose Y adapter with 1/4 turn valves. Added a garden hose-to-Schrader valve adapter on one side. Air doesn't go in at the straight angle as it does on this one, but I assume it would work just the same.

[rphillips]

OOhhh, there must be a different kinds of do hickies.

[salty_monk]

Vmass, Everybody has different opinions. I was in the gas distribution business for a long time then retired from it. Do you use a tankless water heater? Those things use so much more gas, when running, many houses in our town had to install larger supply lines to the "Tankless" just to get enough gas to operate properly. Also the fastest I've ever seen the little hands spin on a residential gas meter was because of a Tankless water heater. Luck to the folks that have and like them, never run out of hot water, but for me, I'm out... Just my guess, within the next 6 or 8 yrs. they'll be like the solar panels on roofs 25 yrs. ago for hot water, we never see them any more.

I don't think the Tankless stuff is going anywhere... I had just fitted a condensing tankless gas combi boiler in my house in the UK over 20 years ago before I came here! The prior one was also Tankless and had been there at least a dozen years (not condensing though). Let's just say the US is a little ways behind on this one!!

Yep a lot of people need a bigger line, especially if it's a ways away. Really you need 1" straight off the meter for the bigger ones.

[rphillips]

Did know the need for bigger lines would mean using more gas, but till I saw how fast the gas meter was spinning, I never realized how much gas it would be using to keep the water hot as it was running through the heater... May turn out to be a good thing, time will tell.

[salty_monk]

A conventional tank uses about 40,000 BTU at full chat. A tankless is around 250,000 BTU at full chat...

[Cipher]

Buy a water softener.
also install it

as for hot water why not electric instant type. Conventional heaters waste energy.
for an insight into heater fear check the Britom The Royle Family.