Is a Tankless Water Heater for You? Here are 5 Things to Consider Before Buying a Water Heater

Many Calgary homeowners aim to both curb their carbon as well as lower monthly energy bills. Without a doubt, apart from your home’s HVAC system, your home’s water heater is the biggest contributor to loss resources and energy waste. Perhaps, you cannot imagine living without your traditional water tank heater. Imagine having the luxury of access to warm water all the time. It is ready to deliver warm water when you want to take a warm shower, wash a pile of dishes, or simply wash your hands. By ensuring that you have this warm water reserve readily available for use puts a lot of strain on your home’s resources. But imagine not needing to use warm water for at least one or two days, what a big waste of resource it then becomes.

The solution to this big energy waster is presented to many homeowners in the guise of the water heater without an accompanying tank. It is capable of instantly making water hot by letting your water supply pass through aflame and distribute it throughout your home. You have the assurance of not wasting your home’s valuable resources by not generating heat to keep your water warm all day. The warm water supply will not also run out, compared when you are using a water heater with a tank. You also have another advantage with a tankless unit since you no longer have to replace a tank that is prone to succumb to corrosion after seven to ten years of service. By then, you’ll ask yourself why all Calgary homes do not switch to tankless water heaters. However, you have to face the fact that transitioning to a tankless unit is more than what meets the eye.

YOUR OLD WATER HEATER THAT COMES WITH A TANK

As soon as your old water heater no longer distributes warm water throughout your home, there’s no more arguing that your old unit needs replacement. After about seven to ten years of constant use, your old reliable water heater will start to show evidence of corrosion. For some, it can even be way sooner. You’ll face the buildup of sediments that will no longer function no matter how much you will it. You can still possibly clean some of the existing connections of your tank. But big spots of rust have no more remedies, and once it shows signs of excessive damage, you have no recourse but to throw it away.

Remember that a water heater that has no accompanying tank can easily integrate with any standard storage unit. You must bear this in mind that a tankless water heater somewhat expands as members of the family simultaneously use the shower and wash the dishes. You can connect your appliances on a per-unit basis. To easily grasp this concept, your tankless water heater can support your washing machine or dishwasher when you use it. Whereas, the sink and the shower stay connected to the storage water heater until it delivers its last drop of warm water.

FIGURE OUT YOUR WATER USAGE REQUIREMENTS AND YOUR CURRENT PIPES

A big consideration before finally deciding on purchasing a tankless water heater is the size of the model you plan to purchase and its corresponding capacity. The finest way to be able to figure this out is to determine the number of gallons of water that are usually consumed per minute daily by your entire household. A standard residential pipe carries about a maximum of eight to ten gallons of water every minute. It is not practical to have a commercial tankless water heater at around 13 GPM. For instance, you have to ensure to have a tank that can accommodate at least 9 GPM at the minimum if you have a big family and can have two people simultaneously using the shower. Or perhaps, when both the shower and another piece of an appliance is running. If you are a hard-core bachelor who seldom takes a shower, a small tankless water storage model at around 5.5 GPM will do just fine. No matter what you choose, make sure first to check the diameter of your pipe at home and be certain that it is sufficient no matter what kind of model of tankless water heater you will eventually choose.

BOOST GAS

If your household consumes a lot of water, it is advisable to have a gas line that connects to your Calgary residence’s tankless water heater. If you are changing your water heater from that of gas storage to a tankless unit, you better be prepared and think about it ahead of time since you’ll face with these issues soon enough. No matter what you choose or consider before making the purchase, ensure that the unit has suitable hook-ups and can fit your existing setup.

BOOST ELECTRICITY

When it comes to electric tankless water heaters, ensure that there are sufficient hookups that will cater to your needs. There are available tankless water heaters that can fit in regular outlets of 110 volts that are available in most homes. However, their usual output is only around a gallon per minute. What’s labeled as “point of use” heaters are smaller tankless water heater models that distribute warm water straight from the source. A much smaller tankless water heater at around 110m volts is perfect for a garage or a workshop sink.

On the other hand, there are other tankless water heater variants that have around 220 to 240 volts. They are handy in smaller homes with low demand for water. But you must ensure that it has sufficient hookups so that there won’t be any issues when it comes to installation. A lot of utility rooms come with 220 volts outlets that are being used by dryers or washing machines. However, it is also imperative that the tankless water heater has it too.

UTILIZE ANOTHER TECHNIQUE TO RECIRCULATE

I am sure that you know what beer tastes like after standing out in the open after opening it days ago. It has a strong resemblance to a tankless water heater. This issue is the reason recirculation pumps are necessary for your units. You can still find remnants of that beer that was waiting for you to drink it as you wish if it was just the beer and its tapper is still on, and the keg is not being utilized.It is fairly a lot of beer if its kegs are away from the tappers. Over time, good bartenders found a way to get over this challenge. They bleed the lines just before serving an ale. It serves the beer well. But with tankless water heaters, it just cannot be. What you will end up with is a rude wake-up call ascold water blasts off to commence your shower. To be able to prevent those cold shocks from happening, you can add a small pump and another tank to your tankless water heater to help recirculate your water supply.

A convenient home is achievable when you setup a tankless water heater. But bear in mind that having one has its own set of adjustments. But when you think about, is there any home upgrade that doesn’t require one?