Tips on How to Choose a Tankless Water Heater

A tankless water heater heats water only on demand when you turn the hot water tap on. It quickly heats cold water supplied through a pipe and delivers it out of the tap as long as you want it. There are various types of tankless water heaters. The best heater that suites your home depends on the environment and usage. The tankless water heaters are expensive, but they will pay you back the initial cost being more energy efficient. You can consider a few important factors and go through tankless water heater reviews to choose the right heater for your home.

Tips on How to Choose a Tankless Water Heater:

Location:
The water output and heating time of a tankless water heater is affected by the supplied water temperature. You may need a higher capacity heater in a colder region. Consider the coldest water temperature and your approximate use in gallons per minute to calculate the heater capacity.

Gas or Electric Heater:
If you are already using gas in your home, a gas heater will be best. However, if there is no gas supply, it may cost heavily to install and run new gas lines. Using electric water heater may prove economical.



Tankless Electric Water Heaters:
You have two options with a tankless electric water heater. You can either select a whole house unit or go for a point of use unit to give you hot water immediately.

Determine The Hot Water Requirement:
The right choice of a tankless water heater size will depend on the flow rate required for your fixtures and appliances, the lowest temperature of inlet water, and the pattern of usage of hot water. You may take help of your plumber to determine the right size of heater. Normally, for a small home with a kitchen and a bathroom a smaller tank heater will work . However, for a home with two or more bathrooms, a larger heater with 5 gallon per minute capacity will be needed. This size of the tankless water heater can feed your shower, a dishwasher or kitchen sink faucet simultaneously. It can also supply hot water to your washing machine when you need. You can decide to install more than one water heater and club up some areas.

Get Details from Manufacturers:
It is also better to get the technical details and advice from the manufacturer's support department and read the tankless water heater reviews to select the right capacity of the heater needed by you and get installation instructions.

Planning the Location:
One of the important tips on how to choose a tankless water tank is to consider its location in view of the air needed for combustion of gas and venting. These heaters work on an intense flame for heating water and will require more air for combustion. They also vent out more exhaust as compared to conventional water heaters. The water heater should have a direct sealed-combustion vent to avoid any back drafting though exhaust pipe. The direct air vent should terminate at least three feet above from any window. It may not possible to vent your heater through the roof, as the air vent may run too long. You can consult the experts. Use material with proper specifications for venting.

Check Water and Gas Supplies:
Tankless water heaters generally produce 3 to 4 times heat than conventional heaters. Confirm with your plumber that the present gas line and the gas meter will suffice.. Also ensure that present water lines can feed the heaters to maintain the required minimum water flow rates. There should not be long pipelines between the tank and faucets as it may take some time to heat the water and reach the faucet.

Building Code Compliance:
Ensure that you plan to comply with the building codes from the preliminary stage.

Safety Devices:
Ensure that you get and install an oxygen-depletion sensor which will shut down the water heater in case it detects carbon monoxide. Use a film wrap for the heat exchanger to shut off the heater if it becomes too hot.

Rebates or Incentives:
Many tankless water heater models qualify for utility as well as state tax credits. Check that you get these benefits on the model you select.

These tips and the tankless water heater reviews should help you select and install the best heater for you.