Are you tired of running out of hot water in your home? Then it’s time to consider a tankless water heater. Unlike traditional water heaters, tankless units provide hot water on demand, ensuring you never have to worry about running out of hot water, even during times of high demand. This makes them ideal for families or businesses with high hot water usage.
In addition to their reliable performance, tankless water heaters are also much more energy-efficient than traditional water heaters. They only heat water when you need it, which can lead to significant energy savings and lower utility bills over time. Plus, their smaller size and flexible installation options make them perfect for homes with limited space.
Overall, a tankless water heater is a smart investment that will provide you with a reliable and energy-efficient source of hot water for many years to come. As your trusted plumbing experts, we are here to help you select the right tankless unit for your specific needs and provide professional installation services to ensure optimal performance and efficiency. Don’t let a lack of hot water hold you back any longer – upgrade to a tankless water heater today.
Beginning 2023, the expanded version of 25C, now called the Energy Efficient Home Improvement Tax Credit (under the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022), provides a maximum credit of $1,200 annually for most taxpayers. It is $600 for any single energy property item (including Tankless Water Heaters and Boilers)…Learn More
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If you are like us, we love to do our research before making any type of purchase. To assist you, we have put together a comprehensive guide where we’ll cover everything you need to know about water heaters, from types and factors to consider when choosing one, to maintenance and common problems. Let’s dive in!
Tankless water heaters, also known as on-demand water heaters, are water heating systems that heat water only when you need it. Unlike traditional water heaters that store hot water in a tank, tankless water heaters do not have a storage tank. This means that there is no standby heat loss, which occurs when the heat from stored hot water escapes the tank and is lost to the surrounding environment.
Tankless water heaters work by heating water as it passes through the unit. When you turn on the hot water tap, cold water travels through a pipe and into the tankless water heater unit. The unit then heats the water using a heating element or a gas burner, and the hot water flows out of the unit and through the pipes to your faucet or showerhead.
There are two main types of tankless water heaters: electric and gas.
Gas tankless water heaters use a gas burner to heat water as it passes through the unit. These units have a higher hot water output than electric tankless water heaters, making them suitable for larger households with higher hot water demand.
Electric tankless water heaters use an electric heating element to heat water as it passes through the unit. Electric tankless water heaters are more energy-efficient than traditional water heaters, but they have a lower hot water output. They are best suited for small households with low hot water demand.
Since the electrical requirements are so high for electric tankless water heaters, they are not practical for most residential homeowners as it would require an electrician to size and replace the electrical line from the breaker box to adequately service a tankless that operates ONLY on electricity.”
When choosing a tankless water heater, it’s important to select the right size for your home. A tankless water heater’s size is determined by its flow rate, measured in gallons per minute (GPM), and its temperature rise, which is the difference between the incoming cold water temperature and the desired hot water temperature.
To determine the right size for your home, you’ll need to calculate your home’s peak hot water demand. This is the maximum amount of hot water your home will need at any given time, such as when multiple people are taking a shower or using hot water appliances simultaneously.
As the amount of Gallons of Hot Water Per Minute can lower during periods of colder weather, we tend to only install units from the factory that are capable of reaching around 11 gallons per minute. Some other contractors will give a “Too Good To Be True” Price that is noticeably lower than most competitors to get the sale; this may work during the summer months, but homeowners can quickly get buyers remorse when they are not able to operate anything else other than a bathtub during the winter months when a smaller tankless is installed.”
Tankless water heaters require professional installation, and the installation process can be more complex than that of traditional water heaters. The installation cost will depend on factors such as the type and size of the unit, the complexity of the installation, and any necessary upgrades to your home’s electrical or gas infrastructure.
To ensure that your tankless water heater operates properly and efficiently, regular maintenance is required. This includes flushing the unit annually to remove mineral buildup and checking the unit’s components for wear and tear.
The cost of a tankless water heater can vary depending on the type and size of the unit, as well as the cost of installation. Generally, electric tankless water heaters are less expensive than gas tankless water heaters. However, gas units can be more energy-efficient, which can result in long-term savings on energy bills.
Tankless water heaters are more energy-efficient than traditional water heaters because they only heat water when you need it. This means that they use less energy and can save you money on your energy bills.
Many utility companies and state and federal governments offer rebates and incentives for homeowners who install energy-efficient appliances, including tankless water heaters. These rebates and incentives can help offset the cost of purchasing and installing a tankless water heater.
Tankless water heaters have several advantages over traditional water heaters, including their energy efficiency and space-saving design. However, they also have a higher upfront cost.
Heat pump water heaters are another type of energy-efficient water heater that use electricity to move heat from the air or ground to heat water. While they are more energy-efficient than traditional water heaters, they have a higher upfront cost and may not be suitable for all climates.
Tankless water heaters are an excellent choice for homeowners who are looking for a more energy-efficient and space-saving water heating solution. While they have a higher upfront cost and may not be suitable for all households, they offer several benefits over traditional water heaters. By selecting the right size and type of tankless water heater, homeowners can enjoy endless
A tank water heater usually has a capacity of 40 or 50 gallons, and is heated up by a burner on the bottom powered by natural gas or by two rods powered by electricity inside the tank. Once it reaches a set temperature, it will periodically turn back on to try to maintain that temperature. If someone opens up the hot water on a bathtub or shower, the hot water inside the water heater tank begins to run out until eventually there is no more hot water. A tankless water heater instead heats the water as it travels through the tankless which allows for an endless amount of hot water.
The biggest benefits to a tankless water heater when compared against a tank style water heater include unlimited hot water to multiple fixtures in the home, a longer expected lifespan when compared to a traditional tank style water heater, and savings over time on your home energy bill. Also, as there is no standing pilot light on the tankless water heaters, there is no risk of the tankless not functioning due to the hot temperatures in our Houston attic spaces where most water heaters are located. Rheem has put out a technical bulletin which further indicates why natural gas water heaters may go out during the summer months due to intense heat snuffing out the pilot light on traditional tank water heaters.
The biggest drawbacks to tankless water heaters are that they will not function in the event of a power loss (unless the home is equipped with a standby generator), a higher upfront initial cost when compared to a tank water heater, and the available gallons per minute output may go down slightly during periods of colder weather. In the last event, that is why we recommend units that can comfortably output around 11 gallons of water per minute, such as the Navien 240 series and the Rinnai Sensei series.
Tankless water heaters have an expected life expectancy of 20 years, much longer than any conventional tank-type water heater. And with a tankless model, the risk of tank leaks and water damage is a thing of the past. (https://www.energystar.gov/products/water_heaters/water_heater_whole_home_gas_tankless/benefits_savings) (https://www.navieninc.com/blog/notice/benefits-of-tankless-water-heaters) (https://www.rinnai.us/residential/faq)
Energy.Gov estimates storage tank style water heaters to have an average lifespan between 10-15 years.(https://www.energy.gov/energysaver/tankless-or-demand-type-water-heaters)
Tankless water heaters require professional installation and should not be installed by a homeowner.
Yes, the Energy Star rating currently approves up to $600 in tax credits for tankless water heaters with a score of 0.95 UEF or higher, such as the Rinnai RU199IN. This tax credit is effective for products purchased and installed between January 1, 2023, and December 31, 2032.
Savings when compared to gas storage water heater. By heating water only when you need it, ENERGY STAR certified tankless water heaters save a family of four $95 per year, or $1,800 over its lifetime, on gas bills compared to a standard gas storage model. (https://www.energystar.gov/products/water_heaters/water_heater_whole_home_gas_tankless/benefits_savings)
This question’s answer depends on what style of tankless water heater you have selected. Most tankless water heaters that can service an entire home are either a traditional style or a recirculating model. A traditional tankless water heater begins to heat the water when it senses that hot water is needed somewhere in the home (like when you open up the hot water faucet on your shower). Just like a traditional tank type water heater, the hot water generated by the tankless water heater will travel through the pipes until it reaches the faucet where it will provide consistent hot water. On the other hand, some tankless units such as the Rinnai Sensei or the Navien 240-A2 offer a Recirculation setting that will constantly heat up water throughout the hot water lines in the home, providing a noticeably shortened wait time. This sounds like a great thing, so what is the catch you may be asking yourself? Well, tankless were created to be a more economical way to only heat water when needed. Using a Recirculation mode on the tankless means the tankless will frequently fire up to keep the water heated up in the pipes which can eventually shorten the life expectancy of the unit by constant wear and tear. This also has the potential to lower the savings afforded by a tankless water heater on your monthly energy bill.
Navien does not require any flushing on their units if the homeowner’s water supply is under a certain hardness. Rinnai does suggest that homeowners should treat the water supply to the tankless if the water supply to the house is known to be hard. (Section 4.3.1 https://media.rinnai.us/salsify_asset/s-bb57a000-5f48-4159-ac3c-47e47f8180f7/100000467-N%20Series%20Residential%20Condensing%20Installation%20and%20Operation%20Manual.pdf) ( section 3.1 https://www.navieninc.com/downloads/npe-2-installation-and-operation-manual-en)
To determine the right size tankless water heater for your home, you’ll need to calculate your home’s peak hot water demand. This is the maximum amount of hot water your home will need at any given time, such as when multiple people are taking a shower or using hot water appliances simultaneously.
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a) Price includes 5% discount when paid with cash or check
b) Price is assuming gas supply line is adequately sized for tankless, an existing 110v electrical outlet is next to location of water heater for tankless cord to plug into, and no city permits or inspections (if applicable)
c) Flat Rate Price includes new Rinnai RU199 condensing tankless water heater, pan, water and flexible gas supply line connections, haul away of old tank style water heater, and taxes.
d) Warranty: 2 year warranty on labor against manufacturer defects, 5 year warranty on manufacturer parts, 15 year warranty on heat exchanger
e) Water Heater Location must be within reasonable access in attic; difficult access conditions that can potentially affect price include examples such as being placed directly behind air conditioner unit or locations without accessible walkway to water heater.
