How to Buy a Tankless Hot Water Heater

A tankless water heater is a viable option to consider when adding a second water heater or replacing an outdated model. Tankless water heaters produce hot water on demand. They take up much less space than traditional hot water heater models. These water heaters use less energy and may provide additional cost savings depending on your usage needs.

Difficulty: Moderately Challenging

Instructions

Purchase a Tankless Water Heater

1. Research the types of tankless water heaters available. Power sources for tankless water heaters include: electric, fuel oil, solar, natural gas, propane, and geothermal energy.

2. Determine the size of tankless water heater you will need. Are you adding capacity by installing a tankless water heater as a secondary hot water source? Or will the tankless system be the primary home water source?

3. Estimate the number of devices needing hot water, the flow rate, and the temperature rise to accurately determine your usage needs. See the U.S. Department of Energy website in the Resources link below.

4. Understand the energy efficiency rating of the product before you make your purchase. A highly rated energy-efficient product does not necessarily mean it will cost less to operate. Some energy-efficient models do, however, qualify for a tax credit. See tax information in Resources section below.

5. Calculate the operating cost of the tankless water heater. See the Resources section for a link to this calculation.

6. Purchase a tankless water heater from a local hardware, home store, or specialty store.

References

• Consumer Reports Reviews
• Tankless Water Heater Reviews
• Types of Tankless Water Heaters

Resources

• U.S. Department of Energy - How Do Tankless Water Heaters Work?
• U.S. Tax Credit
• Energy Operation Calculation - How much will it cost to run?