Replacing your Hot Water Tank with a Tankless version

Many consumers are choosing to upgrade their current tank water heater to the new and improved tankless water heater systems that are available. They offer the convenience so having hot water ready immediately when you want it instead of having to wait for it to heat up in a tank as with older models of water heaters. However, it is very important that you understand how to properly install your tankless water heater if you choose to do it yourself.

The most popular type of tankless water heater uses natural gas. There are some safety procedures you need to be aware of before you attempt to install one. The most important rule to follow is to make sure that the natural gas supply valve is completely turned off. You are going to need to disconnect the pipe that runs from the home to the supply of gas. After disconnecting this pipe the gas will flow into the home and it can result in death if you dont shut it off properly.

It isnt difficult to shut off the natural gas supply, but again it is vital that you do so. There is a switch on the side of the gas meter. Move the handle so that it is in the off position. You need to make sure there is absolutely no gas allowed into your home while you are installing the natural gas tankless water heater.

Next you will need to make sure the fittings from the existing pipe match the new pipe on the natural gas tankless water heater. You can measure them on each end to find out. If they are different then you are going to need to purchase the proper fittings so that everything can be aligned properly.

Make sure you thoroughly inspect it to ensure there is enough ventilation after you have installed the natural gas tankless water heater. This includes having a vent that leads to the outside of the home. You wont be able to vent the unit to an indoor area or you run the risk of death from the natural gas being in the home.

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Tankless Water Heaters heat water directly without the use of a storage tank. Therefore, they avoid the standby heat losses associated with storage water heaters. When a hot water tap is turned on, cold water travels through a pipe into the unit. In an electric Tankless Water Heater an electric element heats the water. In a gas-fired Tankless Water Heater a gas burner heats the water. As a result, Tankless Water Heaters deliver a constant supply of hot water. You don't need to wait for a storage tank to fill up with enough hot water. Typically, Tankless Water Heaters provide hot water at a rate of 2 – 5 gallons (7.6 – 15.2 liters) per minute. Typically, gas-fired Tankless Water Heaters will produce higher flow rates than electric Tankless Water Heaters. Some smaller Tankless Water Heaters, however, cannot supply enough hot water for simultaneous, multiple uses in large households. For example, taking a shower and running the dishwasher at the same time can stretch a Tankless Water Heater to its limit. To overcome this problem, you can install a “whole house” type Tankless Water Heater or install two or more Tankless Water Heaters, connected in parallel for simultaneous demands of hot water. You can also install separate Tankless Water Heaters for appliances—such as a clothes washer or dishwater—that use a lot of hot water in your home.

Other applications for Tankless Water Heaters include the following:
Remote BBQ or outdoor sink
Poolhouse or pool shower
Remote bathrooms or hot tubs
To serve as a booster, eliminating long pipe runs, for solar water heating systems, dishwashers and sanitation.


Before buying a Tankless Water Heater, consider the following:
Fuel Type
Location, Size and Demand
Application
1. Fuel Type

The first thing that you'll need to decide when selecting a Tankless Water Heater is the fuel type. You will need to select between an Electric Tankless Water Heater (like Eemax Tankless Water Heaters or Stiebel Eltron Tankless Water Heaters) or a Gas-Fired Tankless Water Heater (like Rheem Tankless Water Heaters).

Requirements for Electric Tankless Water Heaters
Requirements for Gas-Fired Tankless Water Heaters

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If you plan to purchase an Electric Tankless Water Heater, consider the Electrical Requirements:

Voltage
Amperage
Circuit Breaker
Voltage
Many retailers sell units that will accommodate 110V, 120V, 208V, 220V, 240V, and 277V.


Amperage
Different Electric Tankless Water Heaters will have various requirements in amp draw. You will want to ensure that you can support the electrical demands of your Electric Tankless Water Heater.


Circuit Breaker
You must ensure that you have a circuit or circuits that will support your Electric Tankless Water Heater. It may be necessary to put your Electric Tankless Water Heater on its own circuit or circuits.

You should consult with a qualified, licensed electrician for more information.

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If you plan to purchase a Gas-Fired Tankless Water Heater, consider the Gas-Type and Venting Requirements:






When deciding which Tankless Water Heater to purchase, you will also need to consider where you will need hot water. Are you looking for a unit that will heat the water at one bathroom sink (single point application), an entire bathroom (multipoint application), or an entire house, apartment, or condo (whole house application)? It is important to recognize the number of fixtures that will require hot water. Each fixture will have its own demands. The chart below illustrates the typical flow rates (demand) for some standard fixtures:


Lavatory = 0.5
Bathtub = 2.0 to 4.0
Shower = 1.5 to 3.0
kitchen sink = 1.0 to 1.5
Laundry Sink = 2.5 to 3.0
Dishwasher = 10 to 3.0

The flow rate is especially important, since Tankless Water Heaters will generate a temperature rise based on the flow rate demanded.

Next, you should look at your ambient incoming water temperature. If you live in a cold climate, like New York, your incoming water temperature will likely be much lower than if you live in a warm climate, like Florida. Your best bet is to find out how much temperature rise you will need in order for your hot water to reach the desired heat. If the ambient incoming water temperature for your shower is 65°F, you are using a 2.0 gpm shower, and you want to raise that temperature to 115°F, you will want to look for a Tankless Water Heater that will provide at least a 50°F temperature rise at 2.0 gpm (115°F - 65°F = 50°F). However, if you anticipate additional simultaneous demand, such as the hot water from a sink being used while someone is showering, you will need to add the sink's gpm to the shower's gpm in order to determine your overall gpm demand and then find the temperature rise necessary to meet your overall needs.

3. Application

You may have a specific application in mind for your Tankless Water Heater. Here are a few examples of the different models and their functionality for a specific application:

Single Point Application
A single point application is one where only one fixture will require an Electric Tankless Water Heater. Here are some examples of Single Point Electric Tankless Water Heaters:

Eemax Single Point Electric Tankless Water Heaters
Stiebel Eltron Point of Use Electric Tankless Water Heaters
Chronomite Instant-Flow SR Electric Tankless Water Heaters

Eemax Flow Controlled
The "Flow Controlled" range of water heaters from Eemax are ideally suited to serve two points, like two sinks, in close proximity. Here is an example of Flow Controlled Electric Tankless Water Heaters:

Eemax Flow Controlled Electric Tankless Water Heaters

Thermostatic
The Thermostatic Tankless Water Heater serves as a booster for temperature loss from long pipe runs, dishwashers and sanitation. Thermostatic units are good for applications where precise temperature control is essential; such as schools, hospitals and laboratories. Here are some examples of Thermostatic Electric Tankless Water Heaters:

Eemax Thermostatic Electric Tankless Water Heaters
Stiebel Eltron DHC-E 8 Electric Tankless Water Heater
Stiebel Eltron DHC-E 10 Electric Tankless Water Heater

Eemax Series Two
Eemax Series Two units are ideally suited for residential showers, entire bathrooms, smaller houses, condos, summer cabins and apartments. They will also accommodate industrial boosters, higher flow rate applications such as wash down stations and higher flow rate accurate temperature control applications such as photo labs. Here is an example of Eemax Series Two Electric Tankless Water Heaters:

Eemax Series Two Electric Tankless Water Heaters

Whole House Indoor Use
Larger Whole House units are designed to serve an entire house, apartment, condo, or cabin, where multiple points of use will exist. Here are some examples of Whole House Electric Tankless Water Heaters for Indoor use:

Eemax EX280T2T Series Three Electric Tankless Water Heater
Stiebel Eltron Tempra Series Electric Tankless Water Heaters
Rheem Indoor Gas-Fired Tankless Water Heaters

Whole House Outdoor Use
Larger Whole House units are designed to serve an entire house, apartment, condo, or cabin, where multiple points of use will exist. Here are some examples of Whole House Electric Tankless Water Heaters for Outdoor use:

Rheem Outdoor Gas-Fired Tankless Water Heaters
Tankless Water Heater Installation and Maintenance
Proper installation and maintenance of your Tankless Water Heater can optimize its energy efficiency.

Proper installation depends on many factors. These factors include climate and local building code requirements. You should have a qualified, licensed plumbing and heating contractor install your Tankless Water Heater.

Do the following when selecting a contractor:


Request cost estimates in writing
Ask for references
Check the company with your local Better Business Bureau
Confirm the company will obtain a local permit, if necessary, and understands local building codes
Be sure you contractor first consults the manufacturer’s installation and instruction materials. Manufacturers usually provide the necessary installation and instruction manuals with the product. Your contractor should also contact your municipality for information about obtaining a permit, if necessary, and about local water heater installation codes.

Many Tankless Water Heaters have a life expectancy of more than 20 years. They also have easily replaceable parts that extend their life by many more years. In contrast, storage water heaters last 10 – 15 years.

You should consult the manufacturer's website or literature, such as the manual, for detailed warranty information.

Periodic water heater maintenance can significantly extend your water heater's life and minimize loss of efficiency. Read your owner's manual for specific maintenance recommendations.