Best Practices for Configuring Tankless Water Heaters

For many homeowners, tankless water heaters offer a convenient way to lower energy bills. Because these appliances are still relatively uncommon, the process of configuring tankless water heaters is a little confusing to most. If you’re thinking of installing a tankless system, knowing a little about common configuration practices will help you plan ahead.

The right system type

Tankless water heaters may be whole-house systems or point-of-use systems. A whole-house system uses one heater to supply hot water to all locations in your home. Because some points, such as showers, require a high flow rate, you may need two whole-house systems to meet your family’s demands.

Point-of-use systems deliver hot water to a limited area, such as the bathroom or a dishwasher. Point-of-use systems take up less space than whole-house units and are less expensive to purchase and install. Often, installing multiple point-of-use units is more cost-effective than installing one whole-house unit.

Optimal locations

A whole-house unit may be located in a crawl space or attic to ensure quick water delivery to all points in the house. Installation in the kitchen or master bathroom also works well.

Point-of-use models are installed near the points to which they deliver water. A system that supplies the bathroom sink and shower may be mounted on the bathroom wall, under the sink or in a cupboard. If you’re using the tankless water heater as a booster for a high-demand appliance such as a washing machine or dishwasher, the water heater will be installed near the appliance.

Power supply

Configuring tankless water heaters in your home also depends on the location of your home’s gas and electricity lines. Even gas models require electricity to operate.

Before you choose a tankless water heater system, consult a professional for accurate sizing and to determine the number of units you’ll need. If you’re ready for help configuring tankless water heaters in your home, contact us at Sobieski Services. Our goal is to help educate our customers in Delaware, Pennsylvania, Maryland and New Jersey about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC & plumbing systems).

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