Tankless Water Heater: 6 Tips For Optimal Performance

Your water heater in Broken Arrow works harder than you might think. Cooking, doing laundry, and bathing all require hot water. For this reason, hot water heaters are put through the grinder. Traditional heaters face extensive wear and tear and make up for about 12% of your utility bill. If you want to save money, you can switch to a residential tankless water heater. But this doesn’t mean you can ignore the system. You should follow a few tips to make sure your water heater works up to its full potential.

1. Pick the Right Size

When you first get a tankless heater, make sure it’s the appropriate size for your home. Your system needs to be large enough for your home but not too large for your needs. Although your plumber can tell you which size is best for you, there are a few things you can do on your own to determine the size. First, count the number of water outlets in your home. You can use this number to determine what size your heater should be. It’s also important to consider the minimum flow rate of the water heater. To ensure the temperature of your water remains steady, a tankless heater has a minimum flow setting. For the best results, look for one that’s around .5 gallons per minute. Of course, this isn’t a decision you should make on your own. Unless you have training or years of experience with water heater installation, you should leave the job up to the professionals. They know exactly how to calculate the size of your ideal tankless water heater.

2. Pick the Appropriate Type of System

If you want to heat water for a whole home, you need a whole house system. But you have another option- a point-of-use water heater. You install each heater at the location you want hot water. So, if you have one at your kitchen sink, your point-of-use heater will only heat up the water from your sink. If you opt for a point-of-use heater, it will be cheaper than a whole-house system. But you’ll need to install a heater at each appliance, or you won’t have hot water. There are a few scenarios in which a point-of-use system might be appropriate:

Large Homes

In a large home, some plumbing fixtures are far from the whole house water heater. This means that the water will always be lukewarm in these fixtures. With a point-of-use water heater, you can make sure fixtures far from the central unit remain hot.

Small Homes

In a small home, you may not need a large water heater. You could be better off with a few point-of-use water heaters. This depends on the amount of hot water outlets.

Remote Areas

Do you have a shower or sink outside, or a new addition to your home? Instead of doing extensive plumbing work, you can just install a point-of-use system.

3. Vent Your Heater

Whether you have a tankless or a traditional water heater, it produces gases. One of those gases is carbon monoxide, and it’s highly dangerous. You need to vent your water heater to make sure those gases don’t back up into your home. Fortunately, this isn’t something you should need to worry about. If you work with an experienced plumber, they know the importance of venting. They make sure your hot water heater is set up in a way that keeps you and your family safe. When selecting a water heater installer, make the right pick. Look for someone who specializes in tankless water heater problems and solutions. While some plumbers specialize in traditional heaters, others focus on tankless ones. It’s essential to find someone who works with tankless heaters on a regular basis.

4. Keep Your Expectations in Check

If you read too much marketing material for tankless water heaters, you might have unrealistic expectations. Although these systems heat your water quickly, they don’t do so right away. It actually takes about two seconds for your water to heat up. Pushing your hot water heater too hard won’t end well. However, you don’t need to worry about this if you install a heater of the appropriate size. Your heater should warm up your water within a few seconds and not run out. If you find that your water does run out on a regular basis, there could be a problem. Of course, the needs of your home could change. If you suddenly have a new person living with you, it’s likely that your hot water use will increase greatly. An extra person means more laundry, showers, and dishes. You may need to upgrade your tank or install a point-of-use system somewhere. 

5. Work with a Licensed Professional from the Start

From the moment you decide to install a tankless water heater, work with a licensed professional. They will know what is necessary for your heater to be in optimal shape. In addition to picking the right heater for your home, a licensed professional can handle the installation.  Tankless Water heaters are more complex than they seem. Therefore, you should never attempt a DIY installation or hire an unlicensed handyman to do the job. Before you hire someone, research them and their reputation.

6. Call for Residential Tankless Water Heater Maintenance 

If you don’t receive regular maintenance for your water heater, it won’t work well. While tankless heaters don’t need as much maintenance as traditional heaters, they still need an annual check-up. At least once a year, have a plumber in Broken Arrow come out and inspect your heater. They might flush the system and check all of the other components of the water heater. By getting regular maintenance, you reduce the need for repairs and keep your system as efficient as ever. Do you want your residential tankless water heater to be optimal? If so, it’s time to call us at Infinity Plumbing. We can handle a new installation or maintenance. Either way, you can trust us to get the job done well. Call us now and learn more. Follow our Facebook page for more updates.