5 Things to Consider when installing a tankless water heater

Due to the different technology, replacing traditional water heaters with tankless ones usually requires some additional adjustments.

Nowadays, there are more and more San Diego homeowners who are ditching their old water heaters and opting for the most modern tankless models.

Due to their modern technology, tankless water heaters provide numerous benefits, which include, but not the least of which is an inexhaustible amount of hot water.

However, going tankless is more than just swapping the old one for the new one since there are a lot of issues with compatibility and functionality to be taken care of prior to and during installation.

Here are the top five factors to be considered when installing an in-line tankless water heater.

Unit capacity

When determining the size of a traditional water heater is mainly down to storage capacity in the tank; however, with a tankless model, it's more complicated.

To figure out the capacity of the appliance your home requires, you'll need two pieces of information. The first step is to add the flow rates for all appliances and fixtures in your house that require hot water. The flow rates are measured in "gallons per minute" (GPM).

Some fixtures are equipped with their GPM clearly marked (such as the toilet), while other fixtures will have to be tested manually. After that, figure out the required temperature rise for your home's water supply to get the water temperature to its desired temperature.

To calculate this, subtract the first from the second; for instance: 120deg F (desired) + 50deg F = 70degF rise in temperature required.

Once you have determined your sum, your flows and temperatures are connected to determine the quantity of water that your tankless system requires to be heated at a particular temperature.

Due to the extensive quantity of mathematics involved in this process, you might consider consulting an expert plumber who can assist you in making these calculations.

Gas line compatibility

Tankless water heaters consume up to four times more BTUs than conventional water heaters. However, this doesn't mean that the tankless heater uses more gas--it simply requires a larger initial kick in order to begin because the water hasn't been heated.

The minimum size of the gas line needed for tanks with water heaters is 3/4-inch. Check with your plumber whether your existing gas line is enough or if you'll need to alter it to ensure adequate gas flow to the new model.

One of the most common issues with compatibility when installing tankless water heaters is the length of the line for gas.

Ventilation

Tankless water heaters have different requirements in terms of ventilation in comparison to tank-type heaters, and this is the reason why adjustments are typically required to set up.

Tankless units can be vented in two ways one is venting with power (which relies on air from the inside to create combustion and vent exhaust outdoors) or direct vent (which draws in air from the outside the home and requires an exhaust and intake vent).

No matter the style of venting, the tankless water heaters need venting in Category III stainless steel material, which is resistant to corrosion and gas-tight to avoid emissions of carbon monoxide.

The one exception is condensing tankless heaters, which have less heat from the exhaust and, therefore, can be vented using plastic material such as polypropylene or PVC.

Electricity

Although your tankless water heater operates on gas, the PC board and the digital remote (the "brains" of the system) require electricity, which means you'll need 120-volt electrical power. Because of the fact that it relies on electricity, Be aware that your tankless water heater will not run if the power is not available.

Location

Ventilation and clearance requirements may limit the location of tankless water heaters. In particular, because power-vent units depend on the air inside for combustion so they should be placed in a large space and in rooms that have louvers or vents in order to provide sufficient air circulation. However, since direct-vent units draw air from outside of the home and are able to be installed in smaller spaces like attics or closets.

Despite the code's restrictions, the tiny size of tanks gives more freedom in choosing the location of installation. They are even able to be put outside the house, which, as well as freeing up space within the house, can greatly simplify the need for ventilation. There's a high likelihood you'll need to change the gas line you have in place and vents to accommodate your new model, think about moving it if it's situated in an unsuitable location.

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