Rheem makes a number of tankless models
http://www.rheem.com/products/tankless_water_heaters/They make a tankless 95 outdoor series
http://www.rheem.com/product.aspx?id=EBA80FAA-3C0F-411D-AF83-82061C28ED1BThe 95 outdoor series spec sheet says .4 GPM minimum activation and .26 GPM flow to keep burner activated. The colder the incoming water, fewer users can take a shower at once.
http://globalimageserver.com/fetchDocument.aspx?id=ea5f0816-dfd4-4bcf-a605-79945619f5bbThe .4 GPM and .26GPM numbers are fairly typical for tankless units.
These numbers are good when the unit is new.
After a few years the
number may be different because the tankless is a high-tech machine with
sensors that are susceptible to particulate in the water, and
susceptible to perfect-functioning of other parts in the machine.
The outdoor series spec sheet says the tankless is good to minus 30 F.
But remember that's when the unit is new.
Outdoor tankless water heaters
have an electric heater that keeps water pipes inside the unit from
freezing, as long as electricity is ON.
If electricity goes off, the house stays warm inside for several hours.
But a steel box located outside would get cold immediately without electric heat.
The electric heater adds standby cost to operational expense.
The tankless has a heater, but you still have to protect the incoming and outgoing pipes.
If your incoming water is very cold, the tankless heater may not be able raise the temperature fast enough to give two showers -or- even 1 shower depending on age and efficiency and capacity.
You can add a
tempering tank located in naturally warm area that passively pre-heats incoming water before it enters the tankless burner.
It might be best to locate tankless inside the house >> and use direct vent through the wall for both incoming air supply and outgoing vent gas.
If incoming air is taken directly from the living space, then tankless will draw air into the house through cracks and around doors.
A lack of sufficient air, or poor air quality can cause the burner to shut down.
When buying a tankless, read the spec sheets and really ask questions about everything you don't understand.
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