Tankless Water Heaters
When a tank-style whether it be a standard water heater or tankless water heater reaches the end of its life, the efficiency of the heating system is often greatly diminished as the worn-out heater attempts to keep up with demand. At this point, it’s recommended to replace your water heater with a similar model that’s suitable for the current hot water heater demands in the home. This is also the time to consider making the switch to a tankless water heater.
Tankless water heaters take up a lot less space than a traditional tank-style heater, and they are typically more efficient. These systems heat water on demand instead of continually maintaining the heat level of an entire tank of water. On-demand hot water is achieved by running a cold water line into the tankless water heater so that the water flows through the heating element. During the brief period when the water is inside the heater, the element rapidly heats the water. The heated water then exits the water heater and flows to the open faucet.
Due to this method of heating the water, tankless water heaters do not need to be active constantly. Additionally, there is no limit to the amount of hot water, so users don’t need to worry about running out midway through a shower. Find out more about tankless water heater pros and cons to help you decide if a tankless system is right for your home.
Tankless Water Heater Installation
An important factor to consider when looking into purchasing a tankless water heater is the installation process. It isn’t recommended for a DIYer to attempt to replace a water heater due to the complexity of the project and the professionalism needed to ensure a water heater is working properly.
Diamond Plumbing Services, Inc., is able to remove an old tank-style water heater and install a new tankless water heater, though the cost of this service varies depending on the size, type, and fuel the water heater uses. For instance, while a non-condensing tankless water heater unit is more affordable than a condensing unit, you might end up paying more in labor to have a non-condensing water heater installed because they require a stainless-steel exhaust system to function properly.
Types of Tankless Water Heaters
There are several types of tankless water heaters that can be differentiated based on the way in which they heat water, the fuel that is used, and whether the unit is designed for whole-home or point-of-use heating.
Here at Diamond Plumbing Services Inc, we service all types of tankless water heaters such as Navien, Norwitz , Rheem and Takaki units. For new installation units our preference is to install Navien or Norwitz units depending what is best suited for each customer and their needs.
Gas Tankless Water Heaters: These burn propane or natural gas to heat the water as it flows through the system. This category of heater can be split into two groups, including non-condensing and condensing.
Non-Condensing Tankless Water Heaters: This type of water heater burns propane or natural gas, then uses a primary heat exchanger that rapidly heats the water as it flows through the heater. This process creates hot exhaust, which must be vented through stainless-steel flue pipes. While non-condensing tankless water heaters are more affordable, the stainless-steel exhaust system can increase the overall cost of the installation.
Condensing Tankless Water Heaters: This is a more efficient type of gas water heater. It has a secondary heat exchanger that uses the heat from the exhaust to begin warming the water before it reaches the primary heat exchanger. This process increases the efficiency of the tankless water heater, and it cools the exhaust gas, so you don’t need to pay for an expensive stainless-steel exhaust system.
Electric Tankless Water Heaters: These don’t rely on a heat exchanger. Instead, the water rapidly heats when it flows directly through the electric heating element inside the tankless water heater. These systems are typically less expensive to install than a gas tankless water heater but more expensive to operate.
Tankless Water Heater Benefits
A tankless water heating system is a relatively new product developed with several key changes to improve the way in which you heat water in your home.
On-Demand Heating: Allows the user to turn on any hot water faucet and get hot water almost instantaneously. Tank-style water heaters take more time to heat the water stored in the tank.
High-Efficiency and Energy-Saving Designs: Tankless water heaters help with efficiency costs and keep more money in your pocket. A tankless water heater only activates when hot water is needed, instead of continuously using energy to heat and reheat a standing tank of water, even when hot water isn’t being used.
Space-Saving Sizes: Smaller homes can get on-demand access to hot water without having to dedicate a large area to a bulky water tank.
Limitless Hot Water: Users don’t need to worry about the shower suddenly getting cold, which happens when a tank-style water heater runs out of hot water.
Long-Lasting Durability: Tankless water heaters last for up to 20 years before needing to be replaced. For comparison, tank-style water heaters have an average life of about 12 years.
Tankless Water Heater Drawbacks
While there are several key benefits of tankless water heaters, there are also a number of limitations that might cause you to reconsider whether a tankless water heater is the right choice for your home.
High Purchase and Installation Costs: the main drawback to a tankless unit is the initial purchase price to install. Other than this the positives out way the negatives by far.
Multiple Units for Larger Properties: larger homes or multi unit properties will have a higher demand for hot water… to keep up with this demand, you may need to install more than one tankless water heater or invest in a high-end tankless water heater with a very high flow rate. This ensures hot water for everyone at all times.
The price of these units can increase or decrease depending on the size, flow rate, fuel, and type, so it’s important to discuss your options with a professional plumber before deciding on the best tankless water heater for your home. For instance, an electric tankless water heater has a lower initial cost than a gas tankless water heater. Similarly, a non-condensing gas tankless water heater costs less than a condensing gas tankless water heater, though you may pay a higher installation price to put in stainless-steel flue pipes to vent the exhaust from a non-condensing system.
However, when considering the high price of a tankless water heater, it’s also necessary to keep in mind that these systems are more efficient than a traditional tank-style water heater, so you will also reduce your yearly energy costs and save money in the long run.
Tankless Annual Maintenance Flush Service
Diamond Plumbing Services, Inc., offers an an annual maintenance service to flush the tankless unit from building up sediment of debris. This service can significantly increase the life span of your tankless unit. When you schedule the annual maintenance service each year you get the special price of $175 rather than the regular rate price of $250.