Personalized Tankless Water Heater Installation
Flow rate is a key consideration for any new tankless water heater installation or replacement. Each fixture and water-using appliance in your home requires a certain flow rate.
Your system must meet or exceed the total flow rate for all fixtures you want to run concurrently. It’s also a good idea to provide your household with a little headroom. You can add even more flow rate, so that way you have plenty of water when hosting family and guests.
There are a wide range of modern features to consider. Many of the latest systems have an integrated recirculating pump. That pump helps eliminate issues like the cold-water sandwich effect and long delays. You can add compact tanks for kitchen sinks and similar scenarios. Smaller point-of-use systems are an option for bathrooms.
Another consideration is water hardness, which is a common problem in our service area. Even moderately hard water can increase operating costs and reduce water heater life span. One solution is an anti-scale device for the water heater. It will prevent calcium and magnesium from forming scale. A whole-house water softener is an alternative. It will also protect your pipes, fixtures, and other water-using appliances.
If you already have an on-demand water heater, you may be deciding between repair and replacement. One consideration is the age of the unit. We’re more inclined to replacement if it’s older than 15 years and repair if it isn’t. The tankless water heater repair cost matters, too. If the repair will cost 50% of what replacement will, then we’ll generally advise getting the new system.
Watch for signs that it’s time for a tankless water heater repair or replacement:
- Rising energy usage
- Intermittent shutoffs
- Long hot water delay
- Low hot water pressure
- Inconsistent hot water temperatures
