how to install a tankless water heater
Regardless of the ease of use of tankless water heaters make sure that before you go ahead and buy one for your household that you thoroughly think about how much hot water your family uses for bathing, washing up and other household needs because tankless water heaters have a heating capacity.
In another word, if you have a big family that daily uses a lot of water then you might want to think about the traditional water heating system that has been designed to meet the demands of large households thus it will ensure that you have a steady supply of hot water all day long.
Moreover, you will need to think about how many household appliances are going to be using the hot water, this step is crucial in determining whether the tankless water heater will be strained once installed.
Keep in mind that household appliances such as washing machines and dishwashers are capable of heating the water by themselves because they come with a built-in heating coil inside the mechanism.
Furthermore, depending on whether you value convenience or comfort you could choose a standard tankless water heater or a more premium one.
The main difference between the two is that the latter has a larger water capacity and tends to heat water quickly due to the much more powerful heating coil.
Both types of tankless water heaters offer ease of use and maximum convenience as you will only need to turn the switch for the tankless water heater to start heating the water.
However, remember that with tankless water heaters as opposed to traditional water heaters you will have far less control with water temperature.
Despite these minor disadvantages, tankless water heaters are still great because you can turn them on only when needed thus this way you can save electricity and as a consequence have far lower electric bills throughout the year.
Nowadays, you can find a great variety of tankless water heaters ranging in color, design, functionality and volume capacity.
Thus, if you have a large household and family then you will still be able to find just the right tankless water heater for your home.
What are demand-type tankless water heaters?
Demand type tankless water heaters are often also called efficient tankless water heaters because they come with a fairly small hot water reservoir thus they are only used to heat up small volumes of water on demand.
In other words, you could use these heaters to heat just the right amount of water to take a shower and bath. This way you would not have to heat large volumes of water that will then cool down and will need to be reheated as this will lead to increased and unnecessary electricity use.
Moreover, demand-type water heaters are much easier to use and maintains as opposed to standard tankless water heaters.
The demand-type water heaters work the following way:
- You turn on the demand-type heater
- Water starts flowing through the internal heating system and passes the heating coil, this heats the water
- You get hot running water from the tap
Also, keep in mind that some old models of demand-type water heaters can use gas to heat up the water as opposed to modern models that use heating coils for these purposes.
If you will have a choice then always go for the latter one because water heaters with gas heating elements can be hazardous and cause potential burns or even fires if all the safety precautions are not followed.
Moreover, such water heaters with gas heating elements will not be suitable for use in households that have pets or small children.
Furthermore, the latest models of tankless water heaters go through several stages of testing and are certified by leading institutions.
How much hot water can tankless water heaters produce?
Standard tankless water heaters can produce on average about 15-20 liters of hot water per 60 seconds. On the other hand, tankless water heaters with gas heating coils can produce about 25-30 liters of water per minute.
Regardless of what type of water heaters you will choose to purchase and install, keep in mind the number of family members because that will directly correlate to the volume of tank that you will need to look for.
Also, remember that if you are the type of individual that sets the dishwasher and the washing machine at once at night to run then make sure that there will be enough hot water for them to use and that the tankless water heater does not get overwhelmed.
Some families with large household even opt to purchase and install two tankless water heaters for best results.
How to clean tankless water heaters?
Another factor for you to look at when shopping for a tankless water heater is the ease of cleaning because depending on how hard or soft the water supply is in your state you will need to regularly maintain and clean the tank.
Since the heating coil is located deep within the heating system of the heater you will need to carefully read the instructions and ensure you understand just where it is located and how you can reach it in order to clean it.
Plus, in some models of tankless water heaters, you will need to remove other heating elements in the tank before you can actually reach the heating coil itself.
Also Read: The 10 Best Space Heaters For 2021 By Consumer Reports
Why ceramic and porcelain tankless water heaters are great?
Tankless water heaters are great for any household because they are dust and dirt repellent meaning that dust and dirt particles will not stick to the surface thus you would be able to just simply wipe the tankless water heater with a microfiber cloth.
Persistent spots can be cleaned with mild soap and hot water solution if needed however if you regularly maintain the heater then this step will be unnecessary.
Furthermore, make sure that you never scratch or scuff the surface with sharp objects or rough cloths while cleaning.
Lastly, before you proceed with the installation process make sure to carefully inspect the tankless water heater for any damages that could have been obtained at the manufacturing plant plus once you install it, fill it with water and immediately check if it works properly.
Lastly, always look for the best tankless water heaters that come with warranty and clear instructions on how to clean and maintain it as this will ensure you will not have a hard time setting up the heater while the manufacturers' warranty will protect from any damages the heater might sustain during use in your household.
How to install tankless water heaters?
Regardless of what type of brand and model you will choose to purchase of a tankless water heater, inside the packaging box, you will find a detailed manual and instruction on how to properly unpack and install the tankless water heater on your own.
Moreover, you will need at least a basic set of tools and preferably another person to help you out especially to pick and hold the tankless heater in place while you will be mounting it with screws and drill. Thus, you will need to have the following on hand for quick and efficient installation:
- Mounting unit
- Right screws
- Screwdrivers and a drill for making needed holes
- Meter for measuring the required distance
- Safety gloves
- Goggles for when you will be drilling the hole so as to prevent dust getting in your eyes
In case if you will still have any questions or doubts after thoroughly reading the instruction manual then you will need to contact the manufacturer beforehand.
Customer service numbers can always be found on the packaging boxes as well as in the manual itself. If in any case, you have thrown the packaging and manual beforehand, you can always find their website and contact them through that.
Also Read: Best Electric Tankless Heaters Of 2021 By Consumer Report
Does installing a tankless water heater require a special permit?
The electric tankless water heaters are much easier to install when compared to conventional water heating systems thus they usually do not require any additional or special permits.
However, if you intend on purchasing and installing a tankless water heater with a gas heating mechanism then you are very likely to need a special permit as these tankless water heaters are considered far more hazardous.
To check whether you are going to need a permit or not, you could always clarify the information with the city council either by phone or by paying them a personal visit.
However, make sure that you have the model of the tankless water heater and its specifications written down on a piece of paper before contacting the city council.
Also Read: The 10 Best Infrared Heaters By Consumer Report In 2021
How much do tankless water heaters cost?
Tankless water heaters, when compared to traditional water heating systems, tend to turn out much cheaper in the long run especially that they heat water as it passes the heating coil as opposed in traditional models where large volumes of water is heated, up to 120 liters, and then just sits there thus cooling down and requiring to be reheated again.
On average, you can expect to pay up to $200-$500 for a good tankless water heater from a known brand that will come with good customer support and warranty for major defects.
Also Read: 10 Best Oil Filled Heater In 2021 By Consumer Report
Conclusion
In conclusion, remember basic and logical steps to installing anything new in your house. Firstly, if you already have a water heater then you would need to remove it.
If you don't, then you would need to prepare the desired area by following the steps mentioned above.
Mark all the necessary spots to drill and screw using a marker, think about covering the pipes with many solutions that are now available.
Once, you have installed the new tankless water heater make sure to compress the air inside the pipes by turning it on and opening the hot water tap.
To avoid any confusion with the right size of wire gauges and breakers, call the manufacturer or check your local building code.
Once you have installed the tankless water heater and ensured that everything is correctly connected, turn on the breaker and see what the standby mode reads.
If it says OK or lights with green color, set the needed temperature and open the hot water tap to see if the water coming out of it is warm.
If not, you will have to troubleshoot to see what and where went wrong so that you could reconnect all the connecting and fix the problem.
how to install a tankless water heater
Source: https://tophomeguide.com/how-to-install-a-tankless-water-heater/
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