Okay, full disclosure, I don't have a photo of the breaker box, and I don't even really remember it all that well. But you're bored, so I invite you to speculate wildly if you like.

I just moved into a new place. There is a circuit breaker in the breaker box that is labeled "INSTANT HOT." I have no idea what it's for. As near as I can figure, "instant hot" usually refers to either an instant hot water faucet or an instant water heater.

Thing is I don't think the place has either of those things. It's a three-story townhouse with natural gas. An instant water heater would be useful upstairs, so it makes sense that there might be one, except I'm pretty sure there isn't.

Maybe there used to be something, but it's gone and was never replaced. I don't know.

Maybe I'm not looking in the right places. Anyone got one an instant hot water faucet or an instant water heater? Or a tankless system, maybe? Where should I be looking?

4/4/2017 10:26:16 AM

I see where this is headed.

4/4/2017 10:28:37 AM

My tankless is in my garage mounted to the wall

4/4/2017 10:29:38 AM

turn it on and any ladies in your place will instantly become hot

4/4/2017 10:35:10 AM

I've only had hot ladies in the place, so maybe I just haven't noticed a difference when I've flipped the breaker!

Yes, I've flipped the breaker without knowing what it does. I'm not sorry. Sanction me. Sanction me with your army.

4/4/2017 10:37:28 AM

Just took one out in a kitchen, but I'm guessing you'd have looked there pretty early on. Pot filler? Don't know where else it might be..

4/4/2017 11:18:54 AM

was the breaker originally on or off?

4/4/2017 11:31:18 AM

It was originally on.

4/4/2017 12:32:55 PM

the equipment should still be there then. If it was removed by someone competent then the breaker would have been switched off prior to disconnecting and removing.

Most tankless systems, which usually service the whole house, are found in the garage. If it replaced a tank style heater it would be mounted in the same location and tied into the main water service line. But there are also smaller ones that can serve a single location that could be mounted remotely, perhaps in a crawl space (or an attic space in your scenario). If it was an instant hot faucet the tankless system should be mounted below the sink.

4/4/2017 12:37:58 PM

How many amps is the breaker rated for?

My guess: https://www.insinkerator.com/us/en/instant-hot-water-dispensers

Look under sinks for a heater or the electrical hookups for one.

4/4/2017 1:35:31 PM

turn the breaker off and see if you still have hot water

4/4/2017 1:38:18 PM

Are there still wires hooked up to the breaker?

4/4/2017 2:06:20 PM

i too would have guessed a tankless

[Edited on April 4, 2017 at 2:19 PM. Reason : maybe it controls the temperature portion of the raleigh weather dome]

4/4/2017 2:18:55 PM

https://www.amazon.com/Triplett-3399-Generator-Adjustable-Sensitivity/dp/B001ULPREW

4/4/2017 6:21:51 PM

Update: There was a double outlet under the sink, and the breaker controls that. The label actually said "INSTA HOT," which is definitely an under-the-sink instant water heater. There isn't actually a unit installed, but it looks like they just plug in with a cord, so I'm considering this mystery solved. Thanks for your input and attention.

4/4/2017 6:57:59 PM

if you drink tea the little instant ones that plug in are great. the kit makes it incredibly easy to install, the toughest thing is drilling the hole on the sink but just measure a few times and that is easy

4/4/2017 8:09:22 PM

They are a couple hundred. I really want one for my kitchen but it if it needed another circuit ran that would be too much work. I have read up on them a lot and the ones with a small tank actually work better. You can avoid running the water forever just to get to the hot water.

4/4/2017 9:20:44 PM

installed one for the mrs. she loves it and as an avid tea drinker i get a fair amount of use out of it as well.

4/5/2017 4:23:16 PM