Tankless Water Heater Installation Pros Tell The Truth About On-Demand Hot Water

A white tankless water heater hanging in tiles wall.

Brookhaven tankless water heater installation pros reveal the truth about on-demand hot water. Whether you want to cut energy costs or use less energy, you are in luck. A tankless water heater can help you do both.

How does a tankless water heater work?

Tankless water heaters, also called on-demand water heaters, pass water through a heat exchanger inside the unit for rapid heating. Powered by electricity, natural gas, or propane, they heat water only when you need it. Thus, eliminating standby energy losses you get with a storage tank unit.

How does a storage-tank water heater work?

For comparison, storage tank water heaters are mostly made up of a 30 to 60-gallon sized tank. The size of which depends on the hot water needs of the household. Powered by natural gas, electricity, fuel oil, or propane, storage water heaters continuously heat a full tank of water so that hot water is always waiting for you.

How can I get a tankless replacement installed?

For most homeowners, a water heater emergency is not a proper time to research the pros and cons of switching to a Brookhaven tankless water heater. Even if a tankless water heater is best for your situation, the urgency of the emergency puts tankless water heaters at a disadvantage. If you are waiting for your storage tank unit to die before you go tankless read on.

Is Brookhaven Tankless Water Heater installation best left to expert professional plumbers?

Just like it is easier to get a job when you have one, the time to weigh out water heater options is when yours is working well. As far as installing a tankless variety to replace a storage-tank water heater, it can require a plumbing retrofit or an electric or gas service capacity upgrade. Upgrades for electrically powered tankless types may include increasing the electrical service capacity to 200 amps plus. Gas tankless models may have different venting and gas-supply requirements, facilitating the need to increase the pipe diameter from the water heater to the gas meter. Manufacturers recommend that certified electricians or plumbers install tankless water heaters. More importantly, manufacturers require installation by factory-trained professionals to maintain the warranty.

Why would I replace a storage-tank water heater with a tankless model?

One of the most popular reasons to switch to tankless is to save space. In limited-space situations, tankless is the preferred choice. The average tankless water heater is the size of only 6% of a large storage-tank water heater. As far as size, tankless models would easily fit inside an airline-approved carry-on bag. Whereas, a storage-tank water heater demands at least a 5-feet by 2-feet by 2-feet space. Large capacity tanks need significantly more room. All tank water heaters installed after the recent federal energy regulations requiring better insulation will hog even more space.

If I switch from a storage-tank to a tankless, what differences will I notice?

A household accustomed to a storage-tank water heater will notice differences when they switch to an on-demand system. To be specific, switchers will see that the colder the outside groundwater, the longer they wait for hot water. Waiting for water to get hot is an unfamiliar experience for homeowners who usually have hot water on standby inside their tank. This slow heating issue is more prevalent with electric tankless water heaters than the natural gas variety. To minimize this problem, in the United States, the use of an electric tankless water heater is best limited to the southern states.

Why do people love Brookhaven Tankless Water Heaters?

  • Certain EnergyStar certified gas tankless water heaters are eligible for Equipment Tax Credits for Primary Residences for Water Heaters (non-solar). Apply for the $300 federal tax credit if the new unit has a Uniform Energy Factor (UEF) >= 0.82 or a thermal efficiency of at least 90%.
  • They never run out of hot water.
  • Unlike a tank water heater, tankless types stop standby heat loss becoming more energy efficient.
  • Tankless water heaters are petite. Install them on interior walls and even outdoors with an anti-freeze kit. The smallest tankless models install easily under cabinets and in closets close to the point of use.
  • This type of water heater consumes precisely enough power to heat the amount of water you demand at a point in time. That is why you can strip as much as 20 percent off your energy costs.
  • Electric tankless models operate greenhouse gas-free.
  • Most units are remote control operated with as many as four settings available.
  • A tankless water heater will never rupture its tank and flood your home.

Will a tankless water heater save me money?

When considering energy efficiency, tankless water heaters are the clear winners. However, when you pair tankless energy cost savings with the added expense of necessary installation upgrades, replacing a storage-tank water heart with a tankless loses its appeal. But, in new builds without retrofitting costs, tankless can be a financially favorable choice. Valid also for renovation projects where saving space is a priority. Factor in the 10-year lifespan of a storage tank heater and double it for tankless. They last about 15 to 20 years.

After you make the switch to tankless, future tankless replacement installation labor costs will be lower. In part because the initial system upgrades are complete. Also, removing and replacing a small tankless unit takes less time and requires less work than removing and disposing of a sizeable storage-tank water heater.

An ENERGY STAR certified tankless water heater can save a family of four more than $1,500 over its lifetime on gas bills compared to a standard gas storage model by heating water only when you need it.

Are tankless water heaters maintenance free?

Preventative maintenance and an annual flush of the heat exchanger come recommended by the top tankless manufacturers. Like a storage-tank water heater, tankless water heaters are adversely affected by the accumulation of hard-water mineral deposits. Locations with hard water will require more frequent heat exchanger flushes and sediment filter cleaning. You can hire a plumber to take care of these services for you.

How can I reduce my hot water usage?

According to energy.gov, water heating accounts for around 18% of your power bill. Heating and cooling. Systems use the most energy with water heating the second most. You can cut your water heating costs when you use less hot water. The average daily hot water usage for a typical household is 64 –Gallons total. Washing clothes uses 25-Gallons while washing dishes takes 6-Gallons in the dishwasher. One shower will dump 10-Gallons down the drain and faucets can expend 2-Gallons every minute.  As far as using less hot water, you have plumbing leaks repaired. Change bathroom fixtures to low-flow fixtures. Invest in energy-efficient appliances such as a dishwasher and washing machine to significantly reduce your energy usage and lower your energy costs.

Trust The Plumbers Guild

Brookhaven Tankless Water Heater Installation Services by The Plumbers Guild is available. We make sure your new water heater is operating safely and correctly. Contact the team of experts at The Plumbers Guild today with any questions or concerns or for Brookhaven tankless water heater repair you can count on.