BajaNomad

Tankless Water heaters

EnseNADAslim - 3-13-2009 at 12:00 PM

Has anyone found a good brand name here in Baja that works good? I tried home depot in Ensenada with a Bosch unit and it was DOA out of the box. I'm using a Takagi
TK-3 unit that I bought in the States and that thing Rockn'Rolls! But it was also $900.00. I'll need the unit to give service to two showers and I'm looking for 2 units.

BajaNuts - 3-13-2009 at 05:51 PM

Hey 'slim,
here's a recent thread on this very topic-

http://forums.bajanomad.com/viewthread.php?tid=37061#pid3933...

gas or electric
full time residence or occasional visits
where's it/they going to be located
how's the rest of the place serviced

A~

[Edited on 3-14-2009 by BajaNuts]

EnseNADAslim - 3-15-2009 at 09:46 AM

Thanks for the link, but the thread has moved into the RV area and most of the chatter is what people are finding in the States.
I went to a local plumbing supply/hardware store in Ensenada and saw the brand that most of the Mom and Pop stores offer, and it's rated at 12 LPM, which equals out to a max flow of 3.17 GPM and they say it's enough for two showers----wrong. I wish I would have done my Math rather than trust the guy behind the counter. The unit works fine, but two showers is a bit much for it.
Water pressure is a key factor, but I know I have plenty of that. This unit will do for now, but I plan on getting another unit that will be rated at least 16 to 20 LPM, still 16 is low for two showers. Then I'll move the other one to a single shower location.
In the end I'll most likely end up buying one in the States (ebay) and this way I'll know I'll get something that will do the job.

Diver - 3-15-2009 at 09:59 AM

Check out the larger Rinnai units.
We have had very good luck with them over the past 5 years.
No idea if they are available in Baja.

EnseNADAslim - 3-15-2009 at 10:57 AM

In my house I have a Takagi TK-3 rated @ 7.2 GPM and it rocks! Love it! The Takagi's cost a bit less than the Rannai but they don't have all the nice stuff that the Rannai's have, Rannai's are nice!
At this point from I have found, Mexico has nothing worth buying IMHO, so I'll be buying my next unit in the States, and outside CA and avoid the Sales Tax and find a vender that offers free shipping:yes:

pacificobob - 3-16-2009 at 08:06 AM

the mexican made heaters are chite...imo

BajaNuts - 3-16-2009 at 10:20 PM

enseNADA-
aside from "2 showers" , what is the application? remote shower house? in the main house?

full time/part time?

in some applications you are better off to buy an inexpensive electric H2O unit and turn it off when you are not there.

Just trying to get details for your application.

EnseNADAslim - 3-27-2009 at 04:30 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by BajaNuts
enseNADA-
aside from "2 showers" , what is the application? remote shower house? in the main house?

full time/part time?

in some applications you are better off to buy an inexpensive electric H2O unit and turn it off when you are not there.

Just trying to get details for your application.

Heya BajaNuts,
The unit is for a Dormatory site that we use to house groups that come down from the States. There's two bunk rooms and each has two showers, and each room has it's own supply line. Usually after a long day of work there's an average of 20 that need to shower up.

BajaNuts - 3-27-2009 at 05:13 PM

there are some good sites if you google "tankless water heater" buying guides.

From what we've seen of these units, it really seems that you get what you pay for. There are some point-of-use models (not enough for showers) aroung $100 and then the good ones for $800 and up. You should be able to find a bigger one that can handle the 2 showers instead of getting 2 separate units. Plumbing may not be set up right for that, but anyway...

Also get low-flow shower heads, that'll help your usage a lot!

let us know what you end up getting.

rob - 3-27-2009 at 05:28 PM

There were some good responses to this thread - my own take is AVOID - and I speak from experience. If you are on the grid- use an electric tank water heater (switch it off after use - its cheaper than propane). Otherwise use a small propane tank heater.

http://forums.bajanomad.com/viewthread.php?tid=30853#pid3124...