ISO tankless INDOOR propane water heater

So I've found plenty of what I need/ want except they are all for outdoor use. Which means the exhaust is vented through the unit.
Has anyone converted an outdoor unit and found an easy way to vent the unit outside?

Do they make a indoor propane tankless water heater that runs independently from the grid. Like the portable ones do.

so the theory/ plan is to have a submersible 12v 50psi pump from the water storage barrel. Then to a 4 gallon inline pressure well tank. Then to the tankless water heater.

My conditions for the heater are
1. Propane
2. Battery powered igniter
3. Rated for indoor use
4. On demand


I've scoured amazon but haven't found my criteria. It's possible though I'm just not using the right search words.


This unit will be going into my 400sqft house.

I have heard that Siemens or Bosch makes an on demand water heater that uses the flow of water to power the small amount of electricity needed, but offhand I can't find one.

You might want to consider dropping the battery power (i.e. not 120v standard electric) condition.

Whatever you do though, don't get this one: http://www.homedepot.com/p/Eccotemp-3-GPM-Liquid-Propane-Gas-Tankless-Water-Heater-FVI12-LP/205583892
It is cheap, but will end up being more expensive and frustrating (I have one so I know). Better to pay over a thousand dollars more to get a better one.

In the summer you have to fiddle with both knobs to get the water to the maximum temp you want while the water is running. If you are taking a shower and there isn't enough water flow through the machine you have to turn on the sink hot water too, just to get it to fire up. Then, if the water pressure changes even a little it can get too hot - don't turn down the hot water though as that will make it hotter! This type of heater is damn retarded and when the water flows slower through it the amount of flame stays the same so the water gets hotter; until the flow gets so slow that it turns off altogether. So you get water that is a little too hot and you naturally move the spigot towards cold and it gets hotter until all of a sudden its freezing.

And in the winter it barely gets the water hot enough to take a shower.

Oh yeah, do NOT use a low flow shower head. You won't get enough flow to make it fire up. And when washing dishes you have to keep the hot water flowing at maximum or it'll turn off.

Definitely look for one where you can easily set the water temp. The one I have only shows the outgoing temp produced by the combination of propane flow/burn and water flow control; a real pain in the butt.

There are plenty of indoor ones... just not where you may be looking in Household locations.

Try Boat Supply shops.

If you try hanging a gas califont on the outside of a boat they aren't going to last long! Yet boaters want hot water too!


http://www.marvel.net.nz/details.php?product_id=338

This is in NZ, made for indoors, but with a cover can be fitted outdoors as well.

Jay Grace : There are any number of Long lasting self igniting switch/valve combinations in common use in small propane/butane Space heaters and cook top stoves,

the physical act of turning the switch/valve from the off position to the on position turns that mechanical energy to the electrical spark that ignites the pilot flame.

A little research should find you a unit that does not require a battery that WILL fail at a time that is very bad for you (No hot water !)


A much more important consideration is how hard your water is, I have yet to see a single one of the Tankless Water Heaters that Does not require that the Tankless

unit be installed downstream from a water softener. i. e. all the water has passed through the water softener 1st!


Trying to run a tankless water heater with 'Hard water' will result in the water passages within the heating unit becoming blocked with hard water scale -

This is the grayish stuff that builds up in your Tea pot


This is only my personal observation, there May Be a tankless unit that is certified to not need a water softener - but I have not seen or heard of such a Unit !

If you do find one, please report its presence Here at Permies.com, your fellow members Want to know ! For the Crafts ! Big AL

the water is coming from rainwater catchment.

Jay Grace : that'll Work ! Big AL

We have an EcoTemp on demand gas water heater as is mentioned above. Much of what was said is familiar The price was right and we didn't (at first) mind having an outdoor unit......the second lowest priced one that could heat two faucets at once.
Our problem has been what we understood to be the freeze plug which we were always careful to remove....and the fact that the whole unit needed to be unplumbed and drained over the winter. It is hard to drain completely without doing that, and two dif. winters we have had to solder the copper tubing inside the unit after it froze and burst. This alone is enough reason to pay the extra for an indoor one, I think. We didn't want to depend on elec. for ignition either so am glad to see there are other options.
Back to the bucket shower until our tubing is repaired

Hi All,

I have a 425 hn n Bosch pro tankless water heater that I removed from a job. It's natural gas, but I believe can be converted; I haven't looked it up, but most are easily converted. It comes with installation valves as well. Retail would be around $800, but since this has been used(fully functioning when removed) I will sell it for $150 plus shipping. This is the kind with the internal hydro-generator, so it requires no external power source.

Send me a PM if you would like to talk more about this,
Bill

Jay,

I have found this brand to be satisfactory. Price, quality and selection. They meet all of your criteria that I'm aware of. Happy tiny houses unite. Phil

http://aquahstore.com/catalog/

Any update? Any good ones with the requirements of the original poster?