Tankless Heater

Canadians are increasingly looking to make both environmental and economical investments in their home. With increasing hydro and gas cost, along with water rates skyrocketing, tankless water heater units also called “on demand” units that only provide heat when you turn on the faucet, continue to gain popularity.

But are they right for your home and usage – it’s a question Hillcrest Plumbing & Heating plumbers get asked frequently. Hillcrest Plumbing & Heating provides Navien and Rinnai tankless hot water systems, and is happy to help you choose the right system for your home.

There are several benefits to tankless system:

• They’re compact and mount on a wall saving space;
• Most last more than 20 years - about twice the lifespan of storage water heaters;
• A tankless water heaters uses 30 to 50 percent less energy than units with tanks;
• They eliminate the extra cost of keeping 40 to 50 gallons of water hot in a storage tank;
• A continuous supply of hot water, which is ideal for filling a big hot tub or a whirlpool;
• Tankless water heaters also typically have a longer warranty, usually 15 years for a tankless, compared to a traditional water heaters with up to a six-year warranty; and,
• With a tankless, you won’t have the worry of water on the floor breakdown with tank systems failures, and they are better for the environment because a rusty tank doesn’t end up in the landfill.

The primary disadvantage is the upfront cost. Also, not all homes are ready to support tankless water heaters, because tankless units have high-powered burners, they also have special venting requirements (a dedicated, sealed vent system, which requires professional installation). Natural gas burners often need a larger diameter gas pipe, which adds to the initial installation cost. For homeowners with electric-only utilities, their electrical system may needed to be upgraded, which means hiring an electrician. They must be within roughly 50 feet from a power source, but can be mounted on an interior or exterior wall.

Now you need to choose either an electric or natural gas model:

• Electric tankless heaters are 99 percent efficient; the worst traditional electric heaters are 93 percent efficient.
• Tankless water heaters that use natural gas are about 23 percent more efficient than a traditional storage version, which is about 60 percent efficient.

When you’re pricing a unit, be sure to get an estimate or firm bid on installation costs because as the Family Handyman notes that “this is not a do-it yourself project unless you have pro-level skills.”

If you have not considered investing in a tankless water heater, reconsider the benefits. If you have questions about tankless model or a standard model water heaters, or any of our commercial and residential plumbing services, contact Hillcrest Plumbing and Heating Ltd. at 1-604-879-5301 today. With prompt response time and competitive rates, our service can’t be beat in Surrey, Langley, Vancouver and surrounding areas in the Lower Mainland and Fraser Valley.