Choosing the Best Tankless Water Heater

How do you determine the best tankless water heater for your home? There are a number of factors to consider when deciding on the best water heater for you. Firstly – understand your product. Tankless water heaters are also commonly known as demand-type or instantaneous heaters, and provide hot water as it is needed. They work differently to your standard water heater that stores hot water for use.

Size

There are two main things to consider when choosing the best tankless water heater regarding size. An undersized heater is a common mistake that many homeowners make. A combination of the maximum temperature rise at any given flow rate needs to be factored. Determining these two requirements will allow you to judge what size you will need.

1. Flow Rate Demand
   What is the maximum number of devices that you want to run off of your water heater, and their total flow rate added up? It is always useful to have a gauge on the required flow rate at any given time.

2. Required Temperature Rise
   This can be worked out by subtracting the incoming temperature from the required output temperature.

Energy Efficiency and Costs

Tankless water heaters provide an endless supply of warm water without the financial and energy implications of a normal water heater. The smaller carbon footprint and long life expectancy of over 20 years are two pros of choosing a tankless water heater. They also have replaceable parts that extend their life by many more years, where a normal storage water heater will only last 10 – 15 years. These water heaters are initially more expensive but the cost of purchase and installation is an investment on the extra savings made over time.

Fuel Type

There are different ways to fuel tankless water heaters, namely gas or electric. Natural gas or propane heating systems need vents to the exterior of the house, as well as decent gas line piping. A greater flow and higher temperature rise is produced by gas water heaters. This is opposed to electric water heaters that rely on a functional electrical set up with sufficient amperage, voltage, and a circuit breaker. Something to consider as even a gas model needs electrical connections to operate.

What are Your Needs?

The following considerations will help you choose the best tankless water heater for your needs:

• The groundwater temperature – If the groundwater temperature is cold, the heater needs to work harder in order of the temperature of the water to rise.
• The needs of your family – These water heaters work within the limitations of capacity to supply, in other words the required flow rate as well as the temperature rise. These factors need to be considered in order to provide enough hot water for your family.
• Where do you want your water heater? – The decision needs to be made as to whether you want to install a whole-house system or a point-of-use heater.
• Safety details – With regards to any model that you may be considering, there should be automatic sensors that shut down the system when the heat exchanger over heats. An oxygen depletion sensor shuts off the water heater when carbon monoxide is detected.

There is no single tankless water heater that fits every family and home – the perfect water heater is one that suits your home and your needs specifically.