"Gene Kearns" wrote in message
...
On Tue, 17 Apr 2007 12:07:36 -0400, JimH penned the following well
considered thoughts to the readers of rec.boats:



The rub.........you need a minimum 3/4" gas line. I just found this out
from a contractor quoting on the installation. We only have 1/2" at the
hot
water tank room and our ceiling in the basement is finished. The only
solution is trenching in a new 1" line outside to the hot water tank room
at
a cost of about $1,500.

The next rub......that same contractor quoted an install price of $1,500
over and beyond running a new gas line.


I know that I don't think like most people.... but it would be a cold
day in hell before I would pay a contractor $3,000 to do what it would
take me a Saturday to do.....

--


I agree. The problem is I am not too confident working with a natural gas
line.

Anyway, a second, and obviously more ethical contractor (35 years in
business) came in this afternoon with an estimate of $750 for the entire
installation, including running a new 3/4" gas line from the meter.

He also asked us to consider going with a single 50 gallon hot water tank
($650 installed and removing our 2 existing tanks). His reasoning:

1. The cost to operate the hot water tank, even with a standing pilot, is
about $250/year. The cost to run the tankless hot water heater would be at
about $150/year.

2. The tankless system has moving parts where as a tank does not. We have
never had to service a hot water tank (no moving parts) and got over 15
years on the 5 year warranty tanks we now have.

We are putting in a 50 gallon tank.