5 Things to Consider for Selecting the Best Tankless Water Heater for Austin, TX Homeowners

Tankless water heaters have grown increasingly popular in recent years, and for good reason. Tankless models have more efficient energy consumption, reduce storage-related maintenance needs, and provide hot water on demand.

For homeowners in Austin, TX, looking to get the most out of their home's tankless water heater, the selection process can be overwhelming. There are a lot of factors to consider beyond just brand and reviews. Let's take a look at the top five things to look out for when choosing the best tankless water heater for your Austin home.

1. Climate

The Austin climate is one of the most extreme in the country. During the summers, temperatures routinely climb into the triple digits and the August humidity can be oppressive. Located in Texas' Hill Country, Austin sees warm-cold transitions throughout the seasons, too.

When it comes to tankless water heaters, Austin homeowners should look for models with climate-specific features. Gas-powered models could have air intake and exhaust openings to help optimize performance in winter weather, while electric models should feature adjustable temperature settings to handle fluctuations throughout the year.

2. Home Size and Water Usage

Water usage and the size of your home are two other crucial factors when choosing a home water heater. Tankless models are most efficient and cost-effective in homes with at least two bathrooms where multiple faucets and appliances will be in use simultaneously.

In other words, Austin homeowners with larger homes can expect to pay top dollar for their tankless system. Electric models cost more upfront, but generally require less energy to run and have less maintenance needs than gas models.

3. Flow Rate and Temperature Recovery

When you're narrowing down your selection, be sure to pay close attention to the model's flow rate and temperature recovery. Flow rate measures how much water the tankless heater can deliver per minute while temperature recovery describes how quickly the heater can restore water to its maximum set temperature when it's been depleted.

For Austin homeowners, this means looking for tankless water heaters with higher flow rates. High-performance models can provide up to 4.75 gallons of hot water per minute. It also means looking for models with excellent temperature recovery ratings. Many newer models can recover hot water faster than their predecessors.

4. Safety Features

Any reputable tankless water heater should come with a number of safety features. Look for fixtures with safety valves, overheat protection, and freeze protection.

In Austin's warm and cold climates, the last two are especially important. Freezing temperatures can rupture pipes or damage heat exchangers, while Austin's summer months put additional strain on tankless heater systems.

5. Professional Installation

When selecting a tankless water heater system, it's important to remember that it needs to be properly installed in order to work properly. Professional installation is advised, especially for Austin homeowners.

Professional installers will be able to identify the right size model based on your home's needs and ensure safety guidelines are followed. Professional installation can also ensure your tankless water heater is properly connected to gas and electrical sources.

Tankless water heaters

Austin

TX