Is Tankless Water Heater Installation The Right Choice For Your Home?
Posted on: 25 July 2019
These days, more homeowners are making the switch from traditional water heaters (which hold hot water in a 40-50 gallon tank) to innovative tankless water heaters, which take up less space and are very energy efficient. Using a gas burner or an electric heating element, a tankless water heater is able to heat water on-contact, allowing for an endless and on-demand supply of hot water in your home.
If you're thinking about upgrading to a tankless water heater, there are some things you need to know. For starters, tankless water heater installation isn't as easy of a job as you might think. Choosing the right tankless water heater installation services will ensure that the job is done correctly and in a timely manner.
Retrofitting for a Tankless Water Heater
First of all, a traditional gas or electric water heater cannot simply be "swapped" with a tankless one. There is generally a fair amount of retrofitting that needs to be done in order to properly equip a home for tankless operation. Often times, pipe sizes need to be changed (especially with gas lines) to accommodate the higher demand for heating fuel. Tankless water heaters also lack the built-in venting that traditional water heaters offer, so additional ventilation will likely need to be installed to carry heat and gases safely away from your home through the roof or a perimeter wall.
In some cases, a permit and/or inspection may also be required by your city before and after a tankless water heater is installed.
What to Look for in an Installation Company
With all this in mind, it makes sense that installing a tankless water heater is not a DIY job. Instead, you'll want to hire a professional plumber who has extensive experience installing both electric and gas water heaters. Ideally, your plumber will also take care of obtaining any permits or being present for any inspections that will be required as part of the job.
When hiring a contractor to handle your tankless water heater installation, make sure they will come out to your home and provide a thorough assessment of all the retrofitting that will need to be done. From there, you can have a better understanding of what the project will entail and what to expect. An experienced tankless water heater installer should be able to complete the project in a matter of a couple of days; from there, you can begin enjoying all the benefits of a tankless water heater in your home!
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