Installing Plumbing For Tankless Water Heater 3

Plumbing 3 - Tankless Heater

Once you have all your piping hooked up you are ready for a test run. To do this be sure that the tankless water heater breakers are off. Then turn on all the faucets in the house and open the valves at the tank. Remember to turn on your main water supply, if it is still off. This test run is to remove debris and prevent vapor lock. Check for leaks. If your tank didn’t come with a filter, a small disk type can be installed at the cold water coupling.

You have two adjustments - the heat dial and the hot water valve from the tank.

If you would like to calculate savings here are a few thoughts:

1) Buying online and installing it yourself should save you about half of a normal installation, plus there is the satisfaction of a worthwhile project - your friends will be impressed, when you tell them.

2) If you use, say 2 hours of hot water a day, that’s 22 hours of savings - dish washer uses hot water but has it’s own heating element to boost temperature higher.

3) Gas units cost more and are more expensive to install, and the days of cheap gas are almost over.

4) If you are looking for even bigger savings, your old heater may have spun glass type insulation, which can be removed, and the tank can be used as a holding tank to bring water up to room temperature before it is drawn into the tankless unit.

Some local utilities offer cash or credits for tankless hot water heaters; there is also a Federal tax credit available. If this is the way you decide to go you will probably find that a new energy efficient electric tankless hot water heater could cost you about $300, depending on the model you purchase.