Wednesday, June 25, 2008

Best Tankless Hot Water Heater - What to Know

Finding the best tankless hot water heater comes from doing your homework. Start by comparing energy efficiency. Important points presented below will point you in choosing the best tankless hot water heater to fit your needs.

The measure of efficiency
Anyone can refer to Government rating to make easier for consumers in finding the best tankless hot water heater, or other home heating product that will give them more value. Electric tankless hot water heaters are rated .99 energy efficient, while tankless gas heaters are compared at .80. The contrast is in the amount of loss of heat in the fuel burning process of gas burners. Tank water heaters are listed with an even lower efficiency rating.

Search out the cost of utilities In your region. If the rate of electricity is competitive, this could lead to a difference in which utility you decide on. Regardless, gas might point to the best choice for a tankless hot water heater. Only gas can produce enough hot water for a large home.

You can use this as a starting point Electric tankless models produce a flow of only 2-5 gallons per minute of hot water, while gas models can produce 9-13 gallons of hot water per minute. Using multiple units is a way to custom fit tankless models to fit your needs and reduce wasted energy.

Do a water survey of your own, but this may be useful: A shower, with a water saver nozzle uses 1-¼ to 1-½ gallons per minute. A tub or clothes washer uses about 2 to 2-½ gallons per minute.

Energy prices and the best tankless hot water heater
There was a time when everyone thought gas cost less but times change. Why assume, size up energy costs in your locale. A lot has changed in recent years. The bargain rate of gas that once made a low efficiency rating for typical family use has changed.



This will give you a quick idea of US power rates:

Electric prices vary from $0.06/kwh to $0.23/kwh ($1.76 to $6.74 a therm)
Gas prices vary from $10 to $19 per 1,000 cu ft of natural gas ($1 to $1.90 per therm)

North vs. South
In northern latitudes, Up north, where ground temperature may drop to near freezing, it will require a lot more energy to raise the temperature of a gallon of water. This could call for the power of a gas model, depending on your rate of flow needs. Consider these two things: Flow Rate and Gallons Per Minute to identify what size heater can work with you household requirements and whether it should be gas or electric.

The installation step
This step means more homework. In your location there may be few contractors trained in advising you in choosing the best tankless hot water heater and how to install it. The best course is to look for qualified people and get several estimates. Gas tankless hot water heaters need to be installed by someone knowledgeable of this type of combustion system.

Electric tankless hot water heaters, on the other hand, can be a handyman project. If you are on a low budget you can save money this way. Invest in a how-to book and the manufacturer’s manual for guidance with this project.

Refer to this site for detailed installing a tankless water heater instructions: http://installing-a-tankless-water-heater.com

Follow this link for more info on choosing the best tankless hot water heater:
http://www.best-tankless-hot-water-heater.info

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