Perhaps I shouldn't have jumped on my energy-efficiency hobby horse, but it's always sitting there. I write a monthly column on saving energy for a utility.

Not at all, Ginger. I'm on board :)

Does anyone have one of those tankless water heaters? I like the sound of those things, but I don't know how well they actually work or how much they cost.

I don't have a tankless water heater, but I've had to do a lot of research on them. They work well if you can put them close to the point of use. For example, they're good if you have a bathroom at the end of the run from the hot water heater and find that the water never stays hot enough. Unless you live alone, the problem with using one as a whole-house water heater is that there's a direct relationship between the water flow and how hot the water can get, since it's passing through a heating element. Therefore, if there's a lot of demand for hot water, the water temperature tends to be lower.

Does anyone have one of those tankless water heaters?

So, the water....levitates? Over a bonfire? (Wouldn't that violate fire safety laws?) (And anti-magic laws?)

My life would be much more fun if I got to write about water levitating over a bonfire. The water runs through a heating element.

grrrr....grrrrr.

so the plumbers came - took shower apart - to the point where they can't put it back together and turn the water on and be sure we won't have water everywhere. but the home warenty co says they don't cover this - we broke it. by turning on the shower. So unhappy with the home warenty co.

somedays the only mantra that works for me is, "It's only a movie."

Oh, I love this.

Don't know anything about water heaters or hostile work environments, sorry.

That seems unfair, beth.

the home warenty co says they don't cover this - we broke it. by turning on the shower.

That's just wrong. Sorry.