Job Discussion Forums

[JimDunlop2]

This question is probably only going to be answerable by some of the old-timers.... Or at least someone with experience living in a Japanese house (not apartment).

My bathroom sink -- true to Japanese tradition has NO hot water. The tap is only cold! Now that the weather's getting colder and colder, it makes it really annoying to shave and wash my hands & whatnot.

I was hoping to install a tankless electric water heater (hopefully under the sink)... I also can't run gas because the LPG outlets are on the other side of the house. That would also take a licensed tech to run conduit, etc, etc... Simply put, I can't afford it.

Problem is.... For the LIFE of me, I haven't seen electric water heaters in this country! LPG - fine! Any hardware store sells them -- but I just haven't seen the electric kind anywhere! Can anyone tell me if/where I can purchase such an item in-country?

If not, I can buy a Powerstream heater from the U.S. for about $185... But the problem is, N. America uses Imperial fittings -- and I need metric. No idea about adapters... They also sell a 240V model, which I assume is made for use in Europe -- which would have metric fittings likely, but the voltage is wrong.

Any advice for me? My wife is really on my case to get her some hot water!

JD

[freddie's friend daniel]

[madeira]

I'm not getting the answer you want from my friends/relatives. They all say that you should get a gas heater. I've poked around and found electric systems for the whole house, but not just one point. Starting at around 360,000. I know Thailand has one-point electric heaters, though.

Is the rest of the house gas-heated?

I guess you should call Tokyo Gas and ask about your options.

[guest of Japan]

I lived this way for a year. Shyugyou!!! Oh, and shave in the shower.

[JimDunlop2]

madeira: thanks for trying to help! Yeah, gas would be nice - but the "rest of the house" is not heated at all. It's an old-style Japanese house, where you must heat each room seperately with kerosene heaters. The gas runs into the kitchen, and the sink where I need hot water is exactly on the other side of the house... I suspect that running conduit would be kinda expensive.

But I agree -- gas is easy and the heater itself is cheap -- D2 sells them for as low as ichi-man yen...

I suppose I could see if there's any way to convert Imperial plumbing fixtures to metric. Then it's a breeze! I've done much of my own plumbing here and in Canada... Replacing toilets, showers, sinks, etc, etc.... Then I can just buy the American electric heater....

[Brooks]

for over three years I used to boil water in order to shave.

The older apartments (from the early 80s and before) show that Japanese people used to have a lot less money.
Where I live now, we have a button I can press to get hot water.
But I have to wait up to a minute before the water gets warm.