[Locke]

I'd actually really like to see a detailed cost break-down on one of these things.

My parents installed one identical to what FF posted and its a head of garbage. I'd never consider one.

My dad is the crazy guy who will cuff you upside the head if you leave a room with the lights still on and will constantly complain about how much water you use or the length of your showers and blah, blah, blah.

I get it, conservation of energy and I agree to a point. But in my house we just have a conventional water tank.

Now the similarities are that we also have pretty much instant hot water, whereas at my parents' house you got to constantly run the thing to get hot water which, obviously, uses more water.

So it saves energy by not keeping water heated, but wastes more water.

That and it doesnt get water hot enough. I know about hacking the thing but I'm not hacking a water heater, it either should work that way normally or not at all.

Further, how much energy are you really using by maintaining ~60 gallons of hot water at a constant temperature?

Are you generating a net benefit by saving gas by not having a tank versus the amount of power the unit consumes and the amount of water you waste?

In my mind the difference, if any, would be miniscule and certainly not enough to justify the hassle, inconvenience or initial cost.