Energy Efficient |Tankless Water Heaters Fort Worth

When it comes time to replace a water heater, homeowners are looking for an energy efficient choice. Conventional water heaters are manufactured to store large amounts of heated water. The tankless heater on the other hand, is designed to produce hot water only when it is needed. Instead of heating and storing hot water, it heats the water as it passes through the unit on its way to the opened tap. It is the lack of reheating stored hot water that makes tankless water heaters in Fort Worth energy efficient, and environmentally sound.

If your goal is to decrease your energy cost, the selection of tankless water heaters in Fort Worth may be a solution for your home. With hot water production accounting for approximately 18% of an average home’s energy use, the water heater is the second highest energy user in the home after heating and air conditioning.

Is Hot Water Really Instant?

When you turn on a hot water tap, it starts cold water to flowing into the tankless water heater where the water temperature is quickly tested. From this point water is heated. However, the water existing in the pipes is not hot, unless you have just turned it off. So it may take a few seconds for existing water in the pipes to be flushed and hot water to arrive. You have the same wait from a conventional water heater to deliver hot water from the source.

Whether the hot water heater is a tank or tankless style, water in the pipes will be the first water delivered, until the hot water arrives from the water heater. If you want truly “almost instant” hot water, and want to eliminate the waste of water contained in pipe runs, consider installing point-of-use tankless water heaters in Fort Worth. With its close proximity to the desired tap, you can expect to receive close to instant hot water with this type of installation.

Hot Water vs. Warm

If your tankless water heaters in Fort Worth are providing warm water instead of hot, check the temperature setting on the water heater. During the winter, the incoming water temperature will be colder than usual, and you may need to increase the temperature to counter the cold water entering the tankless.

One Task at a Time

Tankless water heaters have a lower flow rate of 2.5 to 5 gallons per minute (GPM) than a storage tanks approximate 9 GPM. Gas tankless water heaters will have a higher flow rate than electric models. Furthermore, colder water in the winter can slow the production of hot water in a tankless, just as it would take a conventional hot water heater longer to heat water to the preset temperature.

The ability of tankless water heaters in Fort Worth to produce adequate hot water for your household, will depend upon several factors. The size of the unit, and the demand placed upon the unit are two of these factors. If you are using a single tankless water heater, and are unable to maintain adequate hot water, limiting hot water use to one activity at a time will keep hot water flowing for the task at hand.

This highlights the importance of using a qualified plumber to install tankless water heaters in Fort Worth. There are a number of factors that have to be considered when sizing the appropriate tankless water heater for your home.

For example, if your household uses more than 41 gallons of hot water each day, a single tankless water heater may be insufficient. You will still save energy on the production of hot water, but the amount provided may not always be sufficient. If you are dedicated to saving energy, and the budget allows it, you can of course install multiple tankless water heaters. With a point of use unit dedicated for each individual location, you don’t have to worry about flow rate restrictions. For those whose budgets allow it, it is a great way to save up to 50% on the cost of hot water production.

When considering tankless water heaters in Fort Worth, your plumber will need to know the affecting factors, such as if two or more persons typically shower at the same time. If so, you may need a larger tankless unit, or multiple units, than if this was not the case. This is due to the relatively limited flow rate of tankless units. Point of use tankless water heaters in Fort Worthare an additional option, and can conserve both energy and water by eliminating long pipe runs with wasted hot water that remains in the pipes after use.

Longevity

With proper care, tankless water heaters will outlast conventional water heaters, one of their most popular features. That is because it doesn’t have to work as hard, or as often, as a conventional water heater will, which repeatedly reheats hot water while it is stored. With proper maintenance, and depending upon water chemistry, a tankless water heater can have a life expectancy of approximately 20 years. With the availability of parts for some models, this can potentially be extended even further.

While it is true that gas-fired water heaters have higher flow rates than electric units, they waste slight amounts of energy if the pilot light is constantly burning. By selecting a tankless water heater with an intermittent ignition device, or IID, which only turns on the pilot light when hot water is needed, you can eliminate the waste of energy, ensuring your tankless water heaters in Fort Worth is as energy efficient as possible.

Other Uses

In addition to providing whole-house water heating, tankless water heaters also are ideal for other applications, and especially for remote locations. For example, a tankless water heater is a great way to supplement a solar hot water heater to ensure water is piping hot.

A point of use tankless unit is a solution for remote bathrooms or other locations too remote to receive hot water from the water heater. Outdoor hot tubs, pool houses, a workshop, or employee lunch room and restrooms are examples of other uses for tankless units.

There are specific factors a plumber will need to consider in its installation. Factors such as the available energy source and the amount of gas pressure present if a gas unit is being installed. Location, ventilation, power accessibility (even a gas unit needs electricity for the control panel), local building code and other factors are involved to ensure the proper function, efficient performance and the safety of tankless water heaters in Fort Worth.

The complexity of the installation calls for an experienced, licensed and gas certified professional plumber in Fort Worth, who knows how to accurately factor all of the information in, when performing the installation.

Periodic maintenance is essential to extend the life span of the water heater, and maintain a consistent efficiency. The owner’s manual should come with specific maintenance recommendations. but the basics are likely to include a professional annual cleaning.

With proper installation and regular maintenance you can expect energy efficient tankless water heaters in Fort Worth to last for the years to come. Benjamin Franklin Plumbing offers a broad range of plumbing services, including water heater repair and installation, for residential and commercial applications. Our professional plumbers are dedicated to your satisfaction. For the professional installation of tankless water heaters in Fort Worth, contact the plumbers who earn your trust, Benjamin Franklin Plumbing. We serve Fort Worth, Arlington and the surrounding areas. We are a member of the BBB with an A+ rating.