A Comprehensive Guide on How to Get Started with Tankless Water Heaters

Finding the right tankless water heater for your home in Austin, Texas 78645 can seem like a daunting and complex task. With the myriad of factors involved, ranging from space requirements, heating capacity potential, and electric vs gas fuel type, there's much to take into consideration when selecting the ideal tankless water heater. To make matters even more complicated, you'll soon find yourself overloaded with too much information.

This article will arm you with the essential knowledge needed to determine and install the most efficient and reliable tankless water heater system for your residential needs. You'll get clear and in-depth answers to your questions while learning the key features of each type of tankless water heater, and the simple installation approaches for the electric and gas varieties.

First, let's get a better understanding of why so many home owners are moving away from traditional water heaters and leaning towards tankless water heaters instead.

Benefits of Tankless Water Heaters

Tankless water heater systems are much more efficient than the traditional hot water tank system, and their continuous hot water supply often outweighs the other benefits mentioned.

The general concept of a tankless water heater is that water is heated up upon demand. Your home will receive a continuous supply of hot water as you use it, and you'll never have to wait for your hot water heater to refill like with a traditional water heater. Tankless water heaters also take up less space, compared to traditional storage tank systems, as the tankless system is wall- or floor-mounted.

In addition, tankless water heaters also have long lifespans of up to 20 years, as opposed to the 8-12 year lifespan of the traditional hot water heaters. As tankless water heaters heat up water on-demand, they're much more energy efficient, saving you up to 30% in energy costs.

Electric Tankless Water Heaters

When considering tankless water heater systems, the two prominent types are gas and electric. Both come in various sizes and costs depending on the scope of your needs.

Most homes, and for easier installation, use electric tankless water heaters. These systems are powered by electricity and provide the most straightforward installation process, as the plumbing connection portion is often the same for electric and gas tankless water heaters.

The cost of electric tankless water heaters seen in most Austin homes range from $150-$1000, depending on the heating capacity and space needed to provide sufficient hot water. Electric tankless water heaters typically have a higher flow rate than the gas type, and a higher flow rate means more water pressure with varied home fixtures.

Your electric tankless water heater must be installed on the wall, so be sure that there's enough space between the wall and fixtures that can impinge its unit size. All in all, the electric type of tankless water heater is easily the most popular one since it requires minimal maintenance and is incredibly easy to install.

Gas Tankless Water Heaters

The other type of tankless water heater is the gas type. This is the option that many prefer due to its higher flow rate and efficiency— up to 20-30% more efficient than the electric type.

Similar to electric tankless water heaters, you'll need to make sure to leave ample space between wall-mounted pieces of furnishing and the gas tankless water heater for efficient air circulation. This is usually achieved through a venting system into the outside, as proper ventilation is essential for a safe and stable gas tankless water heater system.

Additionally, the installation of your gas tankless water heater can prove to be difficult, especially if your home plumbing isn't set up to power a gas one. A professional plumber can easily identify if you're able to install a tankless water heater gas type, and accurately install it for you.

The cost of gas tankless water heaters is comparable with electric, ranging between $150-$1000. Depending on your particular home setup, you may find either an electric or gas tankless water heater system best fit to your home's needs.

Key point

Tankless water heaters come in two categories: gas or electric. These systems are ideal for Austin, Texas homes, outscoring traditional water heaters in costs, efficiency, and maintenance. Electric tankless water heaters are generally easier to install, and their cost ranges between $150-$1500 depending on your needs. On the other hand, gas tankless water heater systems are more energy-efficient and can come with a higher flow rate. However, their installation may require a professional plumber familiar with gas and venting systems.

Getting started with a tankless water heating system thus requires that you consider a few essential pointers concerning the various types, installation procedures, and costs. Hopefully, this guide has provided you with the key information you may need to make an informed selection.

Tankless Water Heater

Electric Tankless Water Heater

Gas Tankless Water Heater