If your morning routine involves a mad dash to the bathroom to get your shower in before everyone uses up the hot water, then maybe a tankless water heater is the solution to that problem. If you’re in Malverne, NY, call Charles Krull & Son, Inc. Plumbing & Heating, and let us show you the options and benefits available.
When you have a burst pipe, the key is not to panic, but instead, call us and ask about our burst pipe repair service.
Tankless Water Heater Benefits
Tankless water heaters are relatively new but are gaining popularity because of the many benefits they provide homeowners. However, before we get to the benefits, let’s look at what makes a tankless system different from their tank counterparts.
Traditional tank water heaters store water in the tank and heat it with either gas or electricity until it’s ready to use. Tankless water heaters don’t store water and instead operate by piping cold water into the unit, which is instantly heated by a gas burner or electric element. Now that you know the basics of how it works let’s look at the benefits.
- Tankless water heaters supply an endless amount of hot water.
- Tankless water heaters use 30-50% less energy than traditional tank heaters.
- Tankless water heaters provide instant hot water, no more waiting a minute or two for the water to heat up.
- Because tankless water heaters don’t have to store and heat 40-50 gallons of water, they cost less to operate since you only heat water as you need it.
- Tankless water heaters are compact and are easily wall mountable.
If you still have questions about whether a tankless water heater is right for your family, contact us for a consultation.
How to Maintain Your Tankless Water Heater
Tankless water heaters are often the perfect solution for families with high hot water demands, and they’re more efficient than standard tank units. And while they can last over twenty years, tankless water heaters still require maintenance to keep them running well and for preventing problems that can impede performance.
The primary problem affecting tankless water heaters is the same as traditional tank water heaters — hard water. Over months, minerals build up inside the heat exchanger, which can plug up passages where water flows, thus affecting the flow speed. This makes the water heater work harder, which can lead to untimely failure. Also, failing to clean out the heat exchanger can result in irreparable damage to the system. So, once a year, get the water heater serviced by a pro who will descale the mineral buildup around the heating elements.
Keep the drains in your Malverne home from harmful clogs with our professional drain cleaning service.
How to Choose the Right Tankless Water Heater
Tankless water heaters are rated by the maximum temperature rise possible at a given flow rate. So, to get the right size for your home, you must first determine the flow rate and temperature rise you need based on what area the heater services, such as the whole home or just the bathroom. Remember: don’t try to save money by getting a heater that’s undersized for your needs.
To determine the size, first, figure out how many devices you want to run and then add their total flow rate. So, let’s say you want the heater to power a showerhead that has a flow rate of .75 gallons per minute and a water faucet with a flow rate of 2.6 gallons per minute. Add the figures together to get a flow rate of 3.26 gallons, which is the least amount your water heater should put out.
Figure out temperature use by subtracting incoming water temperature from the desired output temperature. If this sounds confusing, call us and let us walk you through it.
