Are you confused as to why your tankless water heater keeps consuming huge amounts of propane while in use? Or are you planning to do some calculations about how much propane does a tankless water heater use in 2022 and propane expenditures before buying it? Our comprehensive guide will surely help you in either case.
Tankless water heaters have gotten a lot of attention in recent years. The largest factor that contributes to this fame is their ability to reduce your energy bills vastly and last you for the longest interval. But there are still some details that you must cover and know about without going ahead and purchasing this innovative and complex machine.
Tankless water heaters are powered in two different ways. The first are those that use electricity as a fuel and are the safest options in the present time, but also extremely expensive. The other type is tankless heaters that use gas as their source of fuel and heat up your water using a burner.
You’re probably asking where propane fits into all of this. Well, think no more as in this article, we will not only discuss why propane is the best option for your gas-powered tankless heater but also determine and do exact calculations about how much propane does your heater needs to function properly. As a result, stay with us a bit longer to get answers to all of your inquiries and concerns.
Why should you use propane in your tankless water heater?
Gas-powered tankless water heaters use natural gas or propane as fuel. Although regular gas is still the conventional fuel for these machines, propane is rapidly replacing it and becoming the best-suited gas for these water heaters. What benefits does propane have over regular gas?
Let’s start by talking about how propane is probably the cleanest burning option right now. While the burning of regular gas releases toxins to the environment and is harmful to the air and people around, propane emits about 60% fewer greenhouse gases and is much more eco-friendly in nature.
Alongside this, if you plan to run your heaters for a long time and still would appreciate a little affordability in terms of fueling, propane should be your go-to choice for these tankless water heaters. Burning barely one gallon of propane is equivalent to the heating effect given by about three or four gallons of regular gas. It produces much more heaters and burns considerably less!
How much propane does a tankless water heater use?
By now, we have established two things about using propane as fuel in your tankless heaters. One that gives you more energy than regular gas without releasing harmful toxins and the second that saves you up on your fuel costs greatly. But exactly how much propane does your tankless water heater use in 2022?
The solution to this lies in a number of things and varies by location. A tankless heater situated in hard water areas with cooler temperatures needs a water softener to soften the water or else can ultimately result in a higher amount of propane usage. Additionally, you must look at the flow rate of your tankless water heaters as it helps you deduce their rate of propane consumption.
If you are just a duo living at your place, fifteen gallons of propane will meet your monthly requirements. But if your family size is five or more than that, it is important for you to get at least forty gallons of propane for use! Keep in mind exactly how many chores do you need to get done monthly and find a heater according to those needs.
Now, you have an idea about how much propane you need for your tankless heater based upon your family size and use. Next, let’s do some calculations and see the monthly bills of this propane consumption. Given how a gallon of propane costs about 2.20 dollars, a family of two to four will spend about fifty dollars monthly on propane. Whereas, larger families need about eighty dollars of propane monthly.
Another way to calculate the amount of propane your tankless water heater will use is by doing this calculation using the BTU hourly rate of the heater. A gallon of propane, when burnt, produces 92K BTU units. To calculate the propane consumption of your heater, divide its mentioned BTU rate with the hourly BTU rate of propane, being 92000, and multiply it with the number of hours you plan to use it for.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are propane tankless water heaters worth it?
Knowing the high initial and installation costs of propane tankless water heaters, it is understandable for people to question whether it’s worth the investment or not. The answer to this is always yes! Not only will these tankless water heaters make the heating of water easier and safer than ever, but will last you for an everlastingly long time and save you thousands of dollars on energy and fuel costs.
What are the disadvantages of propane?
Despite propane being the safest and most eco-friendly option at the present time, it still has some hazards when being used in tankless water heaters. Its flammable nature makes it extremely dangerous in case of any undetected leakage and may cause drastic effects.
Moreover, a heavier density than air leads to the accumulation of gas in the air where it might be even more difficult to detect and have a high concentration.
How long will 100-gallon propane last?
The answer to this depends upon the BTU rate of your heater and its surrounding temperature. A heater supporting a BTU hourly rate of 20,000 and being used for twelve hours daily will function on this 100-gallon propane for nine whole days.
Is it cheaper to heat with propane or electricity?
While electrical heaters are a much safer option, propane ones are still considerably cheap and much more versatile. Propane will cost you less than electricity and still stay functional when other energy sources are not available or their supply is hindered.
Conclusion
And there you have it! Our complete overview about how much propane does a tankless water heater use in 2022 along with the calculations regarding its consumption rate. We hope that this article helps get you an idea about how much propane your tankless water heater will use and aid you in making the right decisions regarding your suitability with a propane or electric tankless water heater.
