Tankless water heaters provide a cost-effective and energy-efficient alternative to traditional storage tank models. Whereas water heaters with tanks pre-heat water and store it in a large drum until it’s needed, tankless alternatives only heat water on demand. Given the amount of energy it takes to pre-heat water, a tankless water heater can dramatically reduce the cost of this essential home service.
However, sizing a tankless water heater correctly is crucially important if you’re going to maximize the cost-cutting benefits. If you get a tankless water heater that’s too small, it may prove incapable of meeting your household’s demands. On the other hand, if you get one that’s too powerful, or buy more units than you need, you’ll undercut yourself on the money-saving benefits of this eco-friendly technology.
Correctly sizing a tankless water heater requires that you accurately assess your flow rate and water temperature rise needs. To do so, take these two factors into consideration:
- Hot water device usage. How many hot water devices (kitchen sinks, washing machines, dishwashers, showers) will be in use simultaneously at any one time? Once you list these, determine how many gallons per minute each of them uses and add up these figures to generate a total. Sizing a tankless water heater requires that you get a unit that’s capable of meeting peak demand. Or if you buy more than one tankless water heater, you’ll want to make sure that their cumulative output can satisfy your demands.
- Climate. The climate in which you live has a pronounced effect on what’s known as “temperature rise,” which essentially expresses the difference in temperature between incoming cold water and outgoing hot water. Here in Dayton, we have a relatively cool climate, which means that you’ll need a tankless water heater with powerful temperature rise performance capabilities. Also, keep in mind that you can adjust the maximum hot water temperature downward to save money and reduce the heater’s electricity consumption.
At Ace Hardware Home Services, Inc., our experts can help you size a tankless water heater with pinpoint precision. Get the most out of your investment in this energy-saving technology by relying on our trustworthy guidance and quality products. To learn more or to request service for your home, please contact us. We serve homeowners throughout the Dayton area.
Our goal is to help educate our customers about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems). For more information about water heaters and other HVAC topics, download our free Home Comfort Resource guide.
Ace Hardware Home Services services the Ohio’s Miami Valley. Visit our website to see our special offers and get started today!
