Tankless Water Heaters

Tankless Water HeatersSuppose you’re in the market for a new water heater. In that case, a tankless water heater is an energy-efficient, space-saving alternative. Also called an on-demand water heater, the tankless water heater heats water as it moves through the unit. These units can save up to 80% of the space a standard water heater requires by being directly attached to the wall. There are electric, gas, and propane tankless water heaters to choose from.

As with most home appliances, there are pros and cons to a tankless water heater. What is the downside of a tankless water heater? It requires an expert like the Abend Plumbing and Heating professionals to install it, which may deter DIYers.

If you’ve decided on a tankless water heater vs. a tank water heater, here are the best tankless water heaters we recommend.

Navien Tankless Water Heater

Navien is one of the premiere tankless water heater manufacturers. They come in options for condensing (dual heat exchanger) and non-condensing (single heat exchanger). We can install either type indoors or outdoors.

The condensing models are more energy efficient at up to 0.96 UEF, or Uniform Energy Factor. The higher this number, the more energy-efficient the residential water heater is. Naiven’s non-condensing models are around 0.81 UEF.

However, condensing tankless water heaters should receive yearly maintenance, while the non-condensing model only requires occasional maintenance.

Navien tankless water heater runs on either natural gas or propane, and the heat exchangers come with a 15-year warranty. The Navien tankless water heaters can cost between $700–$3,000 or more.

Rinnai Tankless Water Heater

Another option is the Rinnai natural gas or propane tankless water heater. Rinnai’s super high-efficiency condensing tankless water heater models run between 0.85 and 0.93 UEF. The high-efficiency non-condensing models run between 0.79–0.83 UEF. Only the SE+ Series condensing units are Energy Star certified.

Rinnai also has a tank/tankless hybrid water heater called the Demand Duo. It works as a condensing water heater but comes with an 80-gallon storage tank. While not Energy Star qualified, the Demand Duo still rates super high-efficiency at 0.91 and 0.93 UEF.

The Rinnai tankless water heater comes with up to a 15-year warranty for the heat exchanger on residential applications, depending on the model you choose. These models range in price from $700–$2,500 or more.

Weil-McLain Indirect Fired Water Heater

But what if you have a boiler heating system or an electric water heater? The Weil-McLain indirect-fired water heater may be the most cost-effective replacement. Indirect water heaters use the central boiler or furnace to heat the water. The water heater stores the excess energy, requiring less energy from the heating source.

The non-metallic Aqua Pro doesn’t corrode as a standard water heater can. It comes in 30-, 50-, 80,- or 119-gallon and doesn’t have an anode, so there is no need for annual maintenance. The Aqua Plus Series is an anode-less stainless steel coil and tank design that comes in five sizes: 35-, 45-,55-, 85-, and 105-gallons.

Both water heaters come with a 12-year warranty on the tank assembly and 2-years on other parts.

Maintenance costs are minimal, but the water heater is cheaper unless you get an 80-gallon or larger water heater. Expect to pay $2,000 or more for the largest water heaters and less for the smaller capacity water heaters.

Your Water Heater Installation Experts

Ensure your warranty is valid with professional installation. Abend Plumbing and Heating experts are certified to install Navien, Rinnai, and Weil-McLain water heaters. Contact us today to schedule your water heater installation.