Adding tankless water heating to your home can provide big benefits in energy savings and comfort. But first, you have to choose and install your system, and it’s important to keep a few things in mind.
- Flow rate capacity and your home water use. Just as with storage tank water heaters, size matters: while a tankless water heating system can heat water indefinitely, it can only heat so much at once. Homes that put high demands on their hot water supply – for example, running a dishwasher and clothes-washing machine at once, or multiple people showering at the same time – may strain their tankless system, resulting in lukewarm water. Consider adding smaller, dedicated point-of-use units to showers or appliances if this sounds like your household. A trusted HVAC professional can help you with sizing the right system for your Northeast Ohio home.
- Ventilation. Some systems, especially whole-house systems, require hookups to a gas line, which may increase the ventilation requirements for your home. This can increase the cost of your installation. Another option is to install an outdoor tankless water heater, though this has another drawback:
- Length of pipe. The longer the pipe between your tankless water heater and your faucet or showerhead, the more cool water has to drain out before the hot water gets to you. For water-conserving households, running water until it runs hot may be undesirable. You can offset this with systems such as water heat recyclers (also known as drainwater heat recovery systems) and solar water heating. This is a much smaller problem with point-of-use systems.
- Installation and maintenance. Given the above concerns, it’s important to work with someone familiar with tankless water heating systems, who can help you decide what setup would be best for your home. Look for installers with a good history and NATE (North American Technician Excellence) certification, as well as a nearby location. A tankless water heater is a long-term investment, and you’ll want to keep it well-maintained through its decades of use.
If you have any questions, please contact us at Energy 1 Heating & Air Conditioning. We serve homeowners in Lorain, Erie and Cuyahoga counties, and will be glad to help you with your home comfort needs.
Our goal is to help educate our customers in Lorain, Ohio about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems). For more information about tankless water heating and other HVAC topics, download our free Home Comfort Resource guide.
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Energy 1 Heating & Air Conditioning
1 (440) 246-5440
Serving the Lorain, OH Area