Tankless Water Heaters

‘Instantaneous or Demand Water Heaters’ also called tankless water heaters is functioned to provide hot water only as it is needed. As well we know the water heating activity will spend a lot of money on paying the monthly utility bills, especially if we choose the wrong water heating unit that cannot work efficiently. There are two major issues that we must concern when choosing and buying tankless water heaters that are; (1) Location, size & demand, and (3) fuel Type. So it’s not too bad idea to take a few minutes to discuss and completely understand about these issues, particularly if you seriously want to get the best deal and proper installation!

1. Demand,Location,and  Size

Deciding which one the best of tankless water heater to purchase, you should also need to consider where the unit will be located and installed, such as:

1. condo (whole house application)?
2. An entire house, apartment

3. The unit that will heat the water at one bathroom sink (single point application) or an entire bathroom (multipoint application)
4. Etc.

Recognize the number of fixtures that will require hot water. The table below illustrates the typical flow rates (requirement) for some standard fixtures of tankless water heaters:

Table source:tanklesswaterheaterguide.com

The size is crucial! Make sure your surveyor from the company that you choose for the installation will completely understand about the demand of hot water for daily activities of you and your family. Consider also about the temperature rise based on the flow rate!

2. Fuel Type

Choose the right fuel! Well, there are two popular choices:

1. Electric tankless water heater
2. Gas-Fired tankless water heater

What you should consider if you choose electric model?

Take a look at the electrical requirements, particularly circuit breaker, voltage and amperage.

1. Circuit breaker, please make sure that there is a proper circuit or circuits to support and accommodate your new new electric water heating unit
2. Different units will need different requirements in amp. Make sure your unit will get proper support electrical demand!
3. And about the voltage, mostly units are designed for 277 Volt, 240 Volt, 220 Volt, 208 Volt, 120 Volt, or 110 Volt.
4. Contact a professional technician for more detailed information if necessary!

What you should consider if you choose gas tankless water heaters?

There are two popular gas fuel types to choose from, propane or natural gas! Which is the best one? The answer is dependent on the condition of your local area. Not all areas are covered or available for natural gas pipeline transmission. For this situation, propane is more recommended because it is usually stored into pressurized tank.

And one important thing if you choose to use gas unit is about the venting. The unit must be supported by the proper venting mechanism otherwise can lead to the risk of O2 depletion due to the enhancement of Carbon Monoxide. Make sure you only choose and use (UL1738 certified) Category III of stainless steel for the venting. Avoid using –Type “B” venting accessories for the safety issue. For completely safety, make sure all components or accessories (especially for venting requirements) are allowed or qualified with your local building code.

In addition, don’t miss to also consider about features and application (especially about whole house outdoor use, whole house indoor use, thermostatic, flow controlled, and so on)!

Helpful checklists & pieces of helpful information for installation:

1. In many cases, tankless water heating units usually will have a life expectancy of around 19-21 years or more! So they are also great selection if we are looking for a good investment in long term.
2. The proper installation is so important to make sure the system will work properly and at its optimum efficiency performance, therefore chose the right contractor for the installation!
3. Several important points that you have to concern when choosing and hiring a contractor; (a) Find and visit your local Better Business Bureau in order to check the credibility of a contractor that will be hired for the installation, (b) request & ask about detailed cost estimated, warranty and other references, and (c) once again understand and learn about the local building codes if necessary to confirm and make sure that the company that you choose will obtain a local permit.
4. It is also more recommended to check and make sure that the contractor will contact the local municipality to get the detail information about obtaining a permit.
5. Consider and learn about other offers from the same contractor, particularly any offers that can keep and improve the performance and lifetime of your tankless water heater in long term. It’s recommended to sign a contract for a professional maintenance for your unit at least once a year. Don’t forget also to read and obey the owner’s manual for specific maintenance recommendations.

More tags: