
What Should You Consider When Buying a Tankless Hot Water Heater?
Heater Size
Water heating is responsible for approximately 20 percent of an average home’s energy bills. With the new tankless water systems you need to consider the Gallons Per Minute (GPM) rating. This is basically how many gallons per minute you can get continuous hot water. It is also worth noting, that physics does come into play here and every time an additional faucet, dishwasher or washing machine is being operated this will have a detrimental effect on the water flow rate. If that scenario is a regular occurrence in your household, then it may be worth considering two separate heaters. Prior to speaking with our plumbing experts, consider your personal household usage. To give you a reference point, here are some examples of hot water appliances and their average usage.
Heater Location
Due to the lack of a tank, the options now available for placement of your heater have drastically increased. Think about empty cupboards, or out of the way places where your heater can be installed, freeing up more valuable real estate. Once you have worked out where the heater will go this will assist you in choosing the most appropriate model. Our trained plumbers can also complete a site visit prior to installation, just to confirm the optimum location for both convenience and regulations. Also take into consideration the removal of the old tank, a service which our experienced and professional team will be happy to provide.
Tankless Hot Water Heater Warranty
A water heater is a significant financial investment; check the warranties that come from each manufacturer. Choose one with a long warranty from a reputable manufacturer. Although the initial expenditure may be greater, the long term benefits and peace of mind may be worth it. Get the longest warranty you can possibly afford.
Rheem for example offers a twelve-year warranty.
Below are five manufacturers with a good reputation of reliability and performance. We only select the best hot water heater brands and we are fully qualified and licensed to install products from these manufacturers and more.
Pricing a Tankless Water Heater Installation
The initial cost of a tankless hot water heater can vary between $300 to $1,000, compared to $500 to over $1,000 for the gas model. There are a number of electric related regulations that must be observed when we install a new heater.
If your previous water heater was natural gas powered, we may need to run additional power lines for the new electric unit that can handle the electricity requirements.
Installation costs will vary based on what we need to do. We normally:
- Drain and uninstall the old storage water heater.
- Safely dispose of the old tank.
- Replace the water shutoff valves with safer and newer parts.
- Replace the electric breakers as needed.
- Run or upgrade your power supply.
- Install the new tankless water heater.
- Test it’s working by running hot water through all of the faucets in the house.
- Show you how to operate your new water heater.
A very rough estimate of installation cost is between $1,000 and $3,000. We will give you a definite and fair price once we are at your home and can assess the exact work needed.
Maintaining Your New Hot Water Heater
Because of the hard water that we have in north Texas, regular maintenance is recommended such as flushing the water heater pipes. More information can be found here. You can also contact us and ask us what other plumbing services we recommend for your home.