If you are looking for an energy-efficient, money-efficient, and environment-friendly water heater then an instantaneous or on-demand water heater, popularly known as the tankless water heater is the right choice. As these water heaters don’t store water, they only heat the water when it is required.
Many questions arise in our minds regarding this water heater. Here are some of the frequently asked questions regarding a tankless water heater:
Frequently Asked Questions Regarding Tankless Water Heater
Q1.) What are tankless water heaters?
Tankless water heaters are also called instantaneous or demand-type water heaters and provide hot water when needed. They don’t store water on standby but rather provide you with hot water instantly.
Q.2) How do tankless water heaters be capable of heating the water instantly?
As you open the faucet, the flow of water activates the heater to get turned on. Whether you have electrical or gas, the burner or the element will get powered on instantly heating the water while passing through the unit. And when you shut the water, the heater automatically gets powered off.
Q3.) What are the benefits of using a tankless water heater?
The tankless water heater is activated when you open the faucet and get powered off when you close the faucet; it saves a lot of energy when using hot water. Since it doesn’t store hot water, there is no need to constantly reheat the stored water. With a tankless water heater, you are not wasting the energy that you are not using. This way you save a lot of money and also this is beneficial for the environment.
Q4.) How do you save money on the tankless water heater?
Based on the tankless water heater model that you have bought and the size of the tank you have, you can save up to 5% to 69% of your energy bill. This is because generally a house uses hot water for about an hour per day yet they store 40 or 50 gallons of water in a day. The tankless water heater is a system that takes away the storage part and heats water when you need it. This can significantly reduce the consumption of energy.
Q5.) what are some unknown advantages of the tankless water heater?
There are many benefits of a tankless water heater that you don’t know about and which could be of great help to you. Here are some great benefits of a tankless water heater-
- The tankless water heater is quite small and occupies less space on the wall. Thus, there is a saving of house space.
- A tankless water heater comes with replaceable parts and it lasts longer because it is made of materials such as stainless steel, copper, and aluminum. If you put it in proper care, your tankless water heater will last forever.
- Generally, tankless water heaters are completely replaceable.
- You would have to deal with corrosive leaks saving money that goes into the repairing process.
- Tankless water heater tends to maintain their quality lifetime.
Q6.) How many tankless waters would I need to heat my whole house?
If you choose the proper model, one tankless water would be more than enough for all the heating purposes of your house. This highly depends on the water flow that you need. You have the option to buy tankless water heaters that provide one shower at a time or two showers at the same time.
Q7.) What to do if I have hard water?
As the tankless water heater doesn’t store water, the minerals don’t have the opportunity to settle at the bottom and produce a heat exchanger. In addition, the water flow along the coiled heat exchanger takes out these products every time. The water softener is also used quite effectively in the tankless water heater.
Q8.) Is the tankless water heater still efficient if I live in a place with high altitudes?
If you are living in a place with high altitudes, the gas model tankless heater would not be efficient. For altitudes, more than 4000 ft high, the gas model would lose around 4% of the BTU for every 1,000 ft. over the height. Electric unit is a much better option for high altitudes because they are not affected by height.
Q9.) How to size the tankless water heater?
You need to select the proper model that can offer the water volume that you need. The best size for your tankless water heater is to identify how many showers the model can run at the same time. Plus, there is also a tankless water heater that can deliver hot water throughout the day.
Q10.) Can the point of use tankless water heater work in other places than under the sink?
Sure, by putting mini storage under sink tankless water heater in-line along with the main water heater you can use it for other applications as well. You are available from 2.5 gallons to 6 gallons. Using this you can get hot water directly from your dishwater and washing machine.
Q11.) How is a Gas tankless water heater beneficial over an electric tankless water heater?
- Even in the case of very cold groundwater, the best electric tankless water heaters cannot heat the water quickly. Even they will require much time for heating the water. Also in the case of slightly warm water, there would be more electricity requirement.
Q12.)What will be the suitable size?
The size of a tankless water heater depends upon the plumbing fixtures and the appliances used for households. Also, it depends on the temperature of groundwater in a particular area. And most probably it depends on the number of people living in the house which matters a lot in providing hot water. You can check the tankless water heater world website and pick a suitable water heater.
Q13.)How can we control the temperature of the water?
In every standard tankless water heater, there is a temperature control feature with which you can control the temperature of the water heater. Normally, the temperature should be kept between 98° F and 140° F. This control system also provides maintenance as well as diagnostic codes that help in better performance.
Q14.)Can the existing venting be used?
The existing venting cannot be used. It is always recommended to use the specified venting approved by the manufacturer of your tankless water heater. Most of the manufacturers specify concentrate venting. This needs only one wall penetration for both inhalation and exhaust.
Q16.)What is the maintenance required?
- Like all other machines, it also requires maintenance. Its maintenance is easy. Either you can get it done by your technician or you can do it yourself. Mainly it requires:
- Checking the inline screen filter.
- Flushing from lime and scale.
Q16.)How can we install the tankless water heater?
Its installation process is complicated. So it is recommended to get it done by a licensed technician. The technician must know about venting, plumbing, electricity, and gas. In the case of a non-licensed technician, the product’s warranty would not be availed and would be void.
Q17.)How much will a tankless water heater cost me?
A tankless water heater will be somewhat more expensive than other storage water heaters or tank water heaters. But it will be more efficient and thus you have to pay more only once and this way you can save money.
Conclusion
Although a tankless water heater consumes a lesser amount of energy, it is wise to select a suitable model which is highly efficient. As this water is environment-friendly, it will not harm the environment. Also, one should know his needs and requirements and then he should buy an appropriate model which will best suit his needs. This will save him from many problems like money and energy problems.