Bottled gas and instantaneous water heaters?

[Flip]

Its hard to meaningfully compare a 5-6 kw electric water heater with a 20-30kw gas fired unit.

Dad installed an electric one in his crib, it was crap. I can piss faster than that thing made hot water. However he didn't want to pay the bottle rental.

If you do run out of gas just nick the BBQ bottle, it wont last long but it will keep the clorofont working, until the bottle freezes that is.

[caseye]

Twin bottle gas "califont/rinai on the wall external water heater is the only way to go.
Where have you guys all been for the past 50 years.
These systems far and away outstrip any electric system available, no question.
Get it done, your system pressure increases, your total gas/power bill goes down and you never have a cold shower.
The bottle option these days has a phone/internet line that alerts your gas supplier when the first bottle is empty and this triggers a delivery to your address.
We have had gas cooking and hot water for the past ten years, mains supply in our case but hell, wouldn't be without it.
Electric? go fuck yourself! too dear and no guarantee of supply, bottled, you have at least 3 months worth of hot water and cooking no matter what.

[BMWST?]

Yup, my folks have this gas califont thingee you talk of. Twin 45 kg LPG bottles in a cabinet outdoors and all.
Only odd thing is you gotta turn the hot tap on in the shower before you get undressed, as it takes about 30 seconds or so before you've got hot water.
And yeah, first bottle goes empty, place a call and the empty one gets swapped. So what if it takes a few days?
I'd say go the gas way, price of electricity seems to just go up and up anyway...

the califont(had forgotten that word) must be a ways form the shower?

[BMWST?]

Twin bottle gas "califont/rinai on the wall external water heater is the only way to go.
Where have you guys all been for the past 50 years.
These systems far and away outstrip any electric system available, no question.
Get it done, your system pressure increases, your total gas/power bill goes down and you never have a cold shower.
The bottle option these days has a phone/internet line that alerts your gas supplier when the first bottle is empty and this triggers a delivery to your address.
We have had gas cooking and hot water for the past ten years, mains supply in our case but hell, wouldn't be without it.
Electric? go fuck yourself! too dear and no guarantee of supply, bottled, you have at least 3 months worth of hot water and cooking no matter what.

i want to get away from total reliance on electricity,i know there will be an extra set of chages,but i am trying to figure out where it will balance out.

[BMWST?]

Its hard to meaningfully compare a 5-6 kw electric water heater with a 20-30kw gas fired unit.

Dad installed an electric one in his crib, it was crap. I can piss faster than that thing made hot water. However he didn't want to pay the bottle rental.

If you do run out of gas just nick the BBQ bottle, it wont last long but it will keep the clorofont working, until the bottle freezes that is.

agreed its not apples with apples.But why have 180 litrres of hot water sitting there for 23 hours in the day for the hour that you actually want it.Instat is surely much better.The loss of efficiency of the gas must more than make up for the losses in having 180 litres hot all day.Plus as i said we are struggling to find the space around the kitchen/bathroom /ldy now

[Ulsterkiwi]

forget the electric showers, they are very common back in the UK, they go through a ton of power and arent a patch on the Rinnai or similar set up.
we had a rinnai with gas bottles in the last place we lived so when we moved up the coast one of the first things we did to the house was rip out the water heater and install the gas system.
yes there is a bit of a lag but you only heat the water you need, gas cooking is more efficient as well, there is a reason pro chefs use gas!

what you do need is a gas fitter and plumber who can work together, otherwise the install can become a pain.

[Flip]

agreed its not apples with apples.But why have 180 litrres of hot water sitting there for 23 hours in the day for the hour that you actually want it.Instat is surely much better.The loss of efficiency of the gas must more than make up for the losses in having 180 litres hot all day.Plus as i said we are struggling to find the space around the kitchen/bathroom /ldy now

The real issue is the thermal storage is at the night/water heating rate. The instant electric is at the peak rate. Sure the storage has some losses but its heated at night when the power is cheapest.

[BMWST?]

The real issue is the thermal storage is at the night/water heating rate. The instant electric is at the peak rate. Sure the storage has some losses but its heated at night when the power is cheapest.

ok this is the sort of stuff i need to look at for comparison

[caspernz]

the califont(had forgotten that word) must be a ways form the shower?

Yeah there's that...and me normally forgetting to start with just the hot tap to get the califont to kick into life

[SPman]

We have twin 45Kg cylinders and a Bosch HW unit. Tank water so rely on water pump. In winter have to turn the heat up because the water storage and feed lines get a bit chilly - on summer settings you're standing under the shower with the hot water on full and it's luke warm,.....Personally - I'd prefer solar with a gas booster.
Gas for cooking as well and 1 cyl lasts us about 3 months