Mycakers Posted July 30, 2019 Report Share Posted July 30, 2019 (edited) I have a ton of power running through my house. Enough 220 to power 15 base board heaters, WH and electric oven. I have been told by an electrician and a HI that I have a lot of power running to my panel. Is that what you are getting at? Edited July 30, 2019 by Mycakers Base board heaters, not Floor board. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marc Posted July 30, 2019 Report Share Posted July 30, 2019 (edited) Ok. A typical residential service is 200 amps at 240 volts. That comes out to 48,000 watts or 164,000 btu/hr. Most of the gas-fueled tankless water heaters I see are 199,000 btu/hr. A common heating element on a storage type electric water heater is 3,500 watts which comes out to 12,000 btu/hr. Good enough for a small stream at a lavatory faucet but that's about all. Certainly not enough for a shower or washing machine, much less all at one time. What's the size of the main breaker on your circuit breaker panel? Edited July 30, 2019 by Marc 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mycakers Posted July 30, 2019 Report Share Posted July 30, 2019 21 minutes ago, Marc said: Ok. A typical residential service is 200 amps at 240 volts. That comes out to 48,000 watts or 164,000 btu/hr. Most of the gas-fueled tankless water heaters I see are 199,000 btu/hr. A common heating element on an electric water heater is 3,500 watts which comes out to 12,000 btu/hr. Good enough for a small stream at a lavatory faucet but that's about all. Certainly not enough for a shower or washing machine, much less all at one time. I have two main breakers, both marked with 100 amps on each side of the switch. Does that mean 200 or 400? I haven't started the electrical section of my training yet, and I have not done a lot of research on my panel. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marc Posted July 30, 2019 Report Share Posted July 30, 2019 53 minutes ago, Mycakers said: I have two main breakers, both marked with 100 amps on each side of the switch. Does that mean 200 or 400? I haven't started the electrical section of my training yet, and I have not done a lot of research on my panel. Too small. An electric on-demand water heater cannot meet your hot water needs. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jim Katen Posted July 31, 2019 Report Share Posted July 31, 2019 I see about 1 electric on-demand water heater for every 40 or 50 gas ones. They're generally in the 30-36kw range. (About 120,000 btu/hr.) They work ok, but not as well as the gas ones - just like electric vs gas storage-type heaters. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Trent Tarter Posted July 31, 2019 Report Share Posted July 31, 2019 In my old house I had a gas tankless water heater "Takagi brand". The first one lasted about 15 years then I replaced it with a similar model with slightly less BTU. With a wife and 6 kids at home my gas bill during summer was around $12 -$15 for the tankless. I would never think of going with a tankless electric unit. If electric is your only option I would go with a heat pump water heater. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JayneEVHI Posted July 31, 2019 Report Share Posted July 31, 2019 (edited) Thanks for that link Jim, interesting study indeed. Edited July 31, 2019 by JayneEVHI reply was way to long Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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