Do you want to know how to install a tankless water heater in 2022? With the introduction of tankless water heaters, their installation method is hitting a great demand. Either you are a professional or a DIY type person, you think of installing a tankless water heater for sure. We wrote an article for your ease in detail on how to install a tankless water heater.
Tankless water heater installation is different depending on its type. In the market, you will see three types of tankless water heaters based on fuel type. It may use propane, natural gas, or electricity as a fuel. Hence, their installation method varies accordingly.
Installation of a tankless water heater is not that simple. You have to be very conscious while going for the installation. For this purpose, a clear guide and accessories are needed. Tankless water heater installation kit is available in the market separately, or it comes with the product.
In this post, we would discuss the installation of each type separately. You just need to follow the below-mentioned points according to heater type.
Installation Of Electric Tankless Water Heater
A majority of customers like to own an electric tankless water heater. After buying this type, they often think about how to install an electric tankless water heater. This process is not very complicated but demands step-by-step guidance; after all, it is a matter of safety.
Electric Tankless water heater installation requirements
Before installation, you need to know about the proper procedure for non-stop working of this heater and your safety, for sure. Check that what the demand for amperes is. Can your home manage this capacity? Plus, breakers and wire sizes also need to consider. There should be enough free space around this water heater.
We suggest you consult the respective manual for further requirements as these vary from brand to brand.
Installation method
We are going to discuss the significant steps needed for electric installation. You may have to deal with some additional steps. So, consultation with the specific product manual is essential.
Shut down the circuit breaker and power supply.
If you have an already installed water heater, drain it first and then disconnect to make the place for a new unit.
Fix the electric water heater to the wall or cabinet with the help of screws.
Set the water connection with the hot supply on the left-hand side and the cold supply on the right-hand side. You can use copper or PEX tube, or you can go for stainless steel pipe of ¾. We recommend you use the Teflon tape for further support. Note that before attaching the pipe, flush it, or the heat would damage it.
- Mount a shut-off valve before and after the water heater. It would support you at the time of maintenance. With these valves, you would not have to cut the supply of a full home.
- Fix a valve to minimize the water pressure on the colder side. It would manage the water pressure when it touches the specific limit. You can install a temperature relief valve, in addition to a pressure valve, if allowed by a professional.
Let the several hot tabs run for 1 minute or more. It would release any entrapped air bubble and would indicate any point of leakage.
First, to fix the electric wiring, refer to the manual’s tankless water heater installation diagram. It would let you know about the required size of the circuit breaker and wirings. Small and large units have different scenarios of installation.
- With the small water heater, you can use just one circuit with 6/2 AWG wiring. Moreover, 50 amps dual pole breaker is enough grounding purpose.
- With a large unit, we recommend you use 2 or 3 independent circuits with thick wiring.
Attach each wire to the relevant slot after passing them through the openings at the base. Fix a ground connector to the circuit breaker and heater’s grounding busbar.
Ensure that you have attached the wiring correctly and attach the front cover.
Turn the circuit breaker on and adjust the settings of the water heater according to your demand.
Turn the hot water on and check the water’s correct temperature, or you can adjust it again.
Congratulations! You have successfully installed the electric tankless water heater.
Installation Of Natural Gas Tankless Water Heater
It is time to discuss how to install the tankless gas water heater. Like electrical units, gas water heater also demands special requirements. A special guide is needed to mount this unit.
Natural gas tankless water heater installation requirements
Before installation, make sure that your area has enough gas supply to meet the water heater demand. Try to choose the space that looks best for this unit. If you aim to mount this product in a close cabinet, make sure that this place has air pipes and extra air inlets.
Installation method
Installation of a gas water heater is a bit simple but needs some care to ensure safety. Let us discuss some necessary steps.
Cut down all the gas and water supply that entertain the water heater.
Unmounts the older unit by removing supporting screws after draining it completely.
There are chances you need a larger gas pipe to install the new unit. So, buy a new PVC pipe to ensure clear mounting.
Manage a hole to pass the new PVC pipe that welcomes fresh air for the inlet.
Join a supply of cold water that should be run into the water heater. The hot water supply should run out of the unit to deliver warm water. For this purpose, you can use a copper pipe of ¾ size.
You can place an electrical outlet in case of an on-demand heater. For this purpose, you can gain the services of an electrician.
If you want to manage hot water ready to use, then mount a crossover valve to entertain a recirculation pump.
Make sure you have done all the work accurately and turn on the water and gas supply.
The good news is that you have done with installation if all the steps have been perfectly followed.
Installation Of Propane Tankless Water Heater
The installation of each system is different from the others. You need different accessories and connections to make the respective unit functional.
Propane tankless water heater installation requirements
The installing place should be enough to uninstall it easily when needed. Plus, the maximum input power should be 199,000 BTUs to meet the high demand. You should place the unit away from any disturbance, and not its operating voice would disturb you. For more detail, refer to the respective manual.
Installation method
To install a propane tankless water heater, you need to have a pipe wrench, tubing cutter, and a propane torch. It may take 3 hours or more for proper installation.
Turn the water valve that comes to the meter.
Remove the old pipe that supplies water to the old heater.
Remove the old heater by disconnecting screws and nuts.
Put the new tankless water heater to the valve and fix it perfectly with the screws.
Join the propane tank (from outdoor) and tankless water heater with the help of an iron pipe. Note that this pipe should be threaded to ensure zero leakage of gas.
Fix all the connections with the help of a wrench.
Join threaded pipe to the tankless water heater with the help of union fitting.
Join the water supply and the heater with the help of a copper pipe.
Tighten all the connections to ensure zero leakage.
Turn the water valve on, and meanwhile, check for leakage. If present, fix it with the help of a wrench.
Open the propane valve and allow its supply to the unit.
Make its connection to the electrical supply nearby.
Set the temperature and let this heater serve you.
By following all the steps, you would be done the work successfully. We advise you to consult the instruction manual before going for installation. It might have specific instructions that are essential to follow.
Advantage of tankless water heater
A tankless water heater comes with multiple advantages. This is the reason that has increased its demand in the market. Following are the prominent advantages of a tankless water heater.
This product is energy efficient. They use less energy than other types and lessen your electricity bills.
The tankless water heater does not store warm water before time
They do not take much time to supply warm water. You turn the tap on and get the warm water in seconds. This means they work fast enough to let you wait.
These heaters come with advanced technology. Some models allow using an app to manage it.
You can manage the temperature according to your demand. Either there is a freezing temperature or a small cold, you are ready to enjoy warm water accordingly.
The disadvantage of tankless water heater
A tankless water heater may also have some disadvantages that are essential to know. The main disadvantages are;
The installation requires additional cost. It may exceed the cost of the heater itself.
The flow rate of a tankless water heater is not very high. You have to compromise over this point. Plus, there is a limitation of the fixtures. You are bound to use the number of connections allowed by a specific unit. This capacity varies from type to type.
The temperature of output water may be varied according to groundwater. In freezing cold, some units may not deliver hot water.
They may produce sound during work.
These are some prominent disadvantages of a tankless water heater. They may vary from type to type and brand to brand.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much electric tankless water heater installation cost?
The initial installation of a tankless water heater may cost you more. But it demands less fuel once installed. Plus, it gives you additional benefits to give unlimited warm water yet saving energy.
How long does it take to install a tankless water heater?
Installing a tankless water heater does not take much time. You just need to spend half an hour or so for a complete installation. Moreover, you might have additional 45 minutes if there is a need to make the connections. If you are a professional, then you can be done this task in less time.
Can an owner install a water heater himself?
It is possible that the owner can install the tankless water heater himself, but it is not the work of an inexperienced person. Different types of tankless water heaters are available to serve you. These include electric, propane, or natural gas tankless water heaters. Every type demands different criteria for installation, and hence, different professionals are needed for this.
We advise you do not try to do it yourself. Call a certified technician and have his services. No doubt, it would cost you more, but you would get safety in return.
Conclusion
We have discussed how to install a tankless water heater due to its vast demand. No doubt, all the discussed points are worth following, but these are basic instructions. The steps may be somewhat different from brand to brand. This is why we are recommending you to consult the separate manual that comes with a specific water heater and ensure the perfect installation. Therefore, you would not have safety issues.
Yet, all the tankless water heater installation instructions have been discussed, but it would be good if you leave it to the professional. We never encourage you to do this installation yourself. If you are inexperienced, there might be a loss of money or life even. So, choose the safe way and stay satisfied.
Installing a tankless water heater outside or inside is not that simple. Before going for mounting, you should know which type is built for indoor installation or outdoor installation.
After reading this article, we hope you would consider our recommendations and ensure your family’s safety.
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