5 Tip Checklist When Considering A Tankless Water Heater System

“The idea behind a tankless system is that it heats the water as you need it instead of continually heating water stored in a tank,” says Bob Beall, the Pittsburgh master plumber who offers the free second opinion and expert plumbing advice daily.  Mr Rooter Plumbing Tankless Water Heaters®, now offered in the Pittsburgh and Youngstown market, exemplify the tankless water systems that  have been the norm in much of Europe and Japan for quite some time, but they haven’t gained popularity until recently in the United States — “largely due to the green movement,” Beall explains.

“If you’re a good candidate for a tankless system, (most homes qualify), you can save a substantial amount of money every year on your monthly bills while at the ­same time conserving natural gas,” says Mr Rooter.  “Tankless heaters also last about five to 10 years longer than a tank heater, take up much less space and provide you with an unlimited amount of hot water,” says the most referred and trusted plumbing specialist in the Northeast Ohio and Southwest Pennsylvania region.

“Tankless systems avoid standby loss by heating incoming water only as you need it — they’re also referred to as “on demand” water heaters for this reason. The elimination of the standby heat loss is what makes a tankless system more efficient,” says Beall.

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With tankless water heaters, you can choose from electric, propane or natural gas models, according to Beall.  He adds that point-of-use models are generally electric, while whole-house systems are usually powered by either natural gas or propane.

Tankless Terminology Explained

Desired Flow Rate:  Rate determined by listing the number of hot water devices expected to be open at any one time, and adding their flow rates.

Temperature Rise:  Temperature established by subtracting the incoming water temperature from the desired output temperature. The incoming water temperature can be determined by calling the local water utility or checking the supply with a thermometer. Desired output temperatures are usually 120° F for most uses.
(See also, scalding and preventing waterborne pathogens.)

Stand-by Losses:  Stand-by losses account for 10 to 20 percent of a home’s annual water heating bill. They occur when heat is conducted and radiated from the walls of a hot water tank, or through the flue pipe in gas heaters.

In summary, according to Beall: A Mr Rooter Tankless Hot Water System® will cost about 10 to 20 percent less to operate than standard tank water heaters.  Beall says these systems operate at 94 percent efficiency when installed properly. They also can last up to twice as long as tank-type water heaters. In most cases, these savings allow the homeowner to recover the additional unit cost in a short period of time.

Mr Rooter Tip Of The Day

Tip #1  Determine the role of the tankless unit(s) in the home. Decide if the home will use a centrally-installed whole-house unit, multiple point-of-use units, or both. Tankless units can be the home’s sole water heating source, or can be used to supplement traditional or solar water systems.

Tip #2  Determine the home’s water heating needs. Water heater capacity should be determined to ensure that the right size of tankless water heater is selected to meet peak demand. A Mr Rooter qualified plumbing specialist will assist the homeowner to determine system size.

Tip #3  Assess initial cost versus operational cost and other benefits. Compare higher initial costs for tankless units with operational cost savings from increased energy efficiency and longer life expectancy.  Also consider benefits such as house-design flexibility and unlimited hot water supply.

Tip #4  Select fuel type. Installation considerations differ for electric and gas units.  Electric units may require multiple circuits and in some cases, a larger service size. Tankless gas water heaters generally require a power vent and may require a separate gas supply. Electric heaters generally cost more to operate than natural gas units.  Propane units are also available in most instances.

Tip #5  Educate the Homeowner. Provide the homeowner with information on the performance of the system, such as endless hot water, and lower utility bills.  Additionally, a qualified Mr Rooter plumbing technician will be able to provide basic information on operating the unit and proper documentation and contact details in the event a maintenance service call is warranted.

TRADE SECRETS:  Ease Of Installation

New construction is the optimum time to introduce tankless water heaters in order to maximize the benefits and minimize first cost.  Heaters can be centrally located in the house, in order to minimize hot water runs.  Additionally, electric wiring and/or venting can be most easily implemented at this time.  Transitioning from the use of conventional water heaters to tankless systems can be difficult in an existing home, and is generally not something the homeowner can do independently from a qualified plumbing expert.  Electric heaters usually will need four times the electricity to operate.  This will require additional wiring and possibly a higher capacity main electric panel.  Many gas tankless manufacturers recommend a direct vent – this will bring in fresh air from outside for combustion and vent the flue gas using a blower through a side wall.  Proper training and licensing is required by code in most areas – Mr Rooter Plumbing provides confident and front line certified services.

FYI About Contamination Residing In Home Plumbing Systems

One other thing to consider is the sediment that lays in the bottom of a traditional hot water tank.  This sediment is a breeding point for waterborne pathogens.  Rubber hoses, supply lines, home spas, whirlpools and hot tubs should always be thoroughly disinfected to prevent making your family sick.  How sick?  Read how Legionnaire’s Disease could have been prevented in recent alleged deaths at the VA Medial Center in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

Beall ‘s goal is to provide affordable costs to homeowners for any of the services they may need, many of which might occur unexpectedly. Mr Rooter coupons help to achieve this goal, as well as expert plumbing advice offered daily to homeowners.  Mr Rooter prides itself on excellent customer service.  Fast, courteous and front line services is what you should expect.  We guarantee that is what you will get and our customers always know the price before we start. Learn about Mr Rooter Trenchless Pipelining System Repair.

About Mr. Rooter ^® :

Established in 1970, Mr. Rooter® is an all-franchised, full-service plumbing and drain cleaning company serving 2.9 million consumers in the Northeast Ohio and Southwest Pennsylvania region. Recognized by Entrepreneur magazine among its “Franchise 500” and Franchise TimesTop 200, Mr. Rooter® provides services to both residential and commercial customers.  24/7 emergency plumbing repairs call 1-877-ROOTER2.  For more information or to schedule an appointment, please visit our Web site at www.rooter2.com .  Follow Mr. Rooter on Twitter (https://twitter.com/mrrootermedia ), or like Mr. Rooter on Facebook (http://www.facebook.com/MrRooterPittsburgh).

Mr Rooter currently serves seven major Southwest PA counties: Allegheny, Armstrong, Beaver, Butler, Fayette, Sharon, Mercer, Washington, and Westmoreland.  Mr Rooter Youngstown serves three major Northeast OH counties:  Columbiana, Mahoning and Trumbull.

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Debra Santavicca PR, SMM, WebIT
Mr. Rooter Media Center
724-553-9510
www.rooter2.com