Friday, July 18, 2008

Tankless Hot Water Heaters - Less Space, More Value

As efficient as a tankless hot water heater can be, there are ways to make it even better. One of these is to minimize water travel. When installing a tankless water heater it’s a good idea to think about location.

This is just one of the reasons a tankless heater could be your best water heater choice. Its size makes it easy to position it close the outlets you use the most, such as a shower or clothes washer for instance. Changing your heater location may help reduce heat loss caused by the water traveling long distances through uninsulated pipes.

Naturally, there are some limitations in an existing structure but it should give you more flexibility than a storage tank model.

Tankless water heaters do have special requirements. Home tankless hot water heaters need either high amperage access for electrical models or high capacity gas line and venting system for most gas models. Many people turn to home improvement stores as the best place to find a qualified installer.

Even though installation can be pricey, high efficiency ratings can be a good reason for these models of water heater to be a popular choice among a growing number of home owners. Find out which is the right model for you and ask for estimates. Prices can vary.

Find out more about installing your own tankless water heater.

Thursday, July 3, 2008

Home Tankless Hot Water Heaters - Right For The House

Making the transition to your first home tankless hot water heater? Here are a few points to help familiarize yourself with this new technology. These points will help you make the right choice for your family’s needs.

Picking a location
The home tankless hot water heater offers an opportunity to reposition your unit to minimize the distance to your most used outlet or even consider two smaller units as a way of providing adequate hot water throughout the house. It’s this kind of flexibility that is now being incorporated into new home design.

This on demand hot water may take a few seconds longer to reach the faucet than storage type heaters because there is no energy used to preheat pipes as in conventional heaters. But the water is heated very quickly depending on the length of the run.

Thoughts on installation
Installing a gas home tankless hot water heater can double the initial cost of a new unit. A high volume gas line is usually called for as well as to-code venting system which meets high temperature specs. A fresh air supply is also necessary to maintain good draft. A CO2 detector is also a good safety precaution with this combustion system.

Wall mounting is also the preferred way to install an electrical home tankless hot water heater. Small and light weight, this can be done with a drill and screwdriver. It should be in an accessible position for servicing. Aside from an 80-120 amp electrical supply the only requirements are that it should have cut-off water valves and adequate wiring.

Interior mounted gas home tankless hot water heaters come with a potentially big price tag. Rely on experienced installers for advice and written estimates.

Heating decisions
Some new home builders are beginning to add home tankless hot water heaters as a way to attract savvy buyers but existing homeowners can also benefit from this technology. Since they are so small and light weight and electric models so easy to install, a combination can be use to maximize the efficiency of heating water.

Gas home tankless hot water heater are usually used for the big jobs with electric tankless heaters for smaller applications and under the counter models being the answer for single faucet use.

When it comes time to buy you will find that gas home tankless hot water heaters are the most expensive; costing $2,000 and up. Electric home tankless hot water heaters are almost as inexpensive as storage tank models but by installing it yourself and taking the energy saver tax credit you could have one for as little as $300.

Smaller electrical units, which operate on 120V can also be self installed to provide hot water for a single outlet. A good solution for lavatory or kitchen sink.

The benefits
Because of tankless technology there are now more options to provde hot water for your family’s needs. Utilize the technology of a home tankless hot water heater for efficient cost savings and comfort.

Refer to this site for detailed installing a tankless water heater instructions.

Follow this link for more info on choosing the best home tankless hot water heater.