It’s not easy to choose a new tankless water heater.  I’m going to compare four different brands of gas units, examining the specs and features of Bosch, Reehm, Rinnai, and Takagi units.

I’ve made the table below to show what I think are the most important specifications for the tankless water heaters.  These include the maximum Input BTUs, Minimum Flow Rate to turn on the heater, the energy factor, and the temperature rise at a given flow rate.

Maximum Input BTUs

The maximum input BTUs basically tells you the size of the heater, giving you a way to quickly compare different models.  Most all tankless heaters are around 80% efficient, so any two heaters that have similar input BTU’s will have similar output capabilities.  A water heater with a higher efficiency will deliver a slightly higher flow for a given temperature rise and flow rate.

Calculating BTUs

A BTU (British thermal unit) is the amount of heat required to heat 1 pound of water 1 degree.  Water weighs about 8.3 pounds per gallon.  Heating 1 gallon of water 100 degrees would require ((8.3 pounds x 1 gallon x 100 degrees) / 80% efficiency) = 1,037 BTUs.

Heating the water takes time of course, so if we wanted to heat that gallon in one minute the Btu consumption would be (1037 BTU x 60 minutes/hour)= 62,220 BTUs per hour.

To heat 2 gallons per minute 100 degrees will require roughly 124,000 BTUs per hour.  3 gallons per minute would be 189,000 BTUs.

Minimum Flow Rate

The minimum flow rate is important because that is how much flow you need through the heater to turn it on. The problems appear when you want a low-flow of hot water.  If it takes 3/4 gallons per minute of flow to turn on the heater, and the output temperature of the heater is set for 120°, you have to mix colder water with the hot water to get the temperature you want. 

Since you have to keep the flow rate high enough to keep the heater turned on, and you have to mix it with cold, you simply cannot get a small flow of hot water. 

To make matters worse, if you are trying to take a shower, and you turn down the temperature enough for the heater to kick off, you won’t know it until that slug of cold water hits you a minute or so after you’ve adjusted the valve, depending on how long it takes the water to travel through the pipes to the fixture.

Energy Factor

The energy factor (EF) tells what a water heater’s overall energy efficiency is. It’s based on the amount of hot water produced per unit of fuel consumed over a typical day.

Factors included in the energy factor are:

Recovery efficiency – how efficiently the heat from the energy source is transferred to the water

Standby losses – the percentage of heat loss per hour from the stored water compared to the heat content of the water (water heaters with storage tanks)

Cycling losses – the loss of heat as the water circulates through a water heater tank, and/or inlet and outlet pipes.

The higher the energy factor, the more efficient the water heater is. However, higher energy factor values don’t always mean lower annual operating costs, especially when you compare fuel sources.

Temperature Rise & Flow Rate

The output flow rate is one of the most important factors since it tells you exactly how much hot water the unit can produce. Bosch and Noritz give you the temperature rise at 77° and 75° which are close enough for our comparison on their websites.  Takagi provides graphs which are nice, so I used 75° for Takagi. Rinnai only provides the flow rate at 35°, so to compare Rinnai flow rates you can figure a little less than half of the given values.

Tankless Water Heater Costs

Where I could find them I listed the lowest prices I could find online.  They may therefore be incorrect.  Keep in mind that installing the heater can be very expensive.  You may need special larger stainless steel venting, and you may have to run a larger gas line as well.  If the location does not have a power outlet you might need to run an electrical circuit since most gas tankless water heaters need power for their controls.

Gas Tankless Water Heater Comparison Table

Brand/Model          Max             Min.        EF            GPM@             Price
                              BTU             GPM                       Temp Rise

Bosch                           
Bosch 2700ES      199,000       0.65       0.82         4.2   77° F      $1,100
Bosch 2400ES      175,000       0.65       0.82         3.8   77° F      $1,050
Bosch 1600H        117,000        0.6        0.69         2.4   77° F      $649
Noritz
Noritz N-0931M     250,000       0.5       N/A          5.6   75° F        $2,399
Noritz 841             199,900        0.5       0.91         5.0   75° F       $2,399
Noritz N-0751M     199,900       0.5       0.83         4.5   75° F        $1,299
Noritz N-0631S     185,000        0.5       0.83         3.8   75° F       $1,029
Noritz 531             140,000       0.5       0.82         3.1   75° F        $829
Rinnai
Rinnai  R98LSi       237,000       0.9        N/A*         9.8  35° F
Rinnai  R50LSi       150,000       0.6        0.82          5.0  35° F       $679
Rinnai  R75LSi       180,000       0.6        0.82          7.5  35° F       $975
Rinnai  R94LSi       190,000       0.6        0.82          9.4  35° F 
Takagi
Takagi T-K Jr.        140,000       0.5        0.81          2.5  75° F       $599
Takagi T-K3           199,000      0.5        0.84          3.6  75° F        $800
Takagi T-H1           199,000      0.5        0.92          4.8  75° F

More information about tankless water heaters: Tankless Water Heaters

For more information about all kinds of water heaters: Water Heater Trouble Shooting Tankless and tank type water heater information.

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Today in modern homes people are sometimes skeptical when considering the use of gas on their homes for water heating purposes. Some have concerns that the gas will in some way escape, poisoning their family members or even end up causing an explosion, fire or worse. Nevertheless, today’s newer gas powered water heaters are much safer then ever and they can end up saving you substantial amounts of money. Particularly if you have a tankless gas water heater, you will not simply save money, but you will also save significant amounts of space.

Your Home Needs To Be Gas Ready

For you to install a tankless gas water heater you need to have the capability to have gas pumped into your home. The installation of a gas nozzle and the gas itself needs to be completed through a trained professional who has the experience and knows what they are doing.

Do not forgo caution simply to save money. It’s just not worth it for the overall health and safety of your family and for the sake of your house either. You need to be extra careful when you are handling gas, even though it is safe once it is installed, it has the ability to cause quite an amount of damage if not handled in a proper manner.

Save Hard Earned Money On Energy Costs

When you end up doing a comparison with a tankless gas water heater with that of heater that utilizes both electricity and a tank, you will find the differences are enormous. You will save a substantial amount of money using gas over electricity as the latter cost more on a per unit basis to operate. Also, you will save money because the tankless water heater doesn’t have a tank.

The tank does not need to be refilled in order to get hot water as they need to with the versions that require tanks. In the case of a tankless gas water heater, the water is heated as it is being pumped through the tap. You can take as many hot showers as you want while at the same time having a sense of satisfaction knowing that you saved your hard earned money by making a wise decision of installing a tankless gas water heater in your house.

Contact a Professional Today

Get in contact with a professional today and ask about the price of getting a tankless hot water heater installed in your house. Regardless of the fact that the initial installation ends up being expensive, in the long run it is well worth it as your tankless gas water heater will result in it paying for itself. Not only will you be more happy with your energy bills being lower but you will also be happy with the fact that you can have hot water whenever and wherever in the house you want without having to concern yourself whether or not your water heater tank is big enough for the task or not.

Listen to Corbin Newlyn as he shares his insights as an expert author and an avid writer in the field of home appliances. If you would like to learn more go to Atwood Water Heater advice and at Water Bed Heater tips.

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If you would like to save water, reduce your power bill and not spend so much time waiting for the hot water to pour through your faucet, then a tankless how water system may be the solution you are looking for, depending upon how much water you use in your home.

One of the ways we often waste water is standing by the tap or the shower, waiting for the hot water to come through the pipes. It means that all that cold water goes to waste down the plug hole. Now have a think about where this water comes from, and your thoughts will probably lead to a large tank where water is continually being heated throughout the day and night. This traditional heater has the advantage of rarely breaking down, and if you regularly service it, you’ll be able to spot the parts that need replacing before they wear down too far and cause a leak or, even worse, a large flood. You will not have to worry about bacteria building up if you regularly clean the water heater. However, many people don’t maintain their heater, and don’t bother to clean around the heater, or cover it in insulation, and so it can end up costing money in significant repairs and inefficient running of the system over time.

The primary con associated with it is that it is sizable, meaning that it will take more energy to heat the volume of water. It functions around the clock, regardless of your need for hot water. And if you go away on holiday, for example, and decide to turn it off, it takes a number of hours to reheat and this is an expensive exercise.

There exist a few alternatives, including the tankless hot water heater. This technology has been popular in Europe for several decades, however, they tend to use it in a different way from how it is used in the States. They put a small unit wherever hot water is required, whether that be the clothes washing machine or the shower, etc. The advantage of using the system like this is that the water in the pipes is heated just before it reaches the fixture, which means that a limited amount of water is heated, exactly where it is needed, and for as long as it is needed. Then the system is shut off. However, for a number of reasons this is not always appropriate or available in this country, particularly because the systems are difficult to install where there is not enough room around existing plumbing.

This doesn’t mean that this technology isn’t appropriate for your house. The best idea is to get a professional to come to your home and give you advice on what to choose. It could be that a large system, supplemented by a couple of smaller ones would be ideal. It could also be that you can use it and complement it with a solar water system, and perhaps even underfloor heating, and between these three options, you create an ideal heating environment whereby you save significant amounts of money, have on-demand hot water, and keep your house warm all year round. The professional could recommend, however, that given the volume of frequency of water usage, it would be better to retain the regular tank and simply add on one or a couple tankless ones where hot water is frequently used.

In summary, it’s a fantastic piece of plumbing equipment, but you should work out the total volume of hot water you use and ensure it will meet all your needs before replacing your existing heater.

Scott Rodgers is a plumber who has recently begun writing articles for both a plumbing and non-plumbing audience. To view more of plumbing articles, visit http://eLocalPlumbers.com

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While the process of installing a tankless water heater isn’t too difficult it is very different from the process of installing a standard tank water heater. The process is more in depth for a tankless water heater system. It is very important that you read through all the instructions and follow them exactly as they are outlined. This is for the safety and security of your home and your family.

Before you start you need to make sure you have sufficient space for the tankless water heater you will be installing. While they do take up considerably less room than a tank style water heater you still need to verify you have enough clearance room for it. The unit also can’t be touching a wall so you may need to install brackets. You will need to make sure it is not installed around any flammable surface at the outer part of the water heater will get very hot.

You need to make sure you are upgrading to a tankless water heater that operates on the same type of energy source. If you currently have a gas system then purchase a tankless water heater system that also operates on gas. It is very difficult to change the wiring or pipes needed to convert from one system to another. The process is much easier if you keep the same type of energy source as you will only need to deal with a few fittings or electrical connections. For more info see http://www.etanklesshotwaterheater.com/waterheater/refurbished_tankless_water_heater.html

A very important issue that needs to be addressed is venting. A water heater with a tank doesn’t require it, but this is essential with a tankless water heater system. It works very similar to a clothes dryer. The heated air has to be able to escape somewhere so the unit has to be installed where there won’t be a build up of moist, heated air. This can be very dangerous to the occupants in the home as well as result in your tankless water heater not working properly.

You can also find more information at bosch tankless and tankless water heaters.

Article Source: ArticlesBase.com – Instructions For Installing A Tankless Water Heater

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Many consumers are deciding to upgrade their current tank hot water heater to a tankless hot water heater system. This is a major decision that you should only invest in after you have carefully examined all the aspects of the particular type of system you are interested in. Make sure you take your time and do a great deal of research so you will get the very best system for your particular needs.

You will have the option of installing a gas or electric tankless water heater system. There are several differences that you need to take a look at. Start by addressing the current type of source you are using. It is much easier to stick with the same type of system than to switch, but it can be done with the right steps in place.

When considering the best gas tankless water heater you need to determine how much hot water your household consumes on a regular basis. Each tankless water heater has information regarding the amount of water it is able to heat per hour. Make sure you get one that exceeds your daily consumption so that your tankless hot water heater isn’t having to run so hard on an ongoing basis. For more info see http://www.etanklesshotwaterheater.com/waterheater/compare_tankless_water_heaters.html on gas tankless.

Adding a tankless water heater to your home is a great option. They take up less space than traditional tank water heaters and they are much more efficient. You will save money on your energy bills each month. Make sure you understand what you are buying and that you have carefully assessed your hot water needs. You will still have a limit on the amount of hot water available, but that amount will depend on the particular model you purchase. This is because the system still needs time to supply the water you are demanding just as a tank water heater does.

You can also find more information on discount tankless water and rinnai tankless.

Article Source: ArticlesBase.com – Selecting The Best Gas Tankless Water Heater For Your Home

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Tankless Water Heaters,  are also known as on demand Water Heaters.   The reason for that is that they provide hot water only as it is required. Traditionally, water heaters heated water on standby for when you wished to use it.   Of course, that leads to energy losses that cost you money and cause environmental problems. A tankless water heater saves money and energy costs by only heating water when there is a need for hot water.

Tankless Water Heaters heat water directly without the use of a storage tank. This enables them to avoid the standby heat losses associated with storage water heaters. When a hot water tap is turned on, cold water travels through a pipe into the unit. In an electric tankless water heater an electric element heats the water. In a gas-fired tankless water heater a gas burner heats the water. As a result, tankless water heaters deliver a constant supply of hot water. You don’t need to wait for a storage tank to fill up with enough hot water.

Usually, tankless water heaters provide hot water at a rate of 2 – 5 gallons (7.6 – 15.2 litres) per minute. Typically, gas-fired tankless water heaters will produce higher flow rates than electric tankless water heaters. Some smaller tankless water heaters, however, cannot supply enough hot water for simultaneous, multiple uses in large households.

If you are say taking a shower and running the dishwasher at the same time this can stretch a tankless hot water unit to its limit. To overcome this problem, you can install a whole house tankless water heater.   If you think that you need more supply then you can install two or more units, connected in parallel for simultaneous demands of hot water.

You also have the flexibility to install a number of units for different purposes.  You can install separate water heaters for appliances—such as a clothes washer or dishwasher that consume a lot of hot water in the home.

Other uses for tankless water heaters include:

• Remote BBQ or outdoor sink
• Remote bathrooms or hot tubs
• To serve as a booster, eliminating long pipe runs, for solar water heating systems, dishwashers and sanitation.
• Poolhouse or pool shower

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Things that make our lives more convenient usually are not good for our environment and things good for the planet are detrimental to our comfort. For example, water saving shower heads do not make for great showers. Gas efficient cars don’t go as fast. Water saving toilets don’t flush as well as the old inefficient ones. Even energy efficient light bulbs don’t seem to put out as much light.

It’s a rare thing to find a product that provides us with a convenience and at the same time produces benefits to the planet and our environment.

Here’s one; instant hot water.

When you do not have to run water down the drain waiting for hot water to arrive, then you save water. (I don’t know anyone who jumps into the shower before the water gets warm.) Any water saved is water that did not have to be pumped, purified, re-pumped, and eventually run down the sewer to a processing plant, etc. All of that pumping, purifying, chlorinating, filtering, etc. uses energy and costs money. Most of the electricity used for the pumping and processing is produced by burning gas, oil, coal and other fuels which ads green house gasses to our atmosphere.

So how can we get instant, or nearly instant hot water without harming the environment? Traditional hot water circulating systems don’t qualify, since even though they provide you with nearly instantaneous hot water, they used a huge amount of energy. The electricity to run the pump is fairly small and inconsequential compared to the energy consumed by the water heater when used with a traditional circulating system.

With such a system your plumbing system is like a giant radiator and you are radiating heat out of your hot water piping, which your water heater must replace, burning gas or electricity which in turn is creating more greenhouse gases.

There are however, some types of hot water delivery systems that provide you with the convenience of faster hot water and yet don’t run any water down the drain in doing so. These systems are known as hot water demand systems. They consist of a small pump that goes under a sink. When you “demand” hot water by pressing a button, the pump turns on, pumping water rapidly to your sink, and returning the cooled off hot water from the hot water piping back to the inlet of the water heater, forming a big loop.

When the hot water arrives at the fixture, the pump shuts off so that hot water does not go into the cold water piping. You get fast hot water, and no water gets run down the drain. Studies have shown savings are possible of over 10,000 gallons of water per year for a typical family of 4. The pumps typically use less than $2.00 per year in electricity.

Demand type hot water systems are especially nice for tankless hot water heaters. Tankless water heaters take longer to get you hot water and so they waste more water. Be careful though, not all brands of demand hot water pumps will work with tankless water heaters. Check with the manufacturer of the system to be sure it pumps at least ¾ gallons per minute, which is enough to turn on any of the tankless units.

William Lund is an independent inventor and a webmaster. His website Chilipepper Hot Water Demand System provides information about water heaters including tankless. Mr. Lund also has a website devoted to making money online: Website Marketing and SEO

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Homeowners shopping around for a tankless water heater must first decide whether they want to go with a gas model or an electric one. While the electric tankless hot water heater may be appropriate in most cases, home that use a lot of hot water for extended periods of time should certainly look into a tankless gas water heater.

Tankless gas hot water heaters are designed to be used for the entire house. Because of their larger size and ventilation requirement, an appropriate are should be used for these gas heaters, which are discussed here. First, why replace on old standard water heater with a new gas tankless water heater?

Tankless gas hot water heaters will offer you and your family an unlimited supply of steaming hot water. This means flexibility, as you can have multiple showers going, and then still have the water there afterwards to run the dishwasher or the washing machine. The biggest factor in this is the capacity of the gas tankless gas heater you purchase. The higher the gallon-per-minute rate, more options are available as far as running multiple appliances at the same time. Several gas models are more compact than a regular water heater, so some homes may enjoy additional space savings as well.

What can you expect to pay when upgrading to a tankless gas water system? A standard stack water heater is usually runs from $400-600 dollars. Low-end tankless gas water heaters start in the area of $750 and can go all the way up to $2,000 dollars. Some of the well known tankless gas water heater manufacturers are Palmoa, Takagi, and Rinnia. Shopping around and comparing costs will help you narrow down the choices. Consulting with a local dealer is usually the best way to price tankless water heater manufacturers and models.

While natural gas powered heaters are found nationwide, some localities are fueled with propane. Check with your utility company if you don’t know if your house uses natural gas or propane. Manufactures including Bosch and Stieble Eltron make and distribute tankless water heaters that are propane powered. AquaStar is a popular line by Bosch tankless, and there are several different models which create between 2.5 to 6 gallons of hot water. Of course the larger capacity models will be more expensive, but these cater to larger households where multiple hot water applications are needed at the same time.

Another great benefit with gas tankless water heaters is the consistent flow of hot water. Unlike a standard hot water heater where the water may cool off based on the capacity of the heater, the gas tankless setup will continue to pump hot H20. It doesn’t matter need it for ten minutes or ten hours.
A great thing to have when everyone is competing to take the first shower of the day!

One final consideration is the cost to install a tankless gas heater. These heaters require proper ventilation, so check the local plumbing market to find an appropriate contractor. A professional installation will give you peace of mind, ensuring the safety of you and your family.

Jeff Buckley is a freelance writer covering home improvement topics like tankless water heaters and gas water heaters.

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Taco is highly used in the business of developing and manufacturing hydraulic based components for use in residential, commercial, industrial and institutional heating and cooling systems.

A pump is a device used to move liquids, or slurries. A pump moves liquids or gases from lower pressure to higher pressure, and overcomes this difference in pressure by adding energy to the system (such as a water system). A gas pump is generally called a compressor, except in very low pressure-rise applications, such as in heating, ventilating, and air-conditioning, the equipment is known as fans or blowers.

Pumps or circulator pumps are an integral part of any hydronic system when installing or adding radiant heat to homes and businesses. These pumps are used to send water to an area of the hydronic system when it is called for, or to keep the flow of water in the system. PexSupply.com features a large selection of Cast Iron and Bronze taco pumps, including the best-selling 007 Taco Pump, reliable Bell and Gosset pumps and Taco IFC Pumps with Integral Flow Chek.

Bosch Tankless Water Heaters

Bosch Pro Tankless Water Heaters also known as Aquastar Tankless Water Heaters come in Natural Gas (NG) and Propane (LG). We also carry Ariston and Powerstar electric tankless water heaters.

We offer competitive prices on Taco Flo-Control Valves, which can be used in forced hot water heating systems to prevent “gravity˜ circulation during periods when the boiler is hot, but the space heating zone is not wanted. Taco Flo-Cheks come in several sizes and connection types.

Taco Flo-Control Valves

Taco Flo-Control Valves have a combination of straight/angle configurations in sizes 3/4 to 2 for easy installation. They have removable top caps as well that allows easy cleaning and service without removing pipe connections. The manual operating position f PEX Supply is a leading online distributor of plumbing supplies and heating supplies from leading manufacturers such as Taco pumps and Wirsbo. They specialize in Radiant Floor Heating, PEX Tubing, & PEX Plumbing Supplies. It is a place from where you can gt the best quality products in the best prices. The quality of the products offered by us is something that you would not get anywhere easily.

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ThermaPEX Barrier PEX tubing for radiant tube heating is the strongest and most flexible Oxygen Barrier PEX tubing available today. ThermaPEX Tubing is competitively priced, and is available for same day shipping. With the facility of fast shipping now you do not require to wait long for your product.

or vertical lift disc permits gravity circulation.

For the best in radiant heat equipment and discount plumbing supplies from thermocouples and flow switches to thermostats and relays, trust the radiant heat pros at PEX Plumbing Supply. The prices offered by the company are incompatible low and affordable. Our motto says, “Wholesale Prices at Your Fingertips.

To know more, visit: Bosch Water Heaters

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I recently had a few people ask about tankless water heaters, so I decided to do some research.  The first place I went to was Consumer Reports.  I didn’t bother going any further.

The process of heating water in your house accounts for approximately 30% of your home’s energy costs (on average).  Some makers of gas-fired tankless water heaters claim their products can cut your energy costs up to half over regular storage heaters.  Don’t run out to buy one.

A gas tankless water heater uses high-powered burners to quickly heat water as it is running through a heat exchanger.  The average savings was 22% over the gas-fired storage tank models that were tested. 

This translates into an average savings of about $75 per year, based on 2008 national energy costs.  However, the tankless models cost so much more than the traditional version, and it can take up to 22 years to break even – longer than the 20-year life of many models. 

Furthermore, Consumer Reports conducted an online poll of 1,200 readers which revealed wide variations in installation costs, energy savings, and satisfaction.  Many of the electric models can’t deliver hot water fast enough to replace a conventional water heater.  Most homeowners with electric service only don’t have the option of gas models, and would have to upgrade their electrical service in order to power a whole-house tankless model. 

There are a few other issues that manufacturers have yet to resolve.  They often claim that their products are able to provide an endless amount of hot water.  But inconsistent water temperatures were a common complaint among the respondents polled by CR. 

When you turn the faucet on, tankless models feed in some cold water to gauge how big a temperature rise is needed.  If there’s cool water lingering in the pipes, you’ll receive a momentary “cold water sandwich”.  And a tankless water heater’s burner might not ignite when you try to get just a trickle of hot water for, say, shaving.

Tankless hot water heaters don’t delivery hot water instantaneously either.  It takes time to heat the water to the target temperature, and just like storage water heaters, any cold water in the pipes needs to be pushed out.  Tankless models electric controls mean you’ll also lose hot water during a power outage.

Tankless water heaters cost $800 to $1150, compared to $300 to $480 for storage tank models.  Tankless models need electrical outlets for their fan and electronics, upgraded gas pipes, and a new ventilation system.  This all brings the average installation costs to $1200, compared with $300 for storage tank models. 

During CR’s long-term testing, an indicator on the tankless model warned of scale buildup.  They paid $334 to replace valves and have a plumber flush out the lines with vinegar. 

Many industry experts recommend that tankless models be serviced once a year by a technician.  Calcium buildup can decrease efficiency, restrict water flow, and damage tankless models.  Experts suggest installing a water softener if your water hardness is above 11 grains per gallon.  Ignoring this advice can shorten your warranty. 

This research proved to be an eye-opener for me.  I hope it helped you as well.

Charles Gueli
www.continuous-home-improvement-help.com.

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• Home Buying Different » Draining Dollars from Water Heating Bills

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• Installing a Solar Thermal Water Heater | Buisness Articles Team …

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• Tankless Hot Water Heater » Blog Archive » does anyone have …

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• does anyone have electric tankless hot water heater? do you like …

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• Tank, Tankless or Thankless | Helen Oliveri's Weblog

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