What size tankless water heater do I need for my home? If you are thinking of replacing your traditional water heater with a tankless model, this article offers a quick guide to finding the right size.
Investing in a tankless water heater can save you money and ensure you never run out of hot water again. Unlike traditional water heaters, tankless models produce hot water on demand, so you only heat the water that you are going to use. They also have longer lifespans, which helps to justify the higher purchase and installation costs.
Before you get started, however, you need to be sure the unit you are buying is going to be able to keep up with your demand. Depending on how many people live in your home, the number of water sources you want to produce hot water, and some other factors, some tankless water heaters may not be able to meet your needs.
Here’s how to figure out what size your tankless water heater needs to be.
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Determine the Number of Hot Water Sources You Need
How many showers and sinks do you have in your home? Do you need hot water for the laundry? The first step in finding the right size for your home is to determine how many hot water sources you want for your home. You should also think about how many sources you want to be able to run at once without losing heat.
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Calculate the Flow Rate
The next step is to calculate the flow rate for each of your water sources. The flow rate varies depending on the source—for instance, a kitchen faucet generally produces less water than a shower. Faucets typically produce between one and two gallons per minute, while showers are usually over 2 gallons per minute.
To get an accurate reading, so you don’t accidentally undersize your tankless water heater, you may want to consider running a test on each hot water source in your home using a bucket and stopwatch.
What size tankless water heater do I need? Let us help you get the optimal size for your needs.
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Know Your Temperature Rise
Depending on the temperature of the water entering your home, your tankless water heater may have to work harder. In the Phoenix area, the groundwater temperature is between 57-62 degrees. In general, hot water for use in the home is between 105 and 115 degrees. Make sure that your tankless unit can handle the necessary temperature rise before making a purchase or you may end up with a unit that is too small.
Contact Custom Plumbing of Arizona to Learn What Size Is Right for You
What size tankless water heater do I need for my home? We are here to help you determine the best size for your needs. Get in touch with Custom Plumbing of Arizona today so we can start working on a solution.