Tankless Hot Water Heater: How Much Does It Cost?

If you are looking for modern water heating unit that can work with a perpetual supply of immediately heated water then one of popular answers at this time is tankless hot water heater. With this instantly heated-water performance, this type is claimed will work more efficient than conventional units. One thing that must be concerned before deciding to install and use it is about how much does tankless hot water heater cost? And the cost may be slightly higher than your prediction. So, take a few minutes to read pieces of helpful information below before making decision.

Tankless hot water heater’s Cost

Tankless electric models are relatively more popular if you prioritize the safety issue since there is not needed combustion gas process. But according to a consumer-report’s site (consumerreports.org), if you seriously want to have a powerful instantly heated-water heater then it’s better to choose gas tankless water heaters than electric tankless units. Even electric models cannot produce hot water fast enough to compete with conventional storage-tank units, especially if your local area has cold groundwater. Moreover, with the right installation and regular maintenance you can keep using gas tankless units safely. Read the owner’s manual guidelines about on how to use them properly for more detailed information.

Most of gas tankless hot water heaters are claimed to work more efficient (around 22 percent –based on Consumer Report’s test) than conventional storage-tank types. And if we compare to national energy costs (2008), you will save around $ 70-80 for each year.

As well we know that the initial cost for the installation is more expensive than tank-storage types, and in fact most of gas tankless units usually have around 20-years life. And with the only $ 70-80 that you can save for each year, you will need around 22 years to pay back the installation cost. But if you love the environment, tankless models are better than conventional storage-tank units, because once again ‘YES’ they work more efficient (consume less energy) than conventional storage-tank models.

Up-front cost

It is dependent on the model of the tankless hot water itself. Moreover, you may need to pay a professional installer to make sure your unit is properly installed. Generally, you can purchase it at around $799 to $ 1,149 or more. You can compare to storage-tank types that usually only require $299 to $479 to purchase! Furthermore, the installation will require a better ventilation system and upgraded pipes of gas, therefore you may need to pay around $ 1,200 for the installation cost (it looks too expensive if compared to the installation costs of storage-tank types that usually we only pay around $300).

Don’t forget also to consider the maintenance costs. There are some reviews that say tankless models require less maintenance cost but on the other hand, there are also a lot of reviews that say they need more care. And if the water hardness in your local area is higher than 11 grains /gallon then you have to also install a water softener in order to minimize & eliminate the calcium build-up that can the disturb the performance of the unit.

What else you should know:

1. Like other regular models, there are also available some brands or manufactures to choose from. Some of them are Rinnai, Bosch, Takagi, Noritz, etc.
2. The size (flow rate) of tankles hot water heaters are usually rated by GPM (gallons per minute). Higher size indicates faster in producing hot water. Don’t miss to also consider the temperature rise variable of the unit. Here is basic guide on how to size tankless water heaters!
3. Although they are theoretically claimed will be able to give an unlimited supply of instantly hot water but not all of products will supply hot water at consistent water temperature. So make sure you choose and buy one that will work properly in long term, including will supply hot water at consistent desired water temperature.

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