24/7 Emergency Service

Think a Tankless Water Heater Is for You? What Size?Are you in need of water heater upgrade? Many Oak Park homeowners are finding that a tankless water heater is the right energy-efficient upgrade in their Michigan home. Before deciding on a model for your household, it is important to determine the right size, location, and demand beforehand.

Tankless water heaters differ from conventional water heaters in that there is no large tank that holds the building’s hot water pre-use. This means that stored, unused water isn’t being constantly and expensively reheated. Instead, a tankless system heats water only as it is needed, such as when the washing machine is turned on.

Before choosing a tankless water heater, homeowners need to determine how many hot water applications will regularly be running at the same time in order to correctly size a unit by household water demand. For example, do you frequently run the dishwasher at the same time family members take showers? Most manufacturers rate their systems based on the amount of hot-water uses occurring simultaneously. The higher the tankless system’s capacity, the more appliances utilizing hot water can be operated at the same time. If you have a larger family, it may be necessary to install two or more tankless water heaters to ensure hot water is always readily available.

Once you have determined the correct size for your Sterling Heights household’s water demand, the next question is where best to locate the unit. This may mean installing it somewhere other than where your old tank was. Tankless heaters heat water on-demand, as it passes through the system. Therefore, it makes the most sense to install units close to high-use water appliances, such as in the kitchen or near the family bathroom.

Although some of these systems can be easy to install, it is best to consult a professional HVAC contractor, especially if you are converting an old water tank system into a tankless one.

For more information on implementing a tankless water heater in your home, contact your local HVAC experts at Aladdin Heating & Cooling, proudly serving homeowners throughout the Southeast Michigan area.

Our goal is to help educate our customers in Warren, Michigan about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems).  For more information about tankless water heaters and other HVAC topics, download our free Home Comfort Resource guide.

Image courtesy of Shutterstock