If you’re making the switch from a storage to a tankless water heater, you’re going to face questions about installation procedures and locations. However, with a little homework, consulting an experienced contractor, and following these tips, you’ll have endless hot water at your fingertips in no time at all.
Consider Your Hot Water Needs
For any water heater, energy is consumed to heat water and consumed by water pipes that absorb heat energy from hot water. Therefore, installing your tankless water heater as close as possible to the appliances and outlets that use the most hot water reduces energy and water usage.
Your goal is to avoid long piping runs between the tankless unit and high-demand outlets. Consider the location logically. For example, even though your clothes washer may use up to 40 gallons of water and your showers use only 10, you’ll save more energy and water if your tankless water heater is closer to the shower, assuming you don’t run the clothes washer every day.
Consider Your Dishwasher and Clothes Washer Models
Many new clothes washers and dishwashers heat water internally. They don’t need a hot water connection. If your appliances are relatively new, research this important detail if you’re unsure. If you do have self-heating appliances (or plan to upgrade), you can reduce the size of your tankless system to save purchase and installation costs.
Venting: Conventional or Direct?
Tankless water heaters use more air for combustion and produce more exhaust than storage water heaters. For conventional roof venting, you may be limited on the vent length, depending on the tankless unit’s BTUs. This could prevent installation in a basement of a three-floor home.
If you’re installing a high-efficiency direct vent unit with sidewall venting, the vent termination must be more than 3 feet from any operable windows. You also want to avoid installing the intake vent near a dryer exhaust termination.
For more information about installing your tankless water heater in the most practical spot, please contact Mowery Heating, Cooling and Plumbing. We’ve delivered exceptional service and installation to Indianapolis residents for more than 40 years.
Our goal is to help educate our customers in Brownsburg, Indiana and surrounding areas about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems).
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