What Is a Tankless Water Heater?
Advantages of Installing a Tankless Water Heater
Efficient and Continuous Hot Water Supply for Your Home
Tankless water heaters are an innovative solution for providing an efficient and continuous hot water supply throughout your home. Whether it’s in the garage, utility room, or mounted outside, a tankless water heater can effectively meet the hot water needs of various household applications, from faucets and showers to soaking tubs, dishwashers, and laundry.
Key Benefits of Tankless Water Heaters:
Energy Efficiency:
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- One of the primary advantages of tankless water heaters is their energy efficiency. Unlike traditional water heaters that continuously heat a large volume of water, tankless units heat water on demand. This means you’re not wasting energy keeping water hot when it’s not being used, leading to potential savings on your energy bills.
Unlimited Hot Water Supply:
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- With a tankless water heater, you enjoy the luxury of an unlimited flow of hot water. This is particularly beneficial for larger families or households where the demand for hot water is high. Whether you’re taking a long shower, filling a soaking tub, or running multiple appliances simultaneously, a tankless water heater ensures you never run out of hot water.
Space-Saving Design:
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- Tankless water heaters have a compact, wall-mounted design that saves valuable space in your home. This makes them an ideal choice for smaller homes or for those looking to maximize their living area.
Longevity:
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- Generally, tankless water heaters have a longer lifespan compared to traditional tank water heaters. This makes them a cost-effective option in the long run.
On-Demand Hot Water:
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- The on-demand feature means hot water is available exactly when you need it. By installing an appropriately-sized unit, your household can enjoy hot water in multiple locations simultaneously without any drop in temperature or flow.
WHY CHOOSE A TANKLESS WATER HEATER?
Endless hot water
A tankless water heater is a great solution for a homeowner who currently has a standard tank water heater and is looking to replace it because their current tank is old, inefficient, and/or leaking. Other folks switch to tankless because they simply want to lower their annual water heating bills, and/or use endless hot water. Though tankless water heaters have been in use in Europe and Asia for over 20 years, they are just starting to gain wider acceptance and use in the United States.
more energy efficient
Tankless water heaters are gaining popularity for several reasons: a tankless water heater saves valuable floor space in your garage or utility room, lasts 20-30 years because the unit is less susceptible to rust and leaks, can increase home resale value, and is rated at 40-50% more efficient than today’s standard tanks. While the average home using a standard gas tank water heater spends roughly $250 heating their water each year, a tankless heater can bring costs down $75-$120 annually. Whether you’re concerned about environmental impact or just bringing down the cost of heating your water, a tankless water heater is a winner in both of these categories. Some utility companies even offer rebates for installing a tankless water heater.
high quality/longer lasting product
Tankless water heaters are gaining popularity for several reasons: a tankless water heater saves valuable floor space in your garage or utility room, lasts 20-30 years because the unit is less susceptible to rust and leaks, can increase home resale value, and is rated at 40-50% more efficient than today’s standard tanks. While the average home using a standard gas tank water heater spends roughly $250 heating their water each year, a tankless heater can bring costs down $75-$120 annually. Whether you’re concerned about environmental impact or just bringing down the cost of heating your water, a tankless water heater is a winner in both of these categories. Some utility companies even offer rebates for installing a tankless water heater.
HOW DOES A TANKLESS WATER HEATER WORK?
There are three types of tankless units currently available on the market: non-condensing, condensing, and hybrid condensing. While each one operates in a slightly different way, the basic premise for all three is the same.
Gas Tankless Water Heaters:
When a faucet is turned on, a gas burner ignites, heating a coil through which cold water flows. This heat exchange process rapidly heats the water, delivering it hot to your tap.
Electric Tankless Heaters:
These units use heating elements instead of a gas burner. While they are available, they are generally less effective for whole-home use compared to gas models due to their lower heating capacity.
High Gas Usage:
To reach sufficient temperatures, tankless units often require a high volume of gas, typically between 150,000 and 200,000 BTUs. This may necessitate upgrading the gas line in many homes to accommodate the higher demand.
Advanced Tankless Water Heater Technologies:
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Condensing Tankless Water Heaters: These advanced models include a second heat exchanger that utilizes excess exhaust heat. This process further heats the water, enhancing the unit’s efficiency and reducing operating costs.
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Hybrid Tankless Water Heaters: Hybrid models feature a small reservoir, usually around 2 or more gallons, to address short draws, such as hand washing. This reservoir keeps a small amount of water heated, preventing the unit from fully firing up for small hot water needs, which in turn boosts efficiency.
SELECTING A TANKLESS WATER HEATER?
What is a flow rate and what should I ask for?
While traditional hot water tanks are compared based on gallon capacity, recovery rate, and first hour rating, tankless water heaters are compared based on their per minute flow rate. Typical flow rates for most major brands range from 4 to 12 gallons per minute (GPM). Consider these common hot water needs and the flow rate requirements of each:
| Dishwasher | 0.5 – 1.0 GPM |
| Bathroom sink | 0.5 – 1.5 GPM |
| Utility sink | 1.5 – 2.0 GPM |
| Washing Machine | 2.0 – 2.5 GPM |
| Shower | 1.5 – 2.5 GPM |
| Bath tub | 2.5 – .0 GPM |
| Jacuzzi/Hot tub | 4.0 – 5.0 GPM |
Consider how many of these needs you may have simultaneously to determine the maximum flow rate you require. For a home with 1 bathroom, we recommend 6-7 GPM; 2 bathrooms, 8 – 9 GPM; and 3+ bathrooms, 9-11 GPM.
In our experience, smaller 4-5 GPM units are suitable for studio apartments and small one bathroom homes or other application specific needs. For very larger homes, there are other options including installing multiple tankless units in series.
What is temperature rise & how does it factor into my choice of max GPM?
Water enters the home at different temperatures depending on where you live. If you live in the northern U.S., your average entering winter water temperature is 40-50˚F. If you live in the southern U.S., your average entering winter water temperature is 50-65˚F.
Where do I want to locate my tankless water heater?
Many homeowners decide to relocate their water heater when converting to tankless. Consider where you want to install your water heater, as there are both indoor and outdoor units on the market. The outdoor units are typically less expensive to install.
What should I look for in an Efficiency Factor (EF)?
The higher the EF, the less the tankless water heater will cost to operate. Efficiency is a measure of heat transfer from the energy source to your hot water. The best tankless water heaters have an EF of .92 – .96, which means that they are 92-96% efficient.
What brand should I select?
Important things to consider when choosing the brand of your tankless water heater are warranty, availability of local service providers, and reliability. Make sure there are installers in your area who are certified to work on the product, in the event your water heater needs to be serviced.
INSTALLING & MAINTAINING A TANKLESS WATER HEATER
Fuel type:
If you currently have a gas tank water heater (natural gas or propane), you can install a gas tankless water heater. However, you will probably have to upsize the gas line coming from your meter to your heater, as tankless units typically require a dedicated line to service their high demands of up to 200,000 BTU. If you currently have an electric water heater, you will either have to apply for gas or propane service to your home, or connect an existing gas connection to your water heater setup. Some utility companies offer significant rebates for switching from electric water heating to gas water heating, and switching to gas tankless is a great choice and great opportunity to take advantage of these rebates. We do not recommend electric tankless water heaters for most whole-home water heating needs because of the poor feedback, less-than-desirable temperature and flow capabilities of these units.
Location:
Determining the desired location of your tankless water heater is important for achieving space savings and most economical installation costs. Talk with your installer about where might be the best place to locate a tankless water heater in your home. You will also need dedicated power to the unit so consider that. Keep in mind, in the event of a power outage, the unit will not provide hot water. However, installers can install a backup battery system if you want. When estimating a total cost for the installation of a tankless water heater, your installer should go over the current plumbing codes and permit costs with you before they begin work in your home. Make sure you understand the requirements so your water heater is installed safely. Also, ask your installer to help you understand the periodic maintenance requirements of a tankless water heater. While maintenance costs are low, some manufacturers do recommend a descaling process, the frequency of which will depend on the quality of the water where you live. This will help extend the lifetime of your tank. Read your owner’s manual for further tips and recommendations.