How To Choose the Right Tankless Water Heater for Your Home  

 If you’re considering upgrading to a tankless water heater in your home a quick Google search can show you that it isn’t an easy task choosing which one is the right one for you. You will likely only ever buy a water heater once or twice in your life. You’re likely going to purchase more cars in your life time than water heaters. So let’s take someto cover this so you make an informed decision.  

Energy source 

One of the more important things to know when choosing a tankless water heater is what is the energy source you will be using. There are three energy sources for tankless water heaters. You need to know which energy source you’re going to choose before purchasing.  Most clients choose to stick with the energy source they have for their existing water heater. But that certainly doesn’t mean you’re stuck with that as your only option.  Whether you have gas, electric or propane for your water heater source with modifications and upgrades you can choose a different option.   

Electric – Electric tankless water heaters usually require an upgrade to your breaker and electrical lines since electric tankless water heaters have a larger demand for electricity to meet the demand of instant hot water.   

Natural Gas – Natural gas tankless water heaters, if you choose a condensing unit designed for retrofits, not new construction don’t usually require upgrades to the gas line but may require upgrades to the existing vent lines. 

Propane – Is a common choice for those that do not want an electric tankless water heater but do not have access to natural gas.  Propane units behave like natural gas units.  

How many gallons per minute do you need 

Tankless units are renowned for endless hot water. This is one of the main benefits of choosing a tankless unit, but you do need to consider how many gallons of water your home uses at any given time.  When you’re looking for a tankless water heater you want to ensure that it can keep up with the gallons per minute that your household uses.  If your home uses multiple faucets and showers at once, you may find yourself very disappointed. Buying a tankless water heater won’t keep up with the volume demand.  Tankless water heaters will tell you their estimated gallons per minute based on the water temperature coming into the home.  The warmer the water coming into the home the less work the tankless has to do to heat the water. This allows for more gallons per minute. For example, no matter the manufacturer, having a tankless water heater in Arizona will produce more gallons per minute than the same unit in Colorado. Choose wisely when deciding how many gallons per minute your home needs. You don’t want to find yourself with a tankless unit that doesn’t meet your demands.  

Indoor or Outdoor 

Something you might not have considered is that you can, with some tankless units, install them outside saving room within your home or garage.  If you’d like to consider an outdoor option, make sure the tankless units you’re reviewing are rated for outdoor use. You will also want to make sure that you have the ability to have the water lines, the electricity and or gas lines at that outdoor location as well.  

Recirculating 

Tankless water heaters provide endless hot water but they do not provide instant hot water at your faucet or shower.  It is a common misunderstanding due to misworded marketing hype.  Tankless water heaters heat water instantly. The problem is that the distance from your shower or faucet to the water heater hasn’t changed.  There is still a pipe full of cold water that must be emptied before the hot water can reach your faucet or shower.  There is a solution to getting hot water faster. The solution to getting faster hot water is with a recirculating pump.  If you’d like to get hot water faster you’ll want to make the investment into a tankless unit. A tankless unit has a recirculating pump in it already or has the ability to have one connected in the future.  Not all tankless units can have a recirculating pump attached to them.  

Warranty 

Not all warranties are created equal.  Read the fine print.  It can be tempting to trust when something says 15-year warranty but read the “limited” portion of that warranty.  What is the labor warranty?  Is it a full labor warranty or do they only cover a certain amount of the labor limited to a total.  It is common among water heater companies to say you have a 1-year labor warranty. What that really means in the fine print is they will pay a plumber up to 150.00 to make a repair. You’re responsible for the rest of the labor.   

Years in business 

Doing research on the brand that you’re considering is important.  I’ve seen too many times new companies come into the market with grand promises and 2 years later they’re out of business. All of the warranties are void and worse yet, the parts for the units they sold are no longer being manufactured. Now you’re having to pay for a completely new unit. Longevity counts in the equation when choosing the right tankless water heater for your home. 

Maintenance 

Tankless water heaters do require maintenance.  I’ve had several salesmen pitch me that their unit doesn’t require annual maintenance or flushing. Then I ask for that in writing…..crickets.  “Well, I can’t put that in writing but it’s been our experience that they operate well without maintenance.”  If you won’t put it in writing with a guarantee I won’t tell my clients your pitch.   You want to make sure that the tankless water heater you purchase can be easily maintained. Either by you or by your trusted licensed plumber.  

Installation 

When choosing the right tankless water heater it is also important to choose who will be installing the tankless water heater.  A YouTube video or a buddy around the corner isn’t enough. You need a professional to ensure that your unit is installed to local code and manufacturer specifications.  We go out on tankless water heater repairs and error codes daily. 90 percent of the time the error code is due to improper installation. With an improper installation the warranty is voided from the manufacturer and the unit has to have the installation corrected in order to work properly.  There are a lot of code requirements and manufacturer specific installation requirements to ensure that your unit operates like it was intended to.  

Consultation 

Overwhelmed by the decision breakdown yet?  It can be a daunting choice without the knowledge that a licensed plumber possesses. Many plumbers, without specialized training, struggle with which tankless is the right option for clients. Many will just avoid the subject. Some will say that tankless units aren’t worth the money and convince clients to stick with a traditional tank.  At Robins Plumbing we’ve invested years into knowing the ins and outs of tankless water heaters. Quarterly, our team reinvests time into the new technology that is coming out and refreshes and tests on what is currently available.   

Tankless water heaters can be an incredible investment, with a lot of benefits.  A quality tankless water heater can last twice as long as a standard tank. It can also provide endless hot water, saves space and is more energy efficient.  Would like a consultation on a tankless water heater? Our plumbing professionals will decide if it is the right fit for your home call a Robin!  We’re here to help guide you through the decision and choose which one is the right one for your home.  

Services In Phoenix & Beyond

When you’ve found yourself in need of plumbing services in the Phoenix, Glendale, Scottsdale, or Chandler area, you can trust Robins Plumbing to provide you with prompt and expert care, contact our team today! In addition to our toilet services, we also offer a variety of residential and commercial plumbing services, including: drain cleaning, water heater repair and replacement, sewer camera inspection and locating, backflow prevention, commercial and residential jetting, water treatments, and more. Visit our reviews online to see what others have to say about our local plumbing company!