Tankless Water Heaters

Delight your family when you take their hot water needs seriously. Level up how much hot water is available on demand while you save money with a tankless water heater. No more running out of hot water or waiting for more to heat up for that relaxing soak in the tub. A tankless water heater can handle whatever hot water demands you throw at it. Due to how they function, they’re also called instantaneous water heaters or on-demand water heaters.

What is a Tankless Water Heater?

A gas or electric tankless water heater uses a compact heating element to warm water on demand. With these units, water isn’t heated until you turn on the hot water tap, washing machine, or dishwasher. The water flows through the tankless water heater and is brought to the proper toasty temperature. It’s more energy efficient than a tank water heater that holds many gallons of water and constantly works to keep it hot.

Tankless Water Heater Advantages

While tankless water heater installation costs may seem steep at first, consider the positives:

• All tankless water heaters are more energy efficient than tank water heaters. They only heat the water you need when you need it, instead of a tank water heater that periodically cycles the burner on. How much efficiency depends on your fuel preference and will affect the price tag.
• You’ll likely save money on your energy use — over 30% in some cases. We’ve also got ENERGY STAR® tankless water heaters.
• Running out of hot water will likely be a thing of the past. Unless you’re using several appliances requiring hot water at once, your bath or shower should feel just right every time.

Gas vs Electric Tankless Water Heaters

The first choice to make when shopping for tankless water heaters is whether you’d like a gas tankless water heater or an electric one. Depending on where you live, the choice may be made for you. Not every state, housing unit, or commercial space allows gas appliances. If you have other gas appliances in your home, there’s an excellent chance that you can add another one, like a gas water heater. We also carry propane tankless water heaters, many of which are combo units that can run on natural gas or propane.

Supposing you have the choice of an electric tankless water heater vs a gas tankless water heater, here are some things to consider:

• Natural gas tankless water heaters cost more but last longer and have lower energy costs.
• Electric tankless water heaters have a lower price tag and last about as long as standard tank water heaters.

Either way, you may need updates to accommodate your new tankless water heater. For electric water heaters, your current wiring might need to be updated to run this appliance. For gas, your existing gas lines may not be big enough to supply a tankless water heater that requires more oomph. Both gas and electric tankless water heaters come in high-efficiency and super-high-efficiency models.

You can also choose between condensing and non-condensing tankless water heaters, depending on whether your vent pipes are made of PVC or steel, respectively. Condensing tankless models are newer to the market and more efficient, thus making them pricier. Non-condensing heaters have been around longer and are less expensive because they’re less heat efficient.

Tankless Water Heater Terms

Learn the terminology of water heaters to better understand what you’ll need for your household. These phrases also pop up when shopping for tank water heaters:

• Temperature rise is the difference between the groundwater and how many degrees you’ll need to heat it to be comfortably hot. It varies by where you live. For water heaters, a temperature rise will be less in warmer climates and more up north, where it gets colder in the winter.
• BTUs are British Thermal Units. They measure the heat made by the water heater. The higher the BTU, the more heat you’re working with.
• The maximum flow rate is the total of all the water going through the pipes at the same time. If you usually run the dishwasher, shower, and washer all at once, add up the gallons per minute for each task. You want your hot water heater to meet or exceed those demands.

Use these terms as you explore what tankless water heater size may work best for you. We have many tankless water heaters for 1 or 2 showers, as well as an assortment of BTU ranges to fit households with 1 to 4 showers and the options in between. It’s best to match your unit size to your projected usage or slightly more. Oversizing your tankless water heater isn’t a good use of funds or energy, so just stick to what you need.

Tankless Water Heater Location

These appliances have different location requirements and freedoms compared to tank water heaters. However, it depends on your state and codes. You’ll likely have more flexibility on where you can install an electric tankless water heater if you’re not keeping it in a current water heater closet. Some people put it near where they want the hot water, like an under-the-sink tankless water heater or one that goes in a bathroom near the shower. These electric units are called point-of-use tankless water heaters and are smaller than whole-house electric tankless water heaters. You may not have all those options with a tankless gas water heater, as those may need to be installed on an exterior wall and cannot vent into a chimney.

Tankless Water Heater Maintenance

Once you’ve decided to get a tankless water heater, prepare to be diligent with maintenance. Clean it as recommended to keep it running smoothly. Upkeep is easier and more affordable than a repair bill.

Hard water means you’ll need twice as much maintenance. If your current water setup includes a water softener, be prepared for extra upkeep of your new tankless water heater, such as descaling and valve replacement. You may even need to keep a water softener for your new water heater to help cut back on mineral buildups and clogs.

Tankless Water Heater Installation

Keep in mind that while you may be a skilled and confident DIYer, you’ll more than likely need professional tankless water heater installation by a licensed plumber. This is for safety reasons. Many states require permits to ensure the gas line setup, venting, or electric wiring is up to code and not a fire or safety hazard.

However, you may be able to make your life easier by scheduling the installation through us. If it’s an option in your area, our trusted pros can install a tankless water heater. We've got tankless water heaters with Let Us Do It For You installation available for you.

From whole-house tankless water heaters to point-of-use, from electric tankless water heaters to gas, we’re your source for economical showers and baths. Explore our best tankless water heaters and water heater accessories so you can make an informed and confident decision. Get it delivered to your door and installed by professionals to enjoy the luxury of nearly endless hot water.