Considering Buying a Tankless Water Heater for Your St. Clair Home?

If your old water heater is about ready to die of old age or hard usage, it may be time to consider getting a tankless water heater to replace it in your St. Clair home.

What is a Tankless Water Heater?
A tankless water heater, also sometimes called an "instantaneous water heater" or "demand water heater", heats water only on demand. It does not store heated water like the older units do, thus avoiding multiple reheats of the same water so that hot water is ready when you are.

How Does a Tankless Water Heater Work?
When the homeowner turns on the hot water tap, cold water travels to the tankless water heater where it is then heated either by electricity or gas, depending on the unit. Depending on the temperature of hot water desired, or the beginning temperature of the cold water, a unit will generally produce from two to five gallons of hot water per minute.

Will One Unit Take Care of a Whole House?
One unit may not be enough for a whole house, especially if there are simultaneous requests for hot water. In these cases, it may be necessary to install a "whole house" hot water system or connect two or more units for simultaneous demands. Installing units for specific appliances or areas may be another way to go. For example, a unit for the dishwasher or one for a specific bathroom.

What Should I Look for When Purchasing a Tankless Water Heater?
Consider the fuel type which will either be gas or electric. Consider location, size and demand, which means determining where you may want the unit to physically be, the size of your house, and how much hot water will be used - for example, per day. Consider the application. Do you want hot water throughout the house, just for certain areas such as bathrooms, or for specific appliances.

The best thing you can do for yourself if you're considering buying a tankless water heater for your St. Clair home is to find a local dealer who can come to your home, analyze your setup and needs, and make recommendations on what would be best for your household. There are several manufacturers who offer different styles and sizes of tankless water heaters, so you need to know what you're trying to do before you'll be able to make the best decision on which one to purchase.

Just like getting a local dealer to evaluate your home for a tankless water heater is the right thing to do, getting a local Realtor® to help is also the best thing to do if you're in the market for a new home or want to put your current home on the market. Give me, Scott Hickinbotham, a call at 636-629-3419 or contact me online. We're ready, willing, and able to help you with all your real estate needs.