Tankless Water Heaters And Options For Your Marrero Home Or Business: Louisiana Plumbing Services | Marrero, LA

11/21/2020

Photo By Olivier Verriest at istock

When your home’s water heater malfunctions, it’s more than a little inconvenient — no hot showers or baths, and the dishwasher and washing machine out of commission. The good news is that bluefrog Plumbing + Drain’s 24/7 emergency plumbers operate throughout Marrero and can diagnose and fix many issues within hours. If your existing system is more than 10 years old, however, it’s probably time for a replacement. In such a case, you might be considering an upgrade to tankless water heaters.

Tankless Water Heater Designs

Tankless water heaters provide hot water on demand and contain either an electric heating element or a gas burner. Centralized models are designed to provide all the hot water needs for an entire house, while point-of-use (POU) tankless water heaters serve individual taps or appliances. POU units are often used as boosters for existing water heating systems and to supply hot water to sinks in garden buildings.

Tankless Water Heater Benefits

Tankless water heaters are becoming increasingly popular across the United States due to the many benefits they offer, including space-saving designs, a continuous supply of hot water, greater energy efficiency, lower maintenance requirements, and extended service life. The life expectancy of the latest models exceeds 20 years, and many have easily replaceable components, which makes tankless water heater repair services in Marrero, LA very affordable. Furthermore, with on-demand water heating solutions, you don’t have to worry about any storage tanks bursting and causing costly flood damage to your home. The installation of a modern tankless water heater from a leading manufacturer can also add significant value to your property, and some homeowners may qualify for Residential Renewable Energy Tax Credits that help offset initial investment costs.

Tankless Water Heater Drawbacks

Likes all water heating systems, tankless water heaters have pros and cons. While many of their drawbacks aren’t necessarily dealbreakers, some of the most notable include high initial purchase cost, limited flow rates, minimum inlet water pressure requirements, and poor performance in cold climates. Electric models also have the drawback of leaving homes without hot water during power outages in Marrero, LA. Meanwhile, the high-powered burners in centralized gas-fired tankless water heaters have additional ventilation requirements that are costly to install.

Tankless Water Heater Sizes

While traditional water heaters are sized by the gallon capacity of their storage tanks, tankless heaters are sized by their maximum gallons per minute (GPM) flow rate. For one-bedroom homes and studio apartments, 4 GPM tankless water heaters are generally sufficient, while large family homes are likely to require 10 GPM models. For business premises, multiple tankless units can be installed.

The actual flow rate of a tankless water heater depends on the cold water inlet temperature, power of the heating element or burner, and desired output water temperature. When it comes to maximizing the flow rate capabilities of tankless water heaters, homes are one of the best locations for installation. This is because the average temperature of shallow groundwater in Louisiana is 67 degrees Fahrenheit, meaning the cold water supply temperature for properties in the state is relatively high.

If you decide a tankless hot water heater is right for your home, you should always seek professional consultation and installation services from plumbing professionals. One of the most common mistakes homeowners make is to choose an undersized or oversized unit, both of which function inefficiently.

Tankless Water Heater Alternatives

Traditional Storage Tank Water Heater

Traditional storage tank water heaters have a lower purchase cost than tankless options, but standby heat loss can lead to higher running costs, and homes with high hot water demands often run out of hot water. The life expectancy of most units is around 10 years.

Solar

The cost of solar water heating systems is high, but they have a long life expectancy and are significantly more energy-efficient than electric or gas-fired heaters. The main drawback of solar water heaters is that backup systems are often required on overcast days and during periods of high demand for hot water.

Heat Pump

Compared to traditional storage water heaters, heat pumps are up to three times more energy-efficient and have lower running costs. Like with solar systems and tankless systems, however, initial installation costs are high.

Hybrid

Hybrid water heaters combine the technologies used in tankless and tank-type designs. They are very energy efficient and offer higher flow capacities than tankless heaters. For homes that often require hot water for multiple applications simultaneously, such as showering while the dishwasher and washer cycles run, hybrid systems are a recommended choice. They are also ideal for properties in northern states where low water supply temperatures limit the performance of tankless systems.

Water Heater Replacement

Many people wait until their existing water heater completely breaks down before thinking about a replacement. However, if your current system has been installed for over 10 years, now might be a good time to start exploring your replacement options. Here are some warning signs your water heater may need replacing:

Cracking or popping noises
Poor energy efficient (increased gas or electricity bills)
Leaks
Dirty water
Limited hot water

In some cases, repair work and regular servicing can extend the life of an old system and prove to be a worthwhile expense. In others, investing in a replacement water heater will make more economic sense.