The need for hot water in a home will constantly change throughout its life. As the children grow up and move out, more water will be needed and then less. Similarly, the needs of any potential buyers are unknown to the present powers. To meet these all of needs, finding the right traditional hot water heater is difficult if not impossible.
Location and Prep Work
One of the advantages to installing a tankless water heater is that it takes up much less space than a traditional water heater. For this reason, many homeowners choose a location different from where the original water heater was located.
This fact further means that a new vent, gas, water and electrical lines must be run. If left in the same spot, some of these costs can be avoided. In any event, a homeowner or Doer should be experienced and knowledgeable when dealing with these systems or should hire a professional to do the do the “roughing in.”
Installation of a Tankless Hot Water Heater
The installation of the tankless system is very similar to that of a traditional water heater. A tankless water heater typically uses natural gas as a fuel source so a gas line and a venting system must be installed. It is imperative for safety that the unit receive a free flowing supply of air and that the venting system is also unobstructed.
Once the vent is installed, the unit itself can be mounted in the appropriate spot. Mounting is easy and usually involves four to six screws. Once the unit is in place attach the vent, connect the gas and electric lines. The final step is to connect a water supply pipe and exit pipe that feeds the hot water to the rest of the house. Set the tankless water heater according to the instructions in the manual and you are ready to go. Test for the proper temperature and get ready for unlimited amounts of hot water.