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Purchasing a Tankless Water Heater
You’ve decided to purchase an energy and water saving tankless water heater.  Great!  But how do you know what kind to buy?  Tankless water heaters are also referred to as instantaneous or demand water heaters, so keep these terms in mind when you are shopping for your tankless water heater as you don’t want to risk passing up a great deal because you don’t realize that the terms are interchangeable.  Basically any water heater that advertises that it is used only when there is a demand for hot water is a tankless water heater.

Before actually purchasing your tankless water heater, you’ll need to consider the fuel type you need, where you will put the unit, and what size unit to purchase (determined by your hot water demands and the application of the unit). 

As for fuel type, your choices are either an electric tankless water heater or a gas-fired tankless water heater.  In many cases, this is determined by the type of energy set-up you already have in your home.  Check with a qualified local plumbing contractor to determine what options are available in your home if you don’t already know.  For electric-powered water heaters you’ll have to have appropriate amounts and types of electricity to install the unit; and for gas-fired ones, type of gas available to you and certain venting requirements will be the restrictions you must deal with.  If you research local building codes to ensure that your water heater is within the guidelines of your specific location, you’ll have an easier time of making an informed decision about your purchase. But remember, gas-fired tankless water heaters may still require a minimal electrical connection, so review installation requirements for the units you are considering.

Next, consider where you will need hot water, the location as well as the application.  These factors will determine where to put the units so as to best deliver hot water to the locations you need it in.  For example, do you need a unit that will heat the water at one bathroom sink (single point application), an entire bathroom (multipoint application), or an entire house, apartment, or condo (whole house application)?  Recognizing the number of fixtures that will require hot water since each fixture will have its own demands, is an important consideration when deciding where to locate your unit(s).

Typically, tankless water heaters provide hot water at a rate of 2 to 5 gallons (7.6 to 15.2 liters) per minute, with gas-fired ones, in most cases, producing higher flow rates than electric ones.  And, smaller tankless water heaters are not always capable of supplying enough hot water for simultaneous, multiple uses in large households; so make sure you are aware of approximately how much hot water you use in your home to determine what size tank you want to purchase.  If you do have a large household, and anticipate the need for lots of hot water, you can install a “whole house” type tankless water heater or two or more tankless water heaters, either connected parallel to one another or as separate tankless water heaters for individual appliances, such as your clothes washer or dishwater, that use a lot of hot water.  If you are unsure of what size to choose, ask your installer for recommendations about the size you need.

Consider these factors before purchasing your new or replacement tankless hot water heater and you’ll have hot water to enjoy for years without giving it another thought.  Taking the time to research the purchase of any appliance you’ll use for years is always a great investment of your time and energy.

Blog post provided by:  Atlanta GA Tankless Water Heater Company