Good points on the upfront costs and installation headaches. One thing I'd add—have you considered your local water quality? Hard water can really shorten the lifespan of tankless units and lead to frequent maintenance. Had a client last year who didn't factor that in, and now he's dealing with scale buildup issues regularly. Maybe worth checking your area's hardness levels before making the jump...
Good catch on the water hardness thing—I overlooked that myself when I switched to tankless a few years back. Ever tried installing a water softener or descaler upstream? I ended up putting one in after noticing some buildup, and it's been pretty smooth sailing since. Might be worth considering if you're leaning toward tankless but worried about scale issues...
Totally agree on the water softener—it's a lifesaver. A few quick thoughts from my own adventures in plumbing:
- Installed a tankless without a softener at first (rookie mistake, I know). Within a year, the scale buildup was like something out of a horror movie... pipes looked like they'd aged 20 years overnight.
- Added a softener upstream, and it's been night-and-day difference. No more crusty faucets or weird pressure drops.
- One thing I'd add: make sure you size the softener correctly. I initially went cheap and undersized mine, thinking "eh, close enough." Nope. Ended up upgrading later anyway.
- Also, if you're tight on space or budget, a descaler can be decent, but honestly, I've found traditional salt-based softeners way more effective long-term.
Bottom line, if you're going tankless and your water's even remotely hard, don't skip the softener. Your future self (and wallet) will thank you.
Good points on the softener sizing—I learned that lesson the hard way too. Went with a smaller unit thinking I'd save some cash, but ended up with spotty dishes and weird water pressure fluctuations. Upgraded to a properly sized one, and it's been smooth sailing since.
One thing I'm still cautious about though is the environmental impact of salt-based softeners. I've heard mixed things about how the discharged salt affects local waterways and ecosystems. Anyone looked into eco-friendly alternatives or ways to minimize that impact? I've seen potassium chloride mentioned as an alternative, but not sure if it's really better or just marketing hype...
"I've seen potassium chloride mentioned as an alternative, but not sure if it's really better or just marketing hype..."
I switched to potassium chloride about two years ago after similar concerns. Honestly, it does seem gentler on my plants and lawn—no more brown patches near the discharge area. But heads up, it's pricier and you might need to adjust your softener settings slightly. Not a miracle solution, but definitely a step in the right direction environmentally...
