Tankless Water Heater Installation and Repairs
Have you noticed more and more that you are running out of hot water in the shower and everywhere else in the house? When was the last time you remembered changing your old water heater for a new one? If you believe that the time is right for an improvement in the way you generate hot water for every member of the family then it may be time to get a tankless water heater for your home. Compared to the conventional tank water heaters, a tankless hot water heater heats up water “as desired” or “on demand” so to speak. It features a very powerful burner or heating element that is activated with the flow of water when you turn on the hot water fixture on your tap. One great advantage of a new tankless water heater is it is free from the limitations imposed by a conventional hot water heater as it can produce hot water for you anytime you want. According to data from the US Department of Energy a tankless water heater may initially cost more than a standard water heater or a heat pump but it offers more energy efficiency and savings for you in the long term.
Tankless Water Heater versus Conventional Tank Water Heater
We are all quite familiar with the conventional tank water heaters which work really well but are not all that energy efficient. As a matter of fact, more than 27 million American households own a water heater that is more than ten years old. It may be very reliable as a home fixture but when it fails, it creates a really big mess and additional water damage to your home. The problem with a conventional hot water system is that regardless of how awesome the insulation of the tank is, the hot water within will get cold over time. The only means to ensure that hot water is kept hot is to regularly warm it up. This is a continuous cycle that consumes a lot of energy and money too. The standby heat loss usually accounts for 10-20% of the total annual water heating costs. In some households, the amount of energy consumed just for heating water is even higher than for heating the house itself.
A tankless hot water heater system is designed to prevent the pitfalls that come with using a standard tank heater for the home. It offers homeowners a more energy-efficient means to have a constant hot water supply. It makes use of very powerful gas burners or electrical elements that can quickly heat water up at the time of use, as opposed to simply storing and continuously heating the water when needed. A new tankless hot water heater heats up the water only when there is a need for it and thereby prevents standby heat loss and of course lots of savings. Apart from preventing standby heat loss, a new tankless hot water heater is also more efficient at how they use fuel regardless if it is gas or electricity. Through modulation of their fuel usage, they use only what they require to heat water at the flow rate actually being used. For instance, when you turn on the sink faucet that is drawing 1 gpm, less fuel is used to heat water compared to a tub spout running at 5 gpm. This results in fuel-use reductions of up to 50% when compared to a tank heater.
Types of Tankless Hot Water Heater Available
For a tankless water heater system, there are two kinds that you need to be aware of and these are: centrally-located whole house heaters and point-of-use heaters for individual fixtures. At Schuler Plumbing we can help you decide what you need for your home. Factors that are considered for selection include the water usage habits of the entire household, and the demands of the fixtures involved. Some households may need point-of-use tankless water heater installation so as to supplement a central unit, characteristically at fixtures that consume a lot of hot water or are simply too far off from the central water heater. Whole house new tankless hot water heater installation is recommended for small to average-sized homes, but multiple units may also be installed depending on the demands of larger households. Whether you are a small, average or large household, Schuler Plumbing is ready to assist you in all your needs.
How to Determine What You Need
If you are seriously considering a new tankless hot water heater for your home it is essential that you determine the hot water requirements of the entire household first. At Schuler Plumbing we can help you determine how much water you will require at peak demand and just how much will the incoming cold water need in order to be heated. We can do this for you very simply. First we shall list all the fixtures that will require hot water from the tankless water heater and then add up their flow rates For instance:
● Faucets: 0.75 gallons to 2.5 gallons per minute
● Low-flow shower heads: 1.2 gallons to 2 gallons per minute
● Older standard shower heads: 2.5 gallons to 3.5 gallons per minute
● Clothes washers and dishwashers: 1 gallon to 2 gallons per minute
Once we determine the incoming water temperature, we then calculate for the temperature rise – how much the heater will require to heat the cold water. Most households are satisfied with 120F water and most new tankless hot water heater units can heat up to 160F. By figuring out the hot water demand and the temperature rise need will allow us to concentrate our efforts on tankless water heater units that meet the needs of your home.
Tankless Hot Water Heater Repair & Replacement
While a tankless hot water heater is reliable and offers huge energy saving benefits they are not immune to technical issues. If you have recently purchased or have owned a tankless hot water heater for some time already, it will require regular maintenance checks in order to ensure a longer lifespan and higher operational efficiency. Schuler Plumbing is here to assist you with all your hot water heater repair and maintenance needs.
Signs Your Tankless Water Heater May Need Service…
Sudden Change in Water Quality – You may require tankless water heater repair if you noticed a sudden change in water quality. Typically, water that is rusty, cloudy or filled with sediment is a sure sign that there is something wrong with your unit. Call Schuler Plumbing immediately to fix the problem.
Abrupt Lack of Hot Water – An issue that a lot of tankless water heaters have is known as combustion shutdown. This can happen when the venting of exhaust gases is restricted in some manner for instance, potential blockage in the venting tubes. The computer system of the unit that monitors this will shut the heater down when this problem is detected as a safety measure. If you have had the unit for many years already chances are a tankless water heater replacement is on the horizon.
Presence of Warning Messages – Probably the ultimate sign that your tankless water heater requires servicing will come from the unit itself. Most units come with a display warning that tells the user there is a technical issue with the unit. This is something that you should not simply ignore. If you do so chances are you might be opening yourself up for a tankless hot water heater replacement soon.
For all your tankless hot water heater repair or replacement needs, call Schuler Plumbing today.
