-Tankless water heaters have been around since the 1930s and entered the U.S. market in the 1970s, rapidly gaining popularity starting in the 1990s. Quality 1st Plumbing & Drains, always at the forefront of plumbing technology, recently released the top tips for purchasing the best tankless water heater for household or business needs.
Tankless water heaters, also known as “on-demand” water heaters have grown in popularity due to their energy, water, and space-saving qualities.
Hot water on demand reduces energy use and saves water. Tankless technology heats the water as soon as the hot water faucet is turned on.
- There is no “holding tank” as with traditional water heaters, meaning no need to waste water while it warms up.
- Since the water heats as soon as the faucet turns on, no energy is used to keep water hot in the storage tank of a traditional water heater.
- Tankless water heaters take up much less space. A traditional 40-gallon water heater takes up about 16 square feet of space. Tankless water heaters are also mounted on a wall, which frees up more space.
- Tankless water heaters have a life span of 20 years or more, compared to 8 to 12 years for a gas water heater, of 10 to 15 for an electric.
How to choose a tankless water heater
Quality 1st supplies and installs tankless water heaters for Paso Robles and all nearby locations. The team has helped thousands of customers select the best water heater for their needs by answering these questions:
- What is the home or business energy source? Tankless water heaters come in natural gas, propane, and electric models, and can operate on solar energy.
- What size of tankless water heater is needed? Tankless water heaters come in various sizes from single-use such as the kitchen sink or whole-home water heaters. Whole-home tankless water heaters come in sizes that serve one to two people, and up to families of five or more. The water flow rate is one factor in determining the appropriate water heater. Groundwater temperature is another.
- What is “water flow rate?” The hot water flow rate, measured in gallons per minute (GPM), indicates how much hot water each location uses. For example, the locations/appliances using hot water would include a kitchen faucet, bathroom faucets, utility sink faucets, and a washer. The GPM can often be found in the owner guide, or it may be stamped on the device. When deciding on the best size to provide the needed hot water add up the GPM for each device. The total is the flow rate a tankless water heater needs to support.
- What does groundwater temperature have to do with a tankless water heater? Water arrives at the water heater at a temperature that is influenced by the temperature of the ground around the water pipes. For a tankless water heater to deliver the best-heated water, it needs to be equipped to efficiently heat water to the desired temperature. The difference between the water’s incoming temperature and how hot the water needs to be is “temperature rise,” and helps determine the size of the water heater. Different geographic locations have different ranges of groundwater temperature. For example, groundwater temperatures on California’s Central Coast are different than in North Dakota or Maine. There is a mathematical formula for calculating temperature rise. Fortunately, most tankless water heaters are rated by temperature zone, making it easier to just ask for one that is rated for a specific zone.
Choose the tankless water heater experts
Congratulations on deciding to upgrade to a tankless water heater. According to a market analysis report from Grand View Research, the 2022 North American tankless water heater market was estimated at $767.1 million and is expected to keep growing.
Working with the Quality 1st Paso Robles plumbers to acquire the best tankless water heater is a good choice for reducing both electric and water bills and for nice warm showers. Quality 1st is a full-service plumbing company in business since 2003, earning 5-star reviews from San Luis Obispo County customers. The services include:
- Tankless water heaters.
- Upfront pricing.
- Drain inspections and cleaning.
- Pipe repairs and repiping.
- Leak detection and repair.
- Toilet and urinal repair or replacement.
- Water valve repairs or installation.
- Reverse osmosis water systems.
- Water softeners.
- New construction.
Quality 1st Plumbing And Drains
Paso Robles, CA 93446
(805) 835-7460