Tankless Water Heater Buying Tips

Tankless water heaters, as the name suggests, are heaters without a storage container. Therefore it is also called Instantaneous or Demand Water Heaters and provides hot water as and when needed. These heaters save energy as they heat the water while it flows out of the faucet and do not retain any water so there is no energy that is wasted in heating a large volume of water, which would remain unused and have to be heated again before use. It is advantageous as it saves both space and energy.

There are two types of tankless water heaters:

• Full on/ Full off-These do not have a power output level that is variable, the unit is either on or off.
• Modulated-In these type of water heaters the heat output is dependent on the volume of water that is flowing out of the faucet. There is a "flow sensor", a modulating gas valve, inlet water temperature sensor and outlet water temperature sensor-choke valve which means that the user irrespective of the volume of water being used would receive the same temperature.

Buying Tips

• The most common thing that you have to find out is the requirement, i.e. how much water you would need and how many points of application are there. The requirements may vary from a single point application to multipoint application and whole house application. Each application would have its own demand.
• The next thing would be the normal water temperature at your place, which also varies. If you live in a colder climate the normal water temperature would be lower than if you live in a warmer climate.
• Then it would be the kind of fuel that you would use also acts as a deciding factor. The choice is between electric and gas-fired tankless water heater.

The requirements of an electric heater are:

• Voltage
• Amperage
• Circuit Breaker

So these requirements should also be kept in mind since the voltage required would be around 110V (min) and 277V (max). The amperage required would be variable depending on the make of the heater and a circuit breaker is also essential so that the circuit of the heater can be kept separate.

In case of a gas tankless heater, it has to be determined if it would be fueled by propane or natural gas. Even if you have a gas line already, check if you would need another one since the present line might not be sufficient for your heater. Also be careful while buying the venting accessories and the check the local building code and that you would know if it would be right or not.

When you are buying the heater, make sure you follow these tips:

• Check all the types of water heaters.
• Write the specifications and the entire cost and compare it if you have been to any other place to inquire, if not please do go to two or more places. Don't rely on a single brand to give you the right information or supply you the product that would best suit your needs. You'll have to do that for yourself.
• Ask for references and feedback.
• Check the company you have zeroed on with your local business bureau.
• Confirm if the company you are trying to buy from has a local permit and if they know the building codes right which would make things faster and convenient.

Look before you leap!