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Tankless water heaters in Fort Worth, TX are also called demand-type water heater because of their instantaneous hot water supply. Unlike the traditional water heaters, which only provide hot water once the tank is filled with hot water, tankless water heaters have a continuous flow of hot water, running through the faucets. In this post, we will explain how tankless water heaters work, what their mechanism is and the criteria to choose a water heater for your home.

How Tankless Water Heaters Work

Tankless water heaters in Fort Worth, TX have high-functioning burners to simultaneously heat up the water as the cold-water flows from the pipe attached to the unit. There is no water storage unit, as the name suggests. All you have to do is turn the tap on and cold water will flow to the unit through pipes and pass through heat exchanger that will heat it up on its way to the faucets. It has two pipes: one that carries cold water from the tap, with the heating unit in between, and second pipe that comes from the other side of the heating unit and goes back to the tap.

Tankless water heater either has a gas burner or an electric heater. However, unlike traditional water heater, the flow of water is limited with tankless heater because of the pipe’s capacity to carry water in one go.

Normally, the rate of tankless water heater to provide hot water is between 7 – 15 liters per minute. The gas-fire version of tankless water heaters has higher flow rates as compared to the electric versions. However, the ones with gas burners do have a limitation when it comes to simultaneously providing water for multiple uses. For example, if you are taking a shower and there is someone using the dishwasher at the same time, then it can put a strain on heater’s limit.

To deal with this issue, you can get two or more systems installed in parallel, depending on your family size and usage. To overcome this problem, you can install two or more tankless water heaters, connected in parallel for simultaneous demands of hot water.

Pros of Tankless Water Heater

• They are up to 30% more energy efficient than traditional storage water heaters, if your daily requirement of water is around 40 gallons.
• According to ENERGY STAR, a house with tankless water heater can save up to $100 annually.
• You will never run out of hot water because there is no concept of storage to begin with.
• Their lifespan is usually more than 10 years.
• They do not have any standby losses associated with it.
• If you have a smaller system, you can easily install them in cabinets and small closings without extra maintenance.
• They do not draw in unnecessary energy to heat up water. Energy is only used when the heated water is required.
• Your water heating bill can be reduced by up to 25% because there is no continuous consumption of energy.
• As compared to gas-fire heaters, electric versions of tankless heaters do not produce any harmful emissions.
• They come with separate remote control settings.
• You will not have to worry about leaking tanks.

Cons of Tankless Water Heater

• A normal traditional water storage heater would cost around $500. However, initial purchasing cost of tankless water heaters is high, around $2000.
• Tankless water heaters in Fort Worth, TX cannot keep up with simultaneous use of different water outlets at a house and can reach the water flow limit.
• There is an extra cost involved to install multiple tankless water heaters to meet the increased demand of hot water.

How to Select the Right Tankless Water Heater in Fort Worth, TX

You need to consider following factors when buying tankless water heater:

• Size – You have to calculate the number of devices you would want to connect to the heater’s supply and then sum up their flow rate altogether. This way, you will know what flow rate you need per minute to meet your need.

For example, if you need to run water to do dishes and run water in the shower at the same time, with a flow rate of 0.70 gallons water per minute and 2.6 gallons respectively, then you need a tankless heater that can meet the need of 3.3 gallons water per minute.

• Fuel type – Choosing how you are going to fuel the system will determine the efficiency of the heater and its annual operating cost. You need to choose the fuel type according to its efficiency and availability. The types available are:
  • Electric water heaters
  • Solar energy charged
  • Propane gas heaters
  • Natural gas heaters
• Energy efficient – Before you buy the heater, you must check how much it is efficient, in terms of energy consumption.
• Cost – Each model will cost different. Gas-operated versions are cheaper than electrical units. You need to calculate the annual operating cost to decide which one is more cost efficient.

Installation of tankless water heater

Proper tankless water heater installation depends on the fuel type, the area you are living in, building requirements and the safety issues involved. When you are sure about the size and type of tankless water heater you need, you may then contact the manufacturers to guide you with installation instructions.  It is important to know that regular maintenance of the heater can extend its lifespan and maintain its efficiency. However if you are living in areas where there hard water is supplied, water can wear down the heater.

To get tankless water heaters in Fort Worth, TX installed, it is better to call in for professional services, as they will take care of all the necessary plumbing requirements to properly fix and install the water heater. They will also provide you with instruction and maintenance manuals for later use. Therefore, if you can afford the extra initial cost of purchasing tankless water heaters and then installations cost, then you should go for them, as they are energy efficient and last longer. However, if you have a limited income and lower water storage requirements, then traditional water heaters can do well for you. Call in professional plumbing services and discuss which one would be best suited for your household.