About Tankless Water Heaters
Used extensively in many parts of the world, tankless water heaters are hot water made cool. Growing in popularity in the United States, tankless water heaters are the leading appliance for delivering hot water in Europe and Japan.
Tankless water heaters offer significant advantages to your clients; namely, energy conservation, reduced water heating costs and a continuous flow of hot water whenever and wherever it is needed.
Also called on-demand water heaters, water enters the gas or electric tankless water heater only when the hot water valve is opened — that is, when there is an actual demand — thus triggering the heating coils or heat exchanger.
The amount of energy consumed is proportional to the volume of hot water used. Energy consumption also depends on the temperature rise of the water: that is, the difference between the temperature of the cold water flowing into the unit for heating and the temperature at the tap or outlet. This is called the “Delta T,” or T.
When the hot water tap is turned off, the system shuts down. There is no storage and no standby heat loss, so no need to reheat the water periodically to maintain a preset temperature, even when there is no demand.
Tankless water heaters are often confused with “point of use” water heaters. Point of use hot water heaters are actually smaller tank units that are located near the hot-water outlet, such as under a sink. They are often used to augment larger tank-type water heaters that are located far from the point of use.
Installing Tankless Water Heaters
New construction is a breeze with tankless water heaters, and installation costs are comparable to those of a tank-type units. But replacing a tank water heater in an existing home with an indoor tankless hot water heater takes a few extra steps, depending on the water heater’s location and the piping layout.
Because tankless water heaters house more powerful burners than their conventional tank counterparts, they require larger gas lines. Indoor tankless water heaters must be vented vertically (through the roof) or horizontally (through the walls). With a total installed cost of $1,500 - $3,000, tankless water heaters have a higher installation cost than tank water heaters, but lower operating costs, less waste and a vastly superior hot water experience.
Installation complexity can be reduced by installing the tankless water heaters outdoors, so venting is not needed. Outdoor installation is not limited to sunny warmer climes. Approved for cold weather conditions down to -30°F, see how a plumbing contractor installs tankless water heaters outside in Utah ski country.
Electric or Gas: Which Tankless Hot Water Heater is Best? The decision to select an electric or gas tankless water heater should be made with the homeowner’s needs in mind, considering factors such as the cost and availability of the fuel source, installation costs, water usage habits, homeowner preference, and installation location. Give your clients this guidance:
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Gas tankless water heaters burn natural gas or liquid propane far more efficiently than tank heaters
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Gas tankless water heaters supply more hot water and are a better choice for those households with mid-high demand
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Gas-powered heaters can be installed indoors or outdoors
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Electric tankless water heaters can be more expensive to operate, especially to meet the demands of a large luxury bathroom. Each electric heater has different electrical requirements. Encourage clients to consult with an electrician prior to making a purchase.
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Most electric tankless hot water heaters can run only one major application (shower, dishwasher, washing machine) at a time. Even moderately sized gas tankless water heaters can often satisfy the needs of an entire, typical American household
Best Tankless Water Heaters for Luxury Bathrooms Rheem offers two different tankless models, the RTG-53 Series and the RTG-74 Series, which are available in versions that can be installed outdoors or inside.
Rheem Gas Tankless Water Heater Features
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The RTG-53 Series is appropriate for most 1-2 bathroom homes, and the RTG-74 Series for 2-4 bathroom homes
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For larger homes, two units of either model series can be installed together as an electronically controlled 2-unit system. This doubles the performance of the system
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Recess box for flush installation against the home
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Intelligent electronic controls for easier use and diagnostics
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10-Year Limited Warranty on Heat Exchanger
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Compact, space saving design
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Digital display and optional waterproof remote controls give users easy access to change temperature
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Exclusive sensing burner technology (on indoor models only)
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