Is a tankless water heater right for your home?
Water heating is the second largest expense in your home; consuming 14-18% of your utility bills. The amount of water consumed by the average household is 64 gallons.
To get started determining if a tankless water heater is right for your home, consider your current fuel type, efficiency, cost, and size. If you have more than one fuel source available, it’s important to compare fuel costs. You may find that you save money by switching to a different fuel source.
What Fuel Type is needed for Tankless hot water heater
Essentially, if your fuel type is electric, natural gas, or propane, a tankless water heater may be the right choice for your home. Homeowners with electricity only may need to upgrade the amperage service, requiring a licensed electrician.
The efficiency of Tankless Hot Water Heater
To maximize energy and operating cost savings, look for an energy-efficient water heater. A water heater’s efficiency is measured by the Energy Factor (EF).
Cost of Tankless Hot Water Heater
When purchasing a tankless hot water heater, there are four factors that determine if it is worth investing in a more efficient hot water heating system; the initial purchase, the installation, the maintenance, and operating costs. An electric model will need the proper voltage, amperage and circuit breaker. Gas-fired models need to be vented.
Gas-fired tankless water heater: This system costs $1,500 to buy and install. That’s nearly double the price of a conventional gas water heater, and $575 more than a high-efficiency tank model. In addition, while a conventional water heater typically uses a half-inch gas line, a tankless water heater requires three-quarter-inch pipe. That plumbing change costs from $25 to $40 per foot, potentially adding many hundreds to initial costs. On the bright side, your new energy-efficient unit may qualify for a federal tax credit of up to $300 on purchase and installation through 2013.
Electric tankless water heater: Much cheaper. It can cost as little as $400 installed. But it doesn’t qualify for a tax credit because it is less efficient than gas and is better suited for point-of-use applications, such as instant kitchen hot water, rather than a whole-house system.
Note: All costs indicated here are estimates and may vary.
Size of tankless hot water heater
To ensure you have enough hot water when you want to use it, calculate your household’s peak-hour hot water demand and use that to determine your water heater size.
Measure demand by answering the question, do you want a unit to heat water in one bathroom or the entire house?
Other considerations. The Location: A tankless water heater must be within 50 feet from a power source. It can be mounted on an interior or exterior wall. Life expectancy. Most last more than 20 years. About twice the lifespan of storage water heaters. Installation. Hire a highly rated plumber or heating and A/C contractor to install it.
Find a Tankless Hot Water Heater Professional in the Boston area by Contacting Connaughton Construction today!
Call 781-899-1438, ext. 14 for John.
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