Tankless-less
So MHG and I are starting a large renovation project of our basement. This is actually MHG’s dream project — a basement studio. It was part of our deal when he agreed to move to Rochester. But even if you look for a house with this project in mind, I believe you can never full anticipate all of the complexities of this type of renovation. Or maybe you can and I just didn’t. Too late now.
For many, many reasons our project has ballooned to include replacing the furnace, heating ducts, water heater and electrical (the house is 108 years old and MHG is a bit of a perfectionist when it comes to mechanical). We will also be cutting an escape window into the wall. (That’s about when I anticipate moving in with SKY).
But to maximize the open space of the dream studio, we’re hoping to move all the mechanical to one corner and use direct venting. Seemed reasonable to me since most new construction uses the variable speed direct-vent furnaces and tankless water heaters are getting lots of press for energy efficiency.
However, I did not anticipate the Rochester plumbing industry’s resistance to tankless or on-demand hot water heaters. Apparently I’m a smelling un-washed European who would prefer to warm my water with the heat of burning dollar bills for even suggesting that an American household could survive with this type of frivolously expensive water heater.
I really try to be as green as possible in my home. (I highly recommend the Sherwin-Williams Harmony paint and Eden Home Cleaning service.) But I am quickly realizing the inconvenient truth that I might need to give up the dream saving the planet while enjoying an endless supply hot water.But I will not give up on the direct-venting dreams! Rochester’s plumbers cannot be resistant to all new home-heating technologies.
Filed under: Home Projects
