Invest In A Tankless Gas Water Heater For Your Home
The water heater in your home will be responsible for approximately one third of your home energy consumption throughout the year. Whether you are using hot water or not, the heating element is still busy keeping the temperature in your tank at the preset temperature. It is heating that water 24/7 whether anyone is in the house or not. A tankless gas water heater will reduce your energy consumption by only heating the water when it is needed. It is calibrated so that it does not start to heat until you turn the water on and when the flow stops it immediately stops the heating process. It can run on either LP, natural gas or electric and in many cases can have an outdoor mounting to save interior space.
The downside of the tankless gas water heater is that if you happen to be using the hot water faster than it can heat it, you will have an inconsistent heat level in your water. You might never notice this if it is the water going to your washing machine but if it is to your shower you will be the first to know. One way to avoid this is to plan ahead and purchase a heater with enough flow rating to handle you needs. You can also place a heater in more than one location so that it is closer to where the water is needed.
The technology involved with the tankless water heaters is relatively new. Many of the manufactures insist that the heaters be installed by a professional to validate the warranty. When you contract with them have them verify that the one you are installing has an adequate GPM for your estimated usage. Get your estimate in writing and insure that they will be recognized by the manufacturer as an authorized installer. Insist that as part of the installation, the installer pull the necessary building permits so that your heater will be installed according to the local building codes.
The purchase and installation of a tankless gas water heater can be a sizable investment. There are many choices for sources of them; rheem, green, noritz, whirlpool, rinnai, ge, bosch, aquastar, american, state, or asme to name a few. The upfront costs are more than that of a tank heater but the pay off is in the high efficiency of the tankless model. Money can be saved by investigating the tax credits that are currently available for installing energy savings devices.
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