BajaNomad

? re Eccotemp 10L water heater

Santiago - 1-15-2012 at 01:06 PM

It's time for a new water heater and I am thinking of getting this for our small cabin in BOLA. Currently the only the shower is plumbed for HW. Anyone have any experiences with these? More info here. I could get a small water heater in Baja for less than these cost ($200 'merican) but I like the compactness of these and not having a tank to drain/rust etc.

willardguy - 1-15-2012 at 01:26 PM

we use an on demand water heater in gonzaga and arent all that thrilled with it. if youre like us and try to be miserly with water ( get wet,turn off water,lather up,turn water back on) these units tend to either scald you or freeze you. at least thats our experience with ours and if we had it to do over again we would go with a conventional tank heater.

Santiago - 1-15-2012 at 01:29 PM

Wow, I didn't think of that. That is eggsactly how we shower as water is trucked in about two days after you asked for it to be delivered.

Bob and Susan - 1-15-2012 at 02:22 PM

i had 8 tankless heaters..i use 2 now
kitchen and washer

the pressure pumps would turn them off and on
burn or freeze

i too replaced them with 10gal small ones
perfect
they use very little propane too

you should but a better unit
i bought a cheap one first and it rotted in a year

the $250 ones are working perfect
the salt air kills the metal

in the summer none needed the water is HOT!!!

wessongroup - 1-15-2012 at 02:48 PM

Coleman Hot Water on Demand Portable Water Heater

Got one of these for emergency back up ... easy to add a larger tank.. and to work around on the "battery" ... and water supply "size" ..... of course there are "attachments".......

http://www.rei.com/product/723274/coleman-hot-water-on-deman...

Nice to have hot water quickly in the morning ... :):)





[Edited on 1-15-2012 by wessongroup]

Islandbuilder - 1-15-2012 at 02:54 PM

Most of the point of use heaters require a water flow of at least 3 gallons per minute to trigger the burner. Not too condusive for water savings. Most US codes limit shower head flows to 3GPM, maximum, so if you throttle the valve down even a little, there isn't enough flow to fire the burner.

The only way I could get one to work in a house we rented, was to turn on the sink hot water before I got into the shower. Not how we want to use water if we're buying it by the truck load or making it with a generator powered RO system.

Santiago - 1-15-2012 at 04:11 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by Bob and Susan
i had 8 tankless heaters..i use 2 now
kitchen and washer

the pressure pumps would turn them off and on
burn or freeze

i too replaced them with 10gal small ones
perfect
they use very little propane too

you should but a better unit
i bought a cheap one first and it rotted in a year

the $250 ones are working perfect
the salt air kills the metal

in the summer none needed the water is HOT!!!

Bob, are you talking about the Cinsa 38 liter?

Bob and Susan - 1-15-2012 at 04:17 PM

no...its half the size of your old one

way better...the first part of winter we ONLY used the pilot light

later we turned it on low

it sips propane

they sell them here in the hardware store
about 2500 pesos or thats what they WERE

larryC - 1-16-2012 at 08:26 AM

Jim
I use the 10 gallon heaters here in Bola and they last more 5 years years. we never drain it. If you use aguamarga water it might not last as long. I found the heaters in Ensanada for $1300 pesos.

mulegejim - 1-16-2012 at 09:10 AM

I agree about the tankless heaters - you need to have another outlet running to have enough water flow. Also, agree with Bob about the pilot burner being enough to keep the water heated a good part of the year in a regular water heater. The propane lasts a long time. Jim

Santiago - 1-16-2012 at 10:25 AM

Thanks everyone - kept me from making a $200 mistake. Larry - do you recall where you got yours?

Tankless

bajaguy - 1-16-2012 at 10:29 AM

We have two, one in the States and one in Baja. The secret is plenty of propane (gas) to the heater, not the cheesy 3/8" or 1/2" lines, and plenty of water and water pressure.

Since we have 1/2" water lines inside the house, to increase the water pressure, we installed a small on demand boost pump (purchased at Home Depot in Ensenada) in the cold water line running to the water heater.

Works great now.............oh, and it takes some practice adjusting the hot/cold mixture........

Bob and Susan - 1-16-2012 at 05:29 PM

i put a 9 amp flojet pump in front of mine

you either burn or freeze...

tankless is not worth the gas saving in the lifetime of the unit

J.P. - 1-16-2012 at 06:03 PM

I went through the same learning curve on my tankless it's not for the faint of heart after 4 years I would do it agian there are two constances Gas Preasure and Water Preasure as long as you are mindful of those two you should love it I an lucky my heater is located centraly between the kitchen and the bath so I get hot water quickly.:lol::lol:

larryC - 1-16-2012 at 06:19 PM

Jim
Off hand I don't remember where I bought it. That was 8 jor 9 years ago. I paid about $135 back then. I did see one here in Bahia at the supply house in town for about $100 to $125. It was a couple of months ago but I remember thinking at the time that it was a good price. I would look at Homedepot or Flemates in Ensenada when you come through. Shouldn't be a problem to find one.
Larry

Santiago - 1-16-2012 at 07:29 PM

My landlord, whose name is never spoken, said Home Depot is as good as any: $1200 pesos or there-abouts. And you're right, 100 bucks in Bahia is a good deal.