Natural Gas Tankless Water Heater

There are quite a number of valid reasons for switching to a natural gas tankless water heater in your home. Depending on the brand that you buy, you quite often will see better performance than a standard hot water heater.

There also is the fact that you get a virtually endless supply of hot water with a natural gas tankless water heater. And there is even an advantage over an electric tankless water heater. A natural gas unit will operate even if the power goes out. Additionally, an electric tankless water heater will usually have a higher operating cost than a natural gas heater.

Another plus for natural gas tankless water heater is that they save space in your home when compared to a standard hot water tank. They can be installed very close to the faucets and in some locations you can even install it outside if you wish. If the tank is closer to the faucets it can mean you will get hot water faster than your old tank variety.

Most natural gas tankless water heater have an expected operating life of 20 years which is longer than a hot water tank. They are more expensive the the regular tank models but depending on your hot water use and the cost of natural gas in your area, you will usually recoup the cost in as little as 5 to 6 years. After then you are saving money every year.

The natural gas tankless water heater is more efficient at heating the water than the tank kind which means energy savings, ie, its a more green alternative. With a regular hot water tank, the water needs to be kept at a temp of 120 degrees or more which takes energy. The tankless models are 'on demand' so they only heat the water when it is needed. Also, with a tank model you are mixing hot and cold to achieve the desired temperature of water. This uses extra water. With a natural gas tankless water heater you can preset the hot water to be the perfect temperature and you no longer need to mix hot and cold water.

There are a variety of natural gas tankless water heater units available for purchase. You can get a 300 gallon unit which means it will supply up to 300 gallons of hot water in an hour (5 gallons per minute). This is usually more than enough for the average size home but of course, your needs may be different.

Typcially over the lifetime of a hot water tank you can expect to save thousands of dollars on your hot water bill. And some models qualify for a $300 Federal tax credit when you purchase them.

No matter what model you chose to install, it is strongly recommended that you get the work done by a seasoned professional. A recent comment appeared on one of the shopping sites where a plumber with many years of experience with natural gas tankless water heaters was explaining that 35% of his work is to correct improperly installed hot water heaters. So save yourself the time and hassel and get it done properly the first time.