Where can I buy a cheap hot water heater?
Tired of running out of water?That is not a problem with one of the units that heat water as you need it.You need to know how to choose, install, and live with a tankless water heater.
The way most households heat water is wasteful.To make sure we have hot water at the ready whenever we want it, we fill up big storage tanks and pour energy into them 24/7.
Sometimes it doesn't work out that way.It can take a long time for that emptied tank to be reheated.Is it filled with energy-robbing gunk?Will it leak?Tanks fail in 8 to 12 years.
There are some arguments for investing in a tankless water heater.It saves 27 to 50 percent of fuel costs by generating hot water only when you need it.40 to 50 percent of the fuel is wasted by a typical gas-fired tank.
There is almost no chance of a catastrophic leak because there is no tank to fail.Since their introduction in the U.S., tankless heaters have become more sophisticated, with features like built-in recirculating pumps, and wireless communication that tells you when a unit needs maintenance.
There is a guide to tankless water heating.We will explain how a tankless water heater works, tell you what you need to know before you buy one, and let you in on the quirks of the units so there won't be any surprises if you go.
Thanks to the following: Phillip Maxwell, Residential Product Manager, Rheem; Eric Manzano, Product Training Supervisor, Noritz; Joe Holliday, Senior Director of Product and Business Development, Rinnai.
Prices range from $170 for small gas-fired units to more than $2,000 for high-output heaters that can supply two showers at the same time, which is about average.
Tankless electric heaters cost between $90 and $900.Installation costs are more than a simple tank replacement.There is a subsection entitled "Electric Tankless Water Heater Installation".
This is definitely a job for a pro, as it involves making leak-free water, vent, and gas connections, in the case of gas or propane units, or upgrading the wiring and circuit-breaker panel.
Cleaning or changing water and air filters, as well as checking the burner, will be provided by a pro if you sign up.In areas with hard water, a vinegar flush every 500 hours keeps mineral build up out of the heat exchanger.A pro or homeowner can do that task.
Tank-type water heaters should not be used for more than two or three years.The life spans for tankless electric units are between 7 and 10 years.
Plumbing-supply stores, big-box stores and online retailers carry these heaters.You can order one through your plumbing company.
Federal regulations now require thicker insulation for newer tank-type water heaters.
They might not be able to fit into spaces where an old heater of the same capacity could go.The tankless gas heaters are about the size of a suitcase and hang on the wall.
They don't spill gallons of water if there is a leak, or if they are hit by an earthquake.Carbon monoxide can't leak into the house due to backdrafting because the air-supply and exhaust vents are sealed.
The owners of vacation homes know how long it takes to drain a water-heater tank.If you have a compressor, you can drain a tankless heater in a few seconds.
If there is too much scale in the pipes, a turned-down faucet, or aerators, these units automatically shut off.
A $1,000 tankless gas heater can save a household about $100 per year, depending on how efficient it is and how much hot water is used.
When many tanks are nearing their demise, the savings kicks in after six years.
Thanks to a second heat exchanger that captures much of the exhaust heat before it goes out the vent, condensation gas heaters can extract up to 96 percent of a fuel's heat.
They are 25 percent more expensive than noncondensing heaters, and they create an acidic condensate.A built-in neutralizing cartridge is required for a heater to work.
Tankless units take about 15 seconds to bring water up to temperature, but you still have to wait for that hot water to arrive at your shower head or faucet, just as you do with a tank-type heater.
Units with a built-in recirculation pump, which saves water and reduces waiting time, should be looked for when the distance is over 50 feet.The pump, which can be turned on by a timer, a push button, or a smart speaker, pushes the cold water in the pipes back through the heater.
You can monitor gas and hot-water usage on your phone with tankless units.
The unit can identify the problem's source.If you relay that information to your plumbing professional, he or she can see what needs to be done.There is no guesswork about when it is time to descale.
It takes a lot of energy to turn cold water into hot water in a few seconds.If a heater's Btu output can't keep up with demand, it will cut back the flow or deliver less water.
The temperature of the water coming into the heaters, the peak demand for hot water in gallons per minute, and the heater's efficiency are three factors that a plumbing professional looks at to determine whether a heater will be able to meet the needs of a household.
Time is how long it takes to fill a bucket to a 1-quart mark.The number of seconds equals gpm.
The benefits of on-demand hot water can be enjoyed by homes without a gas line or propane tank.These units, which heat water with thick copper rods, are quieter and smaller than gas or propane.They can be installed almost anywhere, including under sinks and small closets.
Electric units have a limited output of 36 kilowatts, which is about 123,000 Btus.They are better suited to point-of-use service in colder climates where the demand for hot water doesn't get too high.It will need enough power at the main panel and heavy-gauge wires.
Electric heaters last about half as long as gas units.It costs about the same to replace the entire heating element as it does to swap it in new elements.
1.The burner in a tankless heater needs to be hooked up to a gas-supply line that can deliver enough volume.It is often necessary to increase the diameter of the supply pipe to 34 inch.The gas company will have to adjust the pressure on the meter if it falls short.
It is possible to work with a standard 12 inch gas line if it is not longer than 24 feet.
2.High exhaust heat can be mitigated by the use of stainless-steel vents.The units use less expensive pipes and have a cooler exhaust.One hole in the wall is all it takes to install a concentric vent, which has an exhaust pipe inside a larger air-intake pipe.
Vent runs are usually limited to 10 feet.Vents can now run up to 150 feet.