Hot Water Heater Upgrade: Tankless vs Tank, Which one is the best for Boston area?

[MichaelK]

$6+ heating oil prices got me thinking about lowering the costs... I wild like to conduct an expert opinion poll. I have a tankless water heater (coil) in my oil-fired furnace. Heating is baseboards plus mini-splits. I'd say we use oil to heat the house no more than 50% of time. Boston winters are warm enough for mini-splits, we keep temperature low (we heat only occupied rooms. warm clothing is dirt cheap compared with heating, sleeping at 54degF under down comforter is actually very pleasant ;o) ). By we I mean active 60+ couple.

What I am getting to is this:

1. coil water heater is more efficient (than tank) only when furnace is used often, isn't it?
2. we make an effor to use furnace less
3. we do not use furnace in the Summer. Questions:
4. At what point tankless water heater loses it's efficiency advantage compared with (well insulated) hot water tank?
5. I can think of only about separate-heating-zone water heater. Are there other (more efficient) options/technologies?
6. What is the installation cost (parts and labor) in Boston area (ballpark, say, +-30%)? I hope this topic would be of interest to many people, thank you for reading.

[Michael Kogan]

$6+ heating oil prices got me thinking about lowering the costs... I wild like to conduct a public/expert opinion poll. I have a tankless water heater (coil) in my oil-fired furnace. Heating is baseboards plus mini-splits. I'd say we use oil to heat the house no more than 50% of time. Boston winters are warm enough for mini-splits, we keep temperature low (we heat only occupied rooms. warm clothing is dirt cheap compared with heating, sleeping at 54degF under down comforter is actually very pleasant ;o) ). By we I mean active 60+ couple.

What I am getting to is this:

1. coil water heater is more efficient (than tank) only when furnace is used often, isn't it?
2. we make an effor to use furnace less
3. we do not use furnace in the Summer. Questions:
4. At what point tankless water heater loses it's efficiency advantage compared with (well insulated) hot water tank?
5. I can think of only about separate-heating-zone water heater. Are there other (more efficient) options/technologies?
6. What is the installation cost (parts and labor) in Boston area (ballpark, say, +-30%)? I hope this topic would be of interest to many people, thank you for reading. I posted this on but I am not sure it was the right place. I apologize for multiple posts

[HomeOwnersHub Advisor]

1. A tankless water heater, also known as a coil water heater, can be more efficient than a traditional tank water heater when the furnace is used often because it heats water on demand, rather than keeping a large tank of water hot at all times. However, if the furnace is not used frequently or if the home is not occupied for long periods of time, the efficiency advantage of a tankless water heater may be less significant.
2. One option for a more efficient water heating system is a separate heating zone for the water heater, where the water heater can be controlled separately from the furnace and only heated when necessary. Another option is a heat pump water heater, which uses electricity to transfer heat from the air or ground to heat water, rather than burning fossil fuels.
3. The cost of installing a tankless water heater in the Boston area can vary widely depending on factors such as the type of unit, the complexity of the installation, and the cost of labor. On average, the cost of parts and labor for a tankless water heater installation can range from 00 to 00. But it's always good to get a few quotes from different professionals to get a more accurate estimate.

It's important to keep in mind that while a tankless water heater may have efficiency advantages over a traditional tank water heater, it may not be the most cost-effective option for all homeowners. Factors such as the cost of fuel, the cost of electricity, and the cost of installation should be considered when making the decision to install a tankless water heater. It's always best to consult with a professional plumber or HVAC technician to determine the best option for your specific home and needs