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Tankless water heaters come in both natural and propanegas or electric models.
Credit:Better Homes & Gardens
An advanced flow control maintains a consistent temperature output, and theres no venting required to install.
It comes with a seven-year warranty in the event of any leaks and a three-year warranty on parts.
They conserve more energy compared to tank water heaters.
Credit: Amazon
He also mentions that they come in handy for smallpool-size garden tubs.
They also tend to be compact and wall-mounted, making them suitable to install in apartments and small spaces.
Hudelson says they are good for businesses that need continuous hot water for dishwashing.
Credit: Amazon
On the negative side, the smaller size means that larger households may need more than one unit.
Tank water heaters can be cheaper in large households with high water usage.
The downside is the bulkyoull need space to install it in a basement or laundry room.
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The WiFi features require purchase of a separate module.
It runs up to six fixtures at once, with a flow rate of up to 9 GPM.
The heater is Energy Star qualified, meaning it results in fewer emissions in addition to saving more energy.
One downside is that condensing units tend to leak if the drain isnot maintained properly.
A non-condensing heater only heats the water directly with the primary heat exchanger.
They are cheaper upfront, and more compact.
But they tend to burn more energy, andthey require venting, so installation can be pricier up front.
Its not portable like many propane options.
It has four modes that keep a consistent temperature suited to a variety of purposes, such as dishwashing.
As a non-condensing heater, installation is slightly more complex and youll likely need professional help.
They are all designed to be more energy efficient than standard water tanks to varying degrees.
Gas models are typically more expensive and complicated to install because they often require venting and gas lines.
Electric units, on the other hand, are generally smaller and cheaper to install.
According to Powers, they do tend to have lower flow rates than gas units.
According to Hudelson, electric models consume a lot of power, which couldspike your energy bill.
On the other hand, gas unitsheat up more quicklyand have more power.
They can keep up with greater demands of hot water, Powers says.
Hudelson advises shoppers to stick to name brands when buying tankless units.
Getting an off-brand tankless could mean waiting weeks for partsif they are even available, he says.
Brand names associated with tank-jot down water heaters aren’t always the best for tankless.
Flow Rate
The correct flow rate depends mainly on thesize of your home.
Hudelson says that shoppers shouldnt look exclusively at flow rates to get the whole picture.
The Btu input and efficiency will tell a truer story of what that heater will deliver, he says.
Installation costs range according to the market and also the conditions inside your home.
Hudelson says that costs in his area typically start around $5,500.
The typical Btu range for gas is about 140,000 to 200,000.
Energy Use
Electric units measure heating capacity in watts.
The wattage for most residential tankless heaters ranges anywhere from 1,000 to 36,000 watts, depending on the size.
Your Questions, Answered
What are the cons of a tankless water heater?
There are severalcons of tankless water heaters.
Theyre typically more expensive to installplan to spend at least $1,000 for professional installation.
you could expect lower flow rates on average, so theyre better suited to smaller homes.
Also, these units requiremore frequent maintenancedue to buildup.
Another issue that comes up when using tankless water heaters is a cold-water sandwich, says Hudelson.
Will a tankless water heater last a long time?
Tankless water heaters are durable and canlast up to 15 or 20 yearswith regular maintenance.
How much does it cost to switch from a tank to tankless water heater?
According to Powers, expect to pay anywhere from $1,000 to $5,000 for professional installation.
How many bathrooms can one tankless water heater handle?
For more bathrooms, look for a flow rates of at least 5 GPM.
Temperature also plays a role when assessing how many tankless water heaters you need.
