Thanks for the info Mike. We're 4-18 months out from building yet, (Don't know if we want to tackle it this year or next) so I'll be doing quite a bit more research before we make the decision for sure.
Tankless all the way. There are a few things to keep in mind. It is more expensive to retrofit one if you already had a tank. The reason can be the flu size and needing it to be stainless. Plus you need a higher pressure gas meter. Since you are building new that is not really any additional expense. People who say they are more expensive are inevitably comparing the retrofit price with the price of going to HD or Lowes and popping in another tank system. When you hire your plumber just bid it out tankless. I would also buy my own Noritz or Rinnai tank online. They really are only about 1200-1800 at most. I have a noritz for the past 5 years and it is great. I like to know that when I am on vacation or out of the house from April-October, my house burns no gas. Keep in mind I live in NC, but for about 7-8 months a year my gas bill is under $40 month. $20 is the minimum connection charge. I have dual head in the master shower and it can easily handle long shower with the washing machine on and sinks etc. When people say the payback is longer, I also don't think they factor in how absurdly cheap nat gas is right now. 5 years ago it was about 4 times higher. It also costs the plumber no more labor and in fact can save labor in new construction because it can be put nearly anywhere on the house that is centrally located. Mine is an outdoor unit and hangs mid way in the house on the brick. That means no HW in the garage and bumper pole taking up garage space and god forbid plumbers who put Tanks in the attic or basement. Just my 2 cents
Dan, a question before I answer......what will be your primary heat source? You said you didn't have access to natural gas, but will you be heating with propane, electric, or fuel oil?
Most likely propane. We will probably also install radiant in floor heat in the basement. I don't know if that boiler will be propane or electric.
I'll answer for him since I already know what the answer will be. Propane. No way anyone would heat with electric around here unless it was an apartement. Fuel oil.... nope. People around these parts heat with either wood, pellets or LP if they are not by natural gas. Edit: He beat me....... :-(
The natural gas line runs right by the property at the road, but the driveway is .43 miles long. It would probably be pretty costly to have the gas company run a line down the driveway. We are also considering putting in an outdoor wood burner. That would depend where we build the pole shed and if we want to insulate part of it and heat it as well.
How much timber do you (will you) have easy access to? Or would you go pellet if you did it? Can't you also heat your water for the entire place with those things as well? Maybe that is too long of a run.
Of the 38 acres on the new land, only 6 is woods. I wouldn't use that wood anyways. Our cabin is 1 hour away and we have 640 acres. I could haul whole logs back on our big trailer and cut them up at the house. Or, I know a logger not far from the house that could deliver any amount of 8' logs I want and just cut and split it. I just don't know if I want the hassle of burning wood.
We used to have to fill our LP tanks to our Fall cabins twice over about a 3 month time frame. Now it's only once. Granted, the average home owner won't see that large of a difference, but we sure did. I also like not having to worry about a funky smell with all the iron in our water. Tank heater are good homes for the bacteria that feeds on iron and makes the water smell like sulfur.
