As with any major equipment decision, there are pros and cons to each choice.
The smart choice when it's time to replace a standard tank.
Be sure to check that the blanket is applicable to your type of storage tank heater gas or electric. Get more great content like this sent to your inbox.
Twitter. Long-term costs: The cost savings associated with tankless heaters will vary from one case to the next, but the reduced energy use will lead to noticeably cheaper utility bills. All email addresses you provide will be used just for sending this story. Tankless heaters are smaller than storage tank heaters. Gas tankless models may have different venting and gas-supply requirements, meaning you may need to increase the diameter of the pipe from the water heater to the gas meter. Rinnai Condensing Boilers deliver more efficient home heating than traditional boilers, while also providing domestic hot water. Every Rinnai tankless water heater is individually tested for quality before shipping.
We'll walk you through the results and considerations of going tankless.
It's a draw totaling 84 gallons of water a day with a starting temperature of 58 F (plus or minus 2 degrees), and a target outlet temperature of 120 F. Its a tough test, says Banta.
We calculated that the annual operating cost for a gas model is $245 (based on an average price of $10.86 per 1,000 cubic feet of natural gas) and the yearly cost of running an electric model is $580 (based on an average electricity rate of $0.132 per KWh). Up-front costs: Storage tank heaters and full-size tankless heaters are comparably priced, though gas heaters of both types are more expensive than electric.
All of the electric models were also able to meet and maintain the set output temperature when the incoming water was 74 F, but twoa Bosch and a Rheemmissed the mark when the incoming water temperature was 58 F. This indicates that electric models may be better suited to areas with warmer groundwater, such as the South. Thats the equivalent of taking several showers, running the dishwasher, washing one load of laundry, and turning the faucet on and off multiple times, says John Banta, an engineer who oversees our water heater tests. And electric tankless models draw so much power120 to 160 ampsthat you may have to upgrade the electrical service to your house to 200 amps or more. Storage tank heaters come in a range of sizes, from small point-of-use heaters of about 6 gallons to commercial heaters that hold 100 to 120 gallons. If you hire a plumber to do this, it can cost $300 or more. He says that years ago, when plumbers were less familiar with tankless installations, homeowners complained that they werent getting the same water delivery they experienced with their storage tank.
In fact, many manufacturers require installation by factory-trained professionals to maintain the warranty.
Also, parts are usually replaceable, rather than replacing the entire unit. How often you flush your tankless water heater depends on the quality of your water.
Basically the heat pump is moving heat from one place to another rather than generating heat itself. We based our tests on whats called a heavy use industry standard. Water Heaters. Even gas-powered tankless heaters need an electronic control panel. Rinnai tankless water heaters last up to twice as long, have twice the warranty, and save energy as they only heat water when it is needed.
Finally, know that a power outage is likely to leave tankless heater users without hot water. Customer Service |
Storage tank: Tank style water heaters are less expensive than tankless.
When its time to replace your legacy water heater or install one in new construction, the first question you may consider is whether to stay with the traditional storage tank water heater or move to a tankless heater. While tankless has its virtues, he says, theres a bit of a learning curve for consumers who are used to drawing water from a standing tank of already heated water. Gas water heaters with UEF of 0.82 or higher OR with a thermal efficiency of at least 90%. CR's experts weigh in, based on test results and payback time.
It has a holding tank like a conventional water heater, but sitting atop the tank is a heat pump that captures warm air and transmits it to the watersort of like a refrigerator working in reverse. The information contained in this article is intended for general information purposes only and is based on information available as of the initial date of publication.
How to Choose the Right Plumbing Snake for the Job, No need to heat gallons of water that arent being used, No standby heat loss, in which a tank loses heat to a surrounding environment.
Using a natural gas rate of $10.86 per 1,000 cubic feet, we calculated that the payback time for converting from a storage tank gas water heater to a gas tankless ranges from 22 years to 27 years.
The industry's first peace of mind, scale inclusive, 15-year About Tankless with X3, Condensing Ultra-Low NOx Indoor Tankless Water Heater with X3 Technology 199,000 BTU GTS-540X3-NIH, Condensing Ultra-Low NOx Outdoor Tankless Water Heater with X3 Technology 199,000 BTU GTS-540X3-NEH, Condensing Ultra-Low NOx Indoor Tankless Water Heater with X3 Technology 199,000 BTU GTS-540X3-PIH, Condensing Ultra-Low NOx Outdoor Tankless Water Heater with X3 Technology 199,000 BTU GTS-540X3-PEH, Condensing Ultra-Low NOx Indoor Tankless Water Heater with X3 Technology 180,000 BTU GTS-340X3-NIH, Condensing Ultra-Low NOx Outdoor Tankless Water Heater with X3 Technology 180,000 BTU GTS-340X3-NEH, Condensing Ultra-Low NOx Indoor Tankless Water Heater with X3 Technology 180,000 BTU GTS-340X3-PIH, Condensing Ultra-Low NOx Outdoor Tankless Water Heater with X3 Technology 180,000 BTU GTS-340X3-PEH, Tankless Water Heater Non-Condensing Concentric Vent Indoor 199,000 BTU Natural Gas/Propane, Condensing Ultra-Low NOx Indoor Tankless Water Heater with X3 Technology 160,000 BTU Natural Gas, Condensing Ultra-Low NOx Outdoor Tankless Water Heater with X3 Technology 160,000 BTU GTS-240X3-NEH, Tankless Water Heater Non-Condensing Concentric Vent Indoor 190,000 BTU Natural Gas/Propane, Condensing Ultra-Low NOx Indoor Tankless Water Heater with X3 Technology160,000 BTU GTS-240X3-PIH, Condensing Ultra-Low NOx Outdoor Tankless Water Heater with X3 Technology 160,000 BTU GTS-240X3-PEH, Tankless Water Heater Condensing Ultra-Low NOx Indoor 199,000 BTU Natural Gas.
Rinnai Infrared Heaters provide you with warm radiant comfort in all of your outdoor, garage and workshop spaces. But tanks of 55 gallons or more will require even more space, depending on the energy-saving technology they use.
Privacy Policy. In that case, installing a tankless water heater can make financial sense because theres no major retrofitting costs involved. No representation is made that the information or references are complete or remain current. Rinnai's hybrid models are Ultra Low NOx (ULX) compliant, have 82% recovery efficiency and last much longer than a stand-alone tank. They vary in size, but average about 2 feet tall and a bit over a foot wide.
Whole-house tankless units mount on a wall, saving you floor space and fitting into tight spaces. Understanding your water usage and patterns can help guide you to purchase just the size you need.
Water is held in the tank and kept at a consistent heat, making delivery of hot water almost immediate compared to tankless heaters, which feed cooler water through the pipes and past the heating element, sometimes causing a delay before the continuous feed of hot water arrives. When it comes to usage, hot water delivery can be more uneven with a tankless heater and multiple, simultaneous hot water demands can stretch their capability, notes the DOE.
Rinnai Direct Vent Furnaces use modulating technology to create energy-efficient warmth for the whole home.
Banta says its worth noting that while gas water heaters are less expensive to operate, its due to the lower cost of natural gas and not because theyre necessarily more efficient. The gas and the electric storage tank water heaters easily delivered a steady supply of hot water that reached our target temperature of 120 F. Tankless: We saw a few differences in performance between the gas and electric models. Considering that 90 percent of hot water heater installations take place during an emergency, according to the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy, that puts you at a disadvantage when you're negotiating with a prospective plumber or contractor to make the switch on your tight timeline. Rinnais super high-efficiency models offer sleek design, maximum output and an array of features ideal for the hot water demands of large homes.
If you depend on electricity to heat your water, you have another choice thats better than a conventional tank or a tankless water heater.
Our Product Selector can provide a personalized recommendation.
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Full-facility tankless heaters typically fit on a wall and are less than 2 feet wide and 3 feet high, compared to storage tank heaters that can be at least 5 feet high. This can save energy two ways: Tankless heaters, which can be either gas or electric, also cant run out of hot water because of the continual flow feature.
To see whether your utility offers rebates, check its website or the federal Energy Star rebate finder and the Database of State Incentives for Renewables & Efficiency.
And thats an electric heat pump. Tankless: We factored in an installation cost of $1,250 for a gas tankless and slightly less, $1,150, for an electric.
Rinnai and Creating a healthier way of living are registered trademarks of Rinnai Corporation used under license by Rinnai America Corporation. THE PRODUCTS YOU NEED, Energy efficiency: The DOE estimates that tankless water heaters improve energy efficiency between 8-34% over storage tank heaters, depending on the amount of water usage. var intYear = dteNow.getFullYear();
Need a replacement? Its also important to clean out the sediment filter on the heater from time to time. Comfort and convenience: If youre dealing with an emergency replacement of a failed water heater a survey by the Northwest Energy Efficiency Alliance found 37% of residents replacing a heater did so because of sudden failure the change could be quicker by keeping the same type of heater.
Introducing X3 Scale Prevention The nine models in our tests range from $525 to $1,150. Using natural gas, electricity, fuel oil, or propane, these tanks continuously heat water to keep a full store at the ready.
All of the gas units were able to hit our target output temperature of 120 F and have similar minimum flow rates (the amount of running water needed for the heater to kick in). With a Rinnai tankless water heater, youll never have to choose between taking a piping hot shower, doing a load of laundry, or running the dishwasher. For an electric model, assuming energy costs of $0.132 per KWh, the payback time to replace a conventional electric tank with an electric tankless ranges from 12 to 20 years. Electric models actually run more efficiently," he says, "but the higher cost of electricity makes them more costly to operate.. We paid $570 (electric) and $600 (gas) for the two 50-gallon Rheem tank water heaters we tested, but we have seen tank water heaters priced for less at home improvement stores. Flexible Installation Ideal for Tank Replacement. While tankless water heaters run more efficiently than storage tank water heaters, replacing a tank water heater with a tankless can be expensive, and the payback time can be longer than the warranty.
We tested a 50-gallon Rheem electric heat pump that we bought for $1,200. This difference can be mitigated somewhat by insulating a storage tank heater. All Rights Reserved. Thats the promise of tankless water heaters, also called on-demand water heaters, which produce hot water only when you turn on the faucet, start a cycle on the washing machine, switch on the dishwasher, or otherwise call for hot water.
1994-2021, W.W. Grainger, Inc. All Rights Reserved. But most manufacturers recommend using a certified plumber, and you may need one because tank water heaters have changed, as noted, to meet tighter energy standards. Condensing water heaters slow the rate of exhaust to capture heat more efficiently, Some districts in California require gas water heaters to meet Ultra-Low NOx emissions requirements (10 n/J), Learn Readers with specific questions should refer to the applicable standards or consult with an attorney. If you have a warranty of 12 to 15 years, which is typical, it doesnt make financial sense to replace a tank water heater with a tankless, says Banta. Like tankless heaters, they come in gas and electric models.
Some models come with extra insulation, or you could purchase an insulation blanket to wrap your water heater. After weeks of testing, we discovered that all the gas tankless water heaters performed similarly and all the electric tankless were equivalent in terms of performance. When you make a change like that, the house operates a little differently., For example, you might not be able to run the dishwasher and washing machine at the same time that someone is taking a shower. Save BIG by switching to a qualified water heater today. Limited warranty on heat exchanger. Undersink electric tankless models are even smaller and can deliver hot water to smaller areas, such as an eye and face wash station.
A veteran of online and print journalism, I've worked at People, MSNBC, Ladies Home Journal, Good Housekeeping, and an online Consumer Reports wannabe. If you have hard water, like many regions of the country, periodic flushing of the heat exchanger to remove hard-water deposits is necessary. Thats why its so energy efficient. All Rights Reserved.
But the real thing is so much better. While storage tank water heaters remain the majority of new installations in the U.S., according to the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), tankless water heaters are gaining popularity. And buyers remorse is a powerful thing, he says.
"We didn't find meaningful performance differences that would cause a consumer to choose one brand over another.".
You know that big tank of hot water in your basement? The capacity you want depends on the size of your household and how much hot water you use (your plumber can help with the calculations). If your water heater is in the basement, you might not mind the space it takes. But if you dont have a basement, you may have to stash it in a closetand that can be a tight fit. If you live in a poor-water area, we suggest maintenance once a year, says Caccia.
See Rebate Center for details. Thats why more consumers and businesses choose Rinnai over any other tankless brand.
So you may never need our industry-leading warranty and legendary support for the most important appliance in your home. It takes only one surprise cold-water blast from your shower to appreciate the luxury that is on-demand hot water. Check with your tax advisor for applicability.
Grainger Editorial Staff.
Manufacturers recommend that certified electricians or plumbers install tankless water heaters. Consumer Reports notes that changing from a storage tank to a tankless water heater could require an upgrade to gas or electric service, as well as a plumbing retrofit. State water heaters are available through your local plumbing professional. No more storing large quantities of water that could potentially leak on your floor.
These compact units offer the reliability youd expect from Rinnai with performance thats ideal for small- to mid-sized homes. Check with your tax advisor for applicability.
They also need about 1,000 cubic feet of surrounding air to draw from, about the amount circulating in a 12-by-12-foot room. SIGN UP FOR EMAILGet more great content in your inbox.
Thats because of their reputation for running more efficiently, an appealing characteristic given that heating water is the average U.S. home's second highest utility cost after heating and cooling the house itself.
2020, State Industries. Rinnai tankless hot water heaters are built to commercial-grade standards and each individual unit is tested for quality.
Storage tanks can be 5 feet tall or taller and about 2 feet wide or wider. (They run on electricity, natural gas, or propane.) Safe Summer Activities for Kids During the Pandemic, What You Need to Know About Bug Spray for Kids, Best Cooling Mattress Toppers From Consumer Reports' Tests, Database of State Incentives for Renewables & Efficiency.
Heating water only when you need it eliminates the standby energy losses you get with a storage tank.
Select models have the Rinnai Smart-Circ Intelligent Recirculation that learns your hot water usage pattern and schedules your recirculation accordingly, providing you with hot water faster and when you need it. And keep in mind that because of recent federal energy regulations, a replacement storage tank may take up more space than your old one, even if its the same capacity, because newer ones are required to have more insulation.
Tankless heaters have a temperature rise component that shows how many degrees the tank can heat the water based on a particular flow rate, represented as gallons per minute (GPM). Hot water is always available.
Rinnai's Demand Duo combines tank and tankless technology and offers a longer lifespan.
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Which Brands Make the Most Reliable Appliances? What if we told you that you could get the same amount of hot water (or more) from a water heater the size of a carry-on suitcaseand save at least $100 a year on your utility bill?
Consumer financing and rebates are also often available.
A failing water heater can not only make for rude awakenings at home, it can also slow facility operations that require hot water for cooking, cleaning and sanitizing, among other things. Small and mighty, the suitcase-sized wall units fit in tight, discreet spaces, freeing up more usable living area in your home. That means you're paying to have hot water whether you need it or not.
Heat pumps also have heating elements like conventional water heaters that turn on if the unit cant generate enough hot water on its own, says Banta.
With a tank, youre cooking the water all the time, so its already hot.. Maximum gallons per minute of hot water (30 rise), Higher BTU inputs produce a higher flow rate. The Rinnai Hydronic Air Handler System easily integrates with select tankless water heaters or boilers to deliver energy-efficient warmth. Depending on what your plumber charges per hour, installation can be $600 to $800 if the existing hookups are compatible. Whether your water heater installation is new or a replacement, you may be eligible for a rebate from your local utility company, which can offset some of the cost. We rated the annual energy consumption cost Excellent for a gas model but only Fair for an electric, but both rate Very Good for energy efficiency. While storage tank water heaters are by far the most common type, tankless water heaters are slowly gaining market share, according to Technavio, a global market research firm. They are not new patent applications for continuous flow water heaters were filed in the U.S. in the late 1920s but with heightened awareness of energy consumption and sustainability, they are receiving more attention.
Caccias company of 25 plumbers installs all brands and types of water heaters. WHEN YOU NEED THEM. Sleek, modern design and a range of features and benefits to fully satisfy the hot water demands of larger homes. For small- to medium-sized new homes or remodels, Rinnais high-efficiency models are affordable, compact units you can count on.
Caccia, the third-generation plumber, says that once you make the switch, labor costs are less for replacing an old tankless water heater with a new one than for replacing an old storage tank with a new one.
(Manufacturers also recommend that you periodically drain a tank water heater to flush out the sediment.). You can see the results in our water heater ratings charts. Demand Duo, DuoSmart, SENSEI, ThermaCirc 360, Every. document.write(intYear);
Replacing your old storage tank with a new one of the same capacity is a pretty basic plumbing job, and some homeowners do it themselves. If youre considering an electric heat pump, check its space requirements. * Copyright 2022 Rinnai America Corporation. Tanks with larger capacity or energy-efficiency upgrades cost more. But if your storage tank water heater is nearing the end of its useful life and youre interested in saving space and energy, tankless water heaters are worth a look.
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Theyve come a long way, says Geno Caccia, a third-generation plumber who operates a family business in San Mateo, Calif., with his brother. warranty. Also many manufacturers of tankless water heaters recommend preventive maintenance to be done on their units.
Tankless: As their name implies, tankless, or on-demand water heaters, don't store water in a tank. Tanks that hold less than 55 gallons may be an inch or two larger.
Because professional installation is highly recommended, Rinnai has an extensive network of trained and experienced professional installers to provide you with superior product performance. 2/17/22 The payback math changes if youre building a new house or renovating an old one and have a need for space savings, endless hot water, or improved energy efficiency. Matters., controlr, and Smart-Circ Intelligent Recirculation, Tankless Truths, and Tankless Truth are the trademarks of Rinnai America Corporation. Switching to tankless from a storage tank water heater is no easy swap because it requires a plumbing retrofit and possibly an upgrade to your electric service or gas lines to increase capacity. However, installation could be more expensive for a tankless heater. We used the installation of a tank water heater as the benchmark.
Sales Rep Login. Detail. In part that's because removing a large tank takes more time and effort than removing the much smaller tankless units.
Tankless heaters do not hold water; cold water flows into the unit and is heated only when needed. Whole-house tankless heaters are designed to produce a target amount of hot water3 to 4 gallons a minuteand they did, says Banta. Check for rebates.
Tankless heaters also have a longer life expectancy than storage tank heaters more than 20 years, according to the DOE, compared to 10-15 years for storage tank heaters.
Instead they heat water as it passes through the unit, using a heat exchanger to rapidly bring it up to temperature. Offer details and expiration may vary. With the help of an outside lab, we conducted performance tests and measured energy use on the nine models we purchased, and calculated installation costs for storage tank and tankless water heaters, as well as how long it would take a homeowner to recoup the investment of a tankless water heatercalled the payback time. Using the same rates above, the annual operating cost is $195 for a gas tankless and $535 for an electric.
Installation will cost you moreat least $800 to $1,500, according to HomeAdvisor.
The colder the water coming in, the longer it takes to heat, says Caccia. Unlike many competitors, Rinnai makes the vast majority of our key components, allowing for consistent control of quality. *For information on the Federal Tax Credit, go to: energystar.gov. Because the heat pump adds height, the water heater needs more headroom than a conventional tank, at least 7 feet. State water heaters are professionally installed by local independent contractors.
A Rinnai PRO will help you choose the right model for your needs, provide you with financing options, and perform a top-quality installation.
This article is not a substitute for review of current applicable government regulations, industry standards, or other standards specific to your business and/or activities and should not be construed as legal advice or opinion. And depending on the temperature of your groundwater, you may have to wait for the water to get hot. Local utility rebates available in limited geographical areas. Because the differences among models were negligible, instead of breaking out individual models for ratings like we do with most other products, our engineers grouped all the gas tankless units together and all the electric tankless models together, and compared the groups with their conventional storage tank models that run on the same fuel. With the additional purchase of a control-r module (compatible with most condensing models), you can integrate it into your smart home technology for greater control and have on-demand hot water in seconds. Rinnai Vent-Free Convectors push heat to the farthest reaches of the room, evenly warming larger spaces and maximizing cost-savings. Both rate Good for energy efficiency. Storage tank: In our tests, we judged the annual energy consumption cost of the conventional water heaters to be Very Good for the gas model and Fair for the electric.
Tankless: Tankless water heaters tend to cost more up front than storage tank models.
The payback time for a replacement installation and new construction was under a year. Storage tank: Our payback calculations are based on replacing a 50-gallon storage tank water heater with a tankless water heater, then calculating how much the tankless model costs to operate and how much energy it saves.
Technology on our Condensing Gas Tankless Products and solutions to help your business move forward. A shower, followed by two more showers, followed by dishwashing, wont exhaust the supply. See manual for details. Knowing that I wanted to be a journalist from a young age, I decided to spiff up my byline by adding the middle initials "H.J." Storage tank: Storage tank water heaters typically have a capacity of 30 to 60 gallons, but the most common size is 50 gallons.
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