Any plumbing professionals here? (Water heater)

[scottprice]

I need to replace my propane water heater and I’m not sure if I should replace it with another tank unit or go tankless. We are a family of 4 and nobody takes excessively long showers.

Are there any manufacturers I should avoid?

 

[Shortschaf]

Thread 'Residential Insta Hot Water Heater'

Mar 19, 2026

I currently have a 50 gallon gas water heater and my wife complains about the water getting cold before the jacuzzi tub fills up. The water that does come out is almost scalding, so i don't want to turn it up any higher. Does anyone have an insta-hot water heater that you would/wouldn't recommend? Gas or electric? Worst case scenario if we don't find something is replace it with twin 40's or something bigger than we currently have. TIA

• LFC911
• Replies: 12
• Forum: General Discussion Forum

Have you priced out both options?
That might make the decision for you. Im not a plumber, but assuming you were fine with a 40 or 50gal tank before, everything Ive seen to date suggests you need to run a tankless for 20 years before it makes financial sense

 

[S.Clancy]

I need to replace my propane water heater and I’m not sure if I should replace it with another tank unit or go tankless. We are a family of 4 and nobody takes excessively long showers.

Are there any manufacturers I should avoid?

The biggest issue is probably water quality. Sounds like you are on a well, I would do a water quality test (hardness, iron, total TDS) and then talk to a plumber. Outside of that, tankless is the way to go, IMO.

 

[Jstumbaugh]

Tankless is nice if you have ever run out of hot water from the tank. Tankless will cost more than the tank style. If you go tankless, make sure the plumber installs with a isolation valve kit for flushing the unit out.

 

[Sccritterkiller]

I have switched to all tankless...Even on my cabin with well water. Have the 11.5 gpm with recuirt pump on my home.
Way better in ever way...My cabin is on 100lb propane tank...I use waay less propane now.
Sounds like a Rinnai V53Dep would work for your application...
I installed it myself in my cabin, super easy.

 

[Jstumbaugh]

Being that the OP is in PA and the incoming water will be colder I'd opt for the Rinnai RX199IN or the RX180IN to keep the GPM up for his temp rise requirement.

 

[Sccritterkiller]

Being that the OP is in PA and the incoming water will be colder I'd opt for the Rinnai RX199IN or the RX180IN to keep the GPM up for his temp rise requirement.

I was a little worried as my cabin well water is mid 40s coming out the tap in the winter. Haven't had any issues with the 120k btu. Cabin is about at 2k in elevation in WV.

 

[Sinistram]

Funny this comes up now. I'm also in PA and had my propane heater replaced two weeks ago with a like model. I tossed back and forth the tankless idea but have never had an issue with the standard kind so went that route for savings and installation ease.

 

[RS_Non-Res]

Couple thoughts:
1) If for a cabin - do you need "hot" showers? If not, you could probably get by with a less powerful/expensive model.
2) If you do go down the water-quality rabbit hole, do not depend on test strips or analyses provided by someone who sells treatment systems. Call a local "analytical laboratory" and ask the lab manager about analyses for your purpose and how to sample. It's not hard and you'll get real certified and usable results. You might as well get a microbiology test at the same time.

 

[Sccritterkiller]

Couple thoughts:
1) If for a cabin - do you need "hot" showers? If not, you could probably get by with a less powerful/expensive model.

You married? My wife considers hot showers a need.

 

[survivalistd]

I replaced mine with tankless because the wife takes long very hot showers. I could survive with a hose personally