The Essentials to Pick the Right Size Tankless Water Heater
Upgrading to a tankless water heater is an excellent investment in your home to save money on energy, increase property value, and better your quality of life at home. Tankless Experts Inc. has created a 3 step process to ensure your investment is the perfect choice for your home. 3 factors are crucial to picking the right size water heater:
- How many gallons per minute of hot water will your house need at any time?
- What is the change in temperature needed to heat your incoming water to the desired temperature?
- Do you need to choose a tankless water heater powered by electricity or gas?
When searching for the best tankless water heater option for your home, all of these factors can narrow your search making the task easier with just a few calculations.
How many gallons of water will your water heater need to produce?
Every home is unique in the fixtures and appliances within it. Therefore, every home has different hot water needs. Tankless water heaters of different sizes are able to produce varying rates of hot water per minute. The water used by any fixture or appliance is commonly defined as flow rates. In order to calculate your home’s hot water flow rate, you need to estimate the typical number of fixtures and appliances you will use in your home at any given time. Add up all the flow rates to determine the maximum flow rate for your tankless water heater. Examples of fixtures and appliances to consider are:
- Shower Head
- Hot Water Faucet
- Bathtub
- Dishwasher
- Washing Machine
There is a variety of reference materials available with images and calculators to help in finding your home’s hot water demand on your hot water heater. One excellent reference is found on wateranywhere.com. Here you can find an image with typical flow rates for appliances and fixtures, as well as a calculator for the output water flow rate needed from your tankless heater. Understanding tankless water heater flow rate is the first step in picking the right size tankless water heater.
What change in temperature will be required?
Tankless hot water heaters provide hot water to your home by heating the cold water on demand versus a traditional water heater. Since water is heated on demand the amount of temperature rise is dependent on incoming water temperature. Different homes have varying groundwater temperatures based on the area or region the home is located in and the source of the groundwater.
In Greater Toronto Area and Mississauga, groundwater temperature is on the lower end of the average groundwater temperature spectrum. Therefore, the water temperature rise required to reach a comfortable output temperature is greater. Every water heater has a different maximum temperature rise. Ensuring your tankless heater can meet your home’s temperature rise needs is crucial in your purchasing adventure.
The average hot water temperature for a residential home is around 120 degrees Fahrenheit or 49 degrees Celsius. Make sure your heater can heat the incoming groundwater temperature to match these temperature ranges to provide your home with substantial hot water. To find your area’s ground temperature, refer to a groundwater temperature map or contact your water service provider. Calculate the difference between the recommended hot water temperature and cold water temperature.
Gas Tankless Water Heater vs Electric Tankless Water Heater
Choosing the energy source for your heater is largely dependent on what is available to your home. A gas-powered tankless water heater is not always a choice as not all homes have access to gas. For the sake of this article, we will assume you have the option to choose between gas-powered units and an electric unit. Each of the gas or electric option have its own pros and cons.
A tankless gas water heater provides the greatest potential temperature rise of the two options, but at the cost of money. Gas heater options are more expensive to purchase and install but have a lower cost to operate. Gas prices are less expensive than electricity, however, the price of gas is largely subject to change. Gas models are also larger than electric models. Gas tankless water heaters are best suited for homes with a larger initial budget and greater hot water requirements.
An electric tankless heater is on the small side and able to be placed in small places like closets or cabinets. They are cheaper to install and to purchase the unit. Because electric heaters are less efficient in changing water temperatures, they may not be suited for larger homes or homes in frigid environments. Electric tankless units are more expensive to operate. Choosing between gas versus electric is a choice left up to the homeowner based on budget and what is best to suit their needs.
When it comes to finding the right tankless water heater solution for your situation, trust the industry leaders. Tankless Experts is dedicated to offering informed advice, an affordable water heater option, and solutions based on your unique needs. We carry and service various types of tankless water heaters capable of covering and size room or home. Contact us today for more information and a free, no obligation estimate!