Getting ready to embark on a Sunnyvale tankless water heating project can be daunting, especially if this is your first tankless water heater. Performance Plumbing is here to help with some basic information to prepare you for your Sunnyvale tankless water heating project.

What is a tankless water heater?

Also known as demand-type water heaters, tankless water heaters are an alternative to storage water heaters where water is kept continuously heated in a tank—on average storage water heater tanks are 40 to 50 gallons. Tankless water heaters connect directly to cold water pipes and heat water only when being used, or “on demand.”

Tankless water heaters provide a constant flow of hot water, unlike storage water heater systems that run out of hot water once the tank is depleted of water. They are also considered to be more energy efficient as well as space saving.

Types of Tankless Water Heaters: Gas-fired and Electric

Tankless water heaters come in two types: gas-fired and electric. Both have their pros and cons and which you go with should be determined by your home needs. For example, electric units are a good choice if you’re only looking to upgrade the water heater in one bathroom. In this case, you can benefit from the smaller size of an electric unit and its lack of need for venting. Electric units are also known to be more energy efficient; however, they also have a shorter lifespan.

Gas-fired tankless water heaters are the better choice if you’re looking for one new water heater for the whole house. These units are more powerful than electric ones and have a significantly longer life expectancy. On the downside, gas-fired units are less energy efficient than electric ones and require venting.

Tankless Water Heater Maintenance

Just because there’s no tank to flush out does not mean tankless water heaters do not require maintenance. Depending on the hardness of your water, you should descale (or delime) your tankless water heater regularly. That could range from every 6 months to once a year to once every few years. Hard water deposits, also known as limescale, build up in the heat exchanger of a tankless water heater, and over time will affect performance.

Knowing when to descale your tankless water heater unit may require help from a professional. Some fancier units have built-in detection scales and will alert you to when maintenance is required.

Installation Tips and Considerations

Unless you are a professional yourself, installing a tankless water heater should be left to the pros. A new unit requires connecting to gas or electrical wiring, both of which can be dangerous and could have serious repercussions if done improperly. Hiring a professional plumbing company like Performance Plumbing is the best way to ensure that your new Sunnyvale tankless water heating project is done safely and correctly.

Still have questions on whether or not you should make the switch to a tankless water heating system? No problem! Contact our certified professionals at Performance Plumbing and we’ll make sure you find the right Sunnyvale tankless water heating system to meet all your home needs.