At Village Plumbing, Air & Electric, we proudly install tankless water heaters in and around Houston. These innovative devices heat water on demand. A traditional water heater runs continuously to produce hot water and maintain its temperature. But a tankless unit turns on only when you use a hot water faucet, shower head, or an appliance such as a washing machine, potentially saving a great deal of energy.
Our licensed technicians are fully trained in tankless water heater installation, so you experience benefits such as:
- Energy Efficiency & Cost Savings: You save energy because the unit doesn’t run as often. You can potentially save hundreds of dollars per year in water bills.
- Space-Saving Design: Traditional systems usually contain a 40- to 60-gallon tank (measuring about 24 x 60 inches). By comparison, a standard tankless water heater is 20 x 10 x 28 inches.
- Longer Lifespan: A traditional water heater lasts eight to 12 years, but a tankless unit can serve your home for up to 20 years.
- On-Demand Hot Water: The unit heats water in seconds and delivers a continuous supply. Depending on the system’s capacity, it can serve multiple locations without lapses in hot water availability.
Types of Tankless Water Heaters
Village Plumbing, Air & Electric specializes in different types of tankless water heaters. Our team will help you decide what’s best suited for your home. Here are the tankless units we can install:
Electric Tankless Water Heaters
An electric heating element heats the water that passes through the unit. An electric tankless system costs less upfront, but its lifespan is similar to a traditional water heater. Depending on your home’s electrical capacity, an upgrade may be required to support the additional demand.
Gas Tankless Water Heaters
Heating water with a gas burner, gas tankless water heaters tend to last longer. They can also produce a larger temperature rise per unit of water flow (in gallons per minute (GPM)). Although higher in cost to install, gas units cost less to operate and are suited for large households.
Point-of-Use Tankless Water Heaters
A point-of-use unit can supplement or be used as an alternative to a whole-house tankless system (or supplement a traditional water heater). It can often be installed within a closet or cabinet. Smaller and less expensive, it may be used to serve a single shower, sink, or washing machine.
Considerations When Choosing a Tankless Water Heater
A tankless water heater can last for many years if properly installed. There are many different models to choose from. Before you make your purchase, consider the following factors:
- Size & Capacity: Tankless water heaters are rated in terms of their GPM capacity. But a high flow rate isn’t the only important variable. Also, consider a unit’s thermal capacity in British Thermal Units (BTUs), which measures the energy needed to raise the water temperature by 1℉. The difference between the incoming water temperature and desired output temperature (which depends on outdoor temperatures, seasons, and locations) also helps size a tankless water heater.
- Fuel Type & Availability: Depending on the unit, one of three types of energy can be used. A tankless water heater can run on propane, natural gas, or electricity. Access to additional electrical capacity is an issue for some. Most homes have a natural gas line to connect a tankless unit to. But if you can’t access one, a propane-powered tankless water heater can be installed.
- Installation Requirements: Variables include the ground water temperature in your region (varies from 40℉ or less in northern states to 65℉ to 70℉ in southern states) to how many residents or bathrooms in your home. A small home may need just a 140,000 BTU system, while a three-bathroom home with 3 to 5 occupants may need one with 380,000 BTUs. Where you’re installing it also determines the type needed; is the unit intended to serve your entire home or just one fixture?
- Maintenance & Repair Needs: Tankless water heaters must be properly maintained. Flushing the unit with vinegar helps eliminate mineral buildup. Do a flush every 500 hours if your area has hard water. It will protect the unit from damage. Check the burner often in gas models. It’s also important to clean or change the water filter. Ask your installer about maintenance plans to ensure your system is serviced annually.
