Now trending: on-demand everything!
At this point, the on-demand life is standard. For many of us, it’s how we order groceries, watch movies and TV, and sometimes how we get from place to place. The list of on-demand options in our lives is longer than most of us think, and, thanks to propane tankless water heaters, it includes cost-efficient hot water as well.
As tankless heaters grow in popularity, more people are learning about their value as money and energy savers. In fact, depending on your household’s water use, a tankless water heater can be up to 50% more energy efficient than a conventional tank water heater, according to the U.S. Department of Energy.
Benefits of tankless water heaters include the elimination of standby energy losses that are par for the course in storage-tank systems. They’re compact and offer superior energy efficiency with a strong supply of hot water. The tank doesn’t need to keep your water hot all day, but it’s hot when you need it, and that’s what counts. Tired of waiting for a shower because the dishwasher’s running? Need to flip a coin to see who can shower first even though you have two bathrooms? This just might be the change you need!
Let’s look at the numbers: the average flow rate of a tankless water heater can reach about 222 gallons per hour, which is about triple that of a standard 50-gallon electric storage-tank water heater, which allows for 62 gallons of hot water in the first hour. Hot showers for all? Yes, please!
As you consider the many upsides of a tankless water heater, consider this: with some tankless propane water heaters, you get on-demand access with Wi-Fi connectivity. Monitor and adjust it from your smart home device like an Amazon Echo or Google Home, or manage your settings from your phone, laptop or tablet.
With a propane tankless water heater, you’ll save space and money–and you won’t need to use electricity as the primary power source. In addition, there’s no need for natural gas lines to be installed.
Read on to get the scoop on the best approach for getting a propane tankless water heater into your home.
One Size Fits All? Not This Time!
When it comes to propane tankless water heaters, you can customize your selection to suit your household’s needs. How many tubs or showers do you have? What other appliances do you have that use hot water? Dishwasher? Washing machine? How many of these might be running at one time?
If more than one person might need a shower at the same time, or the laundry and dishwasher might be running simultaneously, take note. These are the facts that will help you decide what you need in a propane tankless water heater. Still have questions? Reach out to your propane provider so they can answer your questions and explain the process. You can also take this short questionnaire to learn more about your own needs.
Tankless Is Not Thankless
Think you’re done? Think again! If you’ve finished researching and selected your new tankless water heater, your next step is to schedule an appointment with a qualified propane contractor to get your water heater installation on the calendar.
And where should the new unit go? Since tankless water heaters are considerably smaller than conventional tank-style water heaters, your range of options for where to keep yours may be broader than you realized. You can keep it in a closet or under a sink. You can certainly keep it where your old water heater was (in fact, this is the most economical spot since water and propane lines are already in place).
Make sure your unit is not far from areas with a high need for hot water, and that the unit is easily accessible in the event of an unexpected need for maintenance. You also want your unit to be installed near the electrical panel.
The Tankless Route
Protect your investment and save time in the long run by scheduling annual tankless water heater maintenance. If you have hard water, expect service more than once a year in order to avoid mineral buildup in the heat exchanger, which can block water flow and diminish efficiency. Learn more from your propane service provider and get the most up-to-date info about your tankless water heater maintenance needs.
Once you have your propane tankless water heater selected and you’ve scheduled your installation, your next stop is finding out about what rebates you’re eligible for!
The Rebate Connection
Once your equipment selection is firm, it’s time to cash in on any rebates you are eligible for. This can save you hundreds! Learn about how you can get money back for new propane appliances through Propane New York equipment rebates.