Tankless Water Heaters: A Buyer’s Guide
Calculate Your Flow Rate
When it comes to water heaters, there are a few things you should know before you make a purchase. First, there are two calculations needed to determine the best water heater for your home. The first piece of information is called the flow rate. The flow rate is the number of gallons per minute (GPM) a homeowner requires to accommodate all their appliances running at maximum usage. This rate of flow can be found in the appliance’s manufacturer’s manual. Additionally, the GPM will often be printed directly on specific appliances. By adding together all the various flow rates one will arrive at the number of gallons needed to be supplied by the water heater.
Determine Your Comfort Number
The second calculation you will need to make is called the temperature rise. This number is the difference between the groundwater coming into your home and the internal ideal temperature you, the homeowner, choose. By taking the idealized number and subtracting the groundwater temperature the homeowner better knows the requirements for optimal heater performance.
Temperature Rise = Ideal Temperature – Groundwater Temperature
Choices, Choices
When choosing a water heater, consider which type best suits your home. There are several options available.
A gas tankless water heater can run on natural gas, if available to your home, or propane gas which is readily available to all. Its longevity is far superior to electric models with an average life expectancy between 15 to 20 years with regular maintenance and proper operation. The initial cost to install a tankless gas water heater is higher than other options but less expensive to run and has a quicker heat-up time which is something to consider.
Electric tankless water heaters are the most efficient way to heat water for your home. They have an efficiency rating of 98% and do not require venting, making them less expensive to install than gas systems. The downside to using an electric system is the substantial usage of electricity to run them. For a whole-home system, an electric system can use 25,000 watts of electricity as opposed to a conventional system which uses 5,000 watts.
One of the biggest benefits of a condensing tankless water heater is its ability to vent exhaust through PVC pipes. This makes it easier to install and allows you to use inexpensive materials. The heat exchanger in this system extracts heat from the exhaust and uses it to boost the heating of the water. This process substantially reduces the temperature of the exhaust, which means that it can be vented using inexpensive piping materials such as PVC pipes. The main advantage of this type of system is that it is more expensive to purchase but less expensive to install because of its exhaust-removing feature. It has higher efficiency than other systems due to this design feature as well.
If you’re looking for a high-efficiency water heater that doesn’t need to be vented, look no further than a non-condensing tankless water heater. These units use an exchange system to heat water, which means they don’t require a storage tank. The exhaust is then directly vented outdoors through a stainless steel flue pipe. The biggest advantage of this type of heater is its energy efficiency: since it doesn’t have to heat up water that has already been heated once, it can save you money on your energy bill. Another advantage is that these heaters are cheaper to install than condensing heaters because they do not require a venting system.
It Helps to Educate Yourself
We all want a hot shower. But why should you have to wait for it?
A tankless hot water heater can cut your wait time in half, giving you hot water almost instantly. And we’re not just talking about during peak hours or when the kids wake up at 3 A.M. —this means on-demand hot water all day, every day!
Why choose Aqua Bear Plumbing for your tankless water heater installation? Because we care about your home and its needs as much as you do. We’ve been installing tankless hot water heaters in Vista, North County for many years, so we’ve learned a thing or two about what works best for our customers and their homes.
Contact us today for tankless water heater installation and other plumbing services you can count on!
