Tankless water heater installation is becoming the new norm as everyone focuses on energy-saving options that are easy on the budget. Also known as instantaneous or on-demand water heaters, these water heaters continue to replace traditional tank storage systems for many good reasons.
What Is a Tankless Water Heater?
A tankless water heater warms water on demand, whereas a storage water heater must continually keep a reservoir of hot water in a cylinder. When you turn on the hot water faucet, cold water travels through the water heater and is instantly heated by either gas or an electric element.
Tankless water heaters can therefore provide a continuous supply of hot water without running out. This way, a large space in your home is not taken up by your hot water cylinder, and you aren’t paying extra money for gas or electricity to keep that hot water cylinder at temperature all day and night when you aren’t using it.
What Are the Benefits of Tankless Water Heater Installation?
- Continuous supply of hot water
- Long-term energy savings
- Take up less space
- Decreased chance of leaks and subsequent water damage
- Lower risk of exposure to toxic metals from old hot water cylinder systems
- Longer water heater life expectancy (20+ years)
- Federal tax credits support many tankless water heating systems
What Is the Tankless Water Heater Installation Process?
Depending on whether you decide to install a gas or electric tankless water heater, your home’s electricity supply or gas lines may need to be altered for the water heater’s requirements. This is only necessary if you transition from an older system, such as a tank storage water heater. The installation process is relatively fast and shouldn’t take a licensed plumber more than 4 hours from start to finish if there are no surprises.
Once your home’s gas line or electricity supply is compatible with the water heater, installation generally sticks to the following steps:
- Locating the best place for tankless water heater installation according to building codes
- Switching off the main water line to the house
- Disconnecting the old water heater from the water supply line
- Disconnecting the old water heater from the heat source (the gas line or power supply)
- Removing the old water heater system
- Mounting the new tankless water heater in the desired location
- Connecting the new system to the water supply and heat source (gas or power supply)
- Turning on the water supply and heat source and turning on the system’s pilot light
For gas, the water heater installation process will also require that proper ventilation is facilitated with an installed flue that goes from the water heating system up to your roof or horizontally through a wall.
Seek Professional Advice: Cornel’s Plumbing
Talk with a licensed and experienced plumber at Cornel’s Plumbing to find the best option for your household. If you are interested in cost and energy savings or need to replace your current water heating system, tankless water heating installation is the right choice for you!
