Best Gas Tankless Water Heater Reviews in 2024
Written by Wilfred WeiheThis Best Gas Tankless Water Heater Guide is written solely for the purpose to make the reader aware about the gas tankless water heaters. The guide covers basic info on the gas tankless heaters, including their basic functions, advantages, issues, features etc. How to select a best fit and other relevant info which will ultimately aid the reader for making a smart purchase.
By the end of the Best Gas Tankless Water Heater Reviews, the user will be able to comprehend a gas tankless water heater at the very best.
Shower is one of the most enjoyable luxuries out there available for a person. Hot water bath coupled with a soothing music or with a beauty of silence, as you may find fancy, not only gives you an exotic relaxation experience but also is soul soothing. The feeling of warmth not only makes us feel ecstatic but it also puts our mind at peace, which is something difficult to achieve from a busy daily schedule and a fast-paced lifestyle everybody is having these days.There is several different water heating equipment available in the market to suit the various styles and tastes of different people. The most basic and popular type of such water heating equipment is a gas water heater. A gas water heater, as the name suggests, utilizes gas energy to provide you hot water. Whether you need hot water for showering, bathing, washing clothes or cleaning the dishes; it has got everything covered for you. The electric counterpart of these equipment is known as electric tankless water heaters. While gas water heaters feed on gas (natural gas, propane, etc.), electric water heaters consumes electric energy to operate and provide you with hot water supply.
Gas Tankless Water Heater Reviews in 2024
Takagi T-KJr2-IN-NG Indoor Tankless Water Heater, Natural Gas
Introduction - Takagi T-KJr2-IN-NG Indoor Tankless Water Heater, Natural Gas by Takagi is a gas tankless water heater. ASIN for the product is this takagi tankless water heater review is B0057X27OC. Its item model number is T-KJr2-IN-NG and its part number is T-KJr2-IN NG. The product has a dimensional configuration of 6.7x13.8x20.3 inches and weighs around 19-and-a-half pounds.The gas tankless water heating system is rated with 140,000 BTU of heating power. The equipment is capable of heating water with maximum flow rate of 6.6 GPM. A 4-inch category III Stainless Steel venting is required for the installation of the heating system.
With an energy factor of 0.81-0.83, the inlet and outlet of the system contain thermistors to continuously monitor temperature of water. The product comes with an Energy Star certification and is not costliest.
T-KJr2-IN-NG offers a 10-year warranty on heat exchanger and 5-year warranty on other parts of the heating system for residential installation and offers 5-year and 3-year respective warranties for commercial installations.
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Takagi tankless water heater reviews – T-KJr2-IN-NG is an efficient non-condensing gas tankless water heater which is specifically designed for installation in residential spaces. The heater has a good water heating system and an automatic water temperature detection mechanism which lets you continuously monitor the temperature of the water you get.
With Takagi installation you will never run out of hot water ever again. Bundled along with the advantages of the product comes some petty issues which needs to acknowledged before you make a purchase of the top rated tankless gas water heaters. For the purpose of best tankless water heater reviews, a list is prepared to let you know about all the benefits and issues offered by Takagi non-condensing gas heating water system as follows:
Takagi T-KJr2-IN-NG Pros
- Balances incoming water with outgoing water flow
- Energy star certification
- 140,000 BTU heating power
- 0.81-0.83 energy factor
- Ideal for residential spaces
- Constant water temperature monitoring with thermistors
- Maximum flow rate of 6.6 GPM
- Great customer reviews
- Requires category III Stainless Steel venting
- 10-year warranty on heat exchanger and 5-year warranty on other parts
Takagi T-KJr2-IN-NG Cons
- Not fit for big residential spaces
- Warranty only available if installed by a licensed technician
Conclusion - 10-year warranty on heat exchanger and 5-year warranty on other parts by Takagi is a 140,000 BTU heating power rated non-condensing gas tankless water heating system. The system uses natural gas to warm up the water for you without causing any kind of pollution or inconvenience.
The manufacturer description states the product to be perfect for light residential and radiant heating applications. However, it can be used in small commercial places too. The warranty offered by Takagi covers the heat exchanger and some other parts of the heating system. The heater offers a maximum temperature set up of 131°F. The inlet and outlet of the heating system employs separate thermistors which continuously tracks the temperature of water and helps balancing the incoming water with the outgoing flow.
The warranty offered by the one of the top rated tankless gas water heaters is only applicable if a licensed technician does it, otherwise it is void. The product is not costliest. Perfect buy for customers looking for a high-end heating power tankless water heating system for installation in residential spaces.
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Rheem RTG-64XLN Outdoor Tankless Natural Gas Water heater
Rheem RTG-64XLN 6.4 GPM Low NOx Outdoor Tankless Natural Gas Water heater by Rheem is a gas tankless water heater equipment designed for fulfilling outdoor hot water requirements.The equipment has a dimensional requirement of 14x10x26 inches and weighs around 54 pounds. The ASIN of the product is B007XDK1R4, its part number and item model number is RTG-64XLN.
The gas tankless water heater is designed specifically for outdoor use. It is built around a space saving design and employs energy efficient equipment to effectively cut your energy bills.
The water heater is capable to provide a maximum flow rate of 26 GPM (Gallons Per Minute). For a 35°F raise in water temperature, it is capable to supply 6.8 gallons per minute of hot water. Whereas for a 45°F temperature raise, RTG-64XLN can provide 5.3 gallons per minute.
The gas heater requires natural gas for its operation. With the equipment, you will get an UMC-117 remote control to easily adjust the water temperature and a 10-foot thermostat wire.
With Rheem RTG-XLN gas tankless water heater you don't need to worry about a limited supply of hot water you can get. The product requires fairly enough vent space to emit the gases produced during its heat-up operation.
Easy to set up along with a sturdy built which guarantees a long-term service.
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Rheem gas water heater RTG-64XLNReview – it is an outdoor gas tankless electric water heater. The equipment is capable to provide a flow rate of 6.4 GPM.
Rheem RTG-XLN features a next generation burner technology. It provides you a continuous hot water supply to fulfil all your hot water requirements.
This gas tankless heater is a perfect solution to heat your water while saving energy and the equipment takes about 4-5 hours for installation. Whether you require hot water in your bathroom, kitchen or for the washing machine; Rheem RTG-XLN have got all of them covered.
Among these aforesaid advantages, the unit offers some minor issues which needs to be addressed before making a purchase of the product. As such, we have summed up all the main advantages and flaws of the Rheem natural tankless water heater in the following list:
Rheem RTG-64XLN Pros
- Hassle free installation
- Provides a 35°F temperature rise at 6.8 GPM and 45°F temperature rise at 5.3 GPM
- Energy efficient, saves about 15% gas charges than other contemporary gas water heating units
- Space saving design
- Perfect for outdoor installation
- Low Nox version
- UMC-117 remote control for easy manipulation of settings
- Included 10-feet thermostat wire
- Sturdy construction
- Easy-to-do wiring work
- 5-year warranty on parts and 12-year warranty on the heat exchanger
Rheem RTG-64XLN Cons
- Not suitable for heavy hot water requirements
- Requires fairly great vent space
Conclusion – Natural gas tankless water heater reviews describe Rheem RTG-64XLN 6.4 GPM Low NOx Outdoor Tankless Natural Gas Water heater by Rheem as a compact and space saving tankless water heater designed to provide a continuous uninterrupted supply of hot water.
The water heater has a sturdy built and is capable to provide fair amount of temperature rise while saving you gas charges. The equipment relies on natural gas for its operation.
Hence, if you are already having a gas connection at your home; you can easily start using the equipment at any time. The installation of the unit is a piece of cake, it requires only 4-5 hours of installation labor with all its easy wiring and hassle free adjustments.
Rheem is offering separate warranties on the product. With the product, you get a 5-year warranty on its parts whereas a 12-year warranty coverage is provided on the heat exchanger of the unit.
The product is priced quite low, which is average for a tankless water heater of such caliber. To sum up, Rheem RTG-XLN is a perfect product for consumers looking to buy a perfect small home or outdoor installable gas tankless water heater.
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Rheem RTGH-95DVLN Indoor Direct Vent Tankless Natural Gas Water Heater
Rheem RTGH-95DVLN 9.5 GPM Indoor Direct Vent Tankless Natural Gas Water Heater by Rheem is a gas tankless water heater fueled by natural gas.The item weighs around 79 pounds and requires a space of 18.5x9.8x27.5 inches. The ASIN for the tankless water heater is B0084CPDFS. The part number and item model number for the unit is RTGH-95DVLN.
Compared to other conventional gas tankless water heaters that provides an energy efficiency of 84 percent, this Rheem unit provides a remarkable efficiency of 94 percent. The high efficiency is achieved by the unit thanks to the stainless steel construction of its heat exchanger.
Safety is ensured by its intelligent electronic controls designed by keeping efficiency in mind. The product is a Low Nox version along with a self-diagnostic system for simple installation and service.
Digital display employed in the unit shows codes for temperature settings and maintenance for easy manipulation. Rheem offers separate warranty coverage on unit's parts and heat exchanger.
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Rheem gas water heater RTGH-95DVLN Review – this product is a highly efficient natural gas tankless water heater. The energy efficient unit lets you cut your gas bills and provides you an endless supply of hot water as long as the water supply is running.
AHRI has listed a third-party efficiency for the product. The product requires up to 3.8-feet of 3-inch PVC pipe or 5-feet of 2-inch PVC pipe. The unit comes with an inbuilt blower.
The product is built around the industry standards to provide an excellent service while imparting a maximum security.
The Rheem product is certified by various government and third-party authorities to assure you with the quality offered by the product.
Before you make up your mind for the purchase of the product, consider taking a look at its major advantages and petty issues slated as follows:
Rheem RTGH-95DVLN Pros
- Energy efficiency of 94 percent
- Intelligent electronic controls provide maximum safety
- Low Nox version
- Frequently tested by govt. and third-party authorities
- Condensing heat exchanger with stainless steel built
- Digital display shows temperature settings and maintenance codes
- Easy installation and service with self-diagnostic system
- Built-in electric blower
- Comes with Guardian overheat film wrap (OFW)
- Two-pipe direct vent system designed for PVC pipe
- Requires 3.8 feet of 3-inch PVC pipe or 5 feet of 2-inch PVC pipe
- Separate warranties on parts and heat exchanger
Rheem RTGH-95DVLN Cons
- Costly unit
- Requires fairly large vent space
Conclusion – Rheem RTGH-95DVLN 9.5 GPM Indoor Direct Vent Tankless Natural Gas Water Heater by Rheem is a highly efficient natural gas electric tankless water heater designed around the conventional industry standards.
Sturdy and flexible construction ensure a long time service by the product. You can easily adjust the temperature settings with the digital control provided and monitor it using the electronic display.
The unit can be easily installed at any prime location. Whether you require it to be installed outside your home for shower or inside your hall, all of them can be achieved with a hassle-free installation.
The instruction manual provided along with the unit makes sure to get the consumer well aware of the unit requirements and needs. A high efficiency of 94 percent assures a slash in your normal gas bills by 15-20 percent. Because the product is designed to be highly efficient and contemporary, it is priced around a whooping sum.
Rheem assures quality to the consumer by offering separate warranties on the parts of the unit and its heat exchanger. You can buy an elite gas tankless water heater with a high level of efficiency.
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Rinnai RU98IN Indoor Condensing Tankless Natural Gas Water Heater
Rinnai RU98IN 9.8 GPM Indoor Ultra-NOx Condensing Tankless Natural Gas Water Heater by Rinnai is a natural gas tankless water heater optimized for indoor use.The equipment weighs about 71 pounds and requires about 18.5x10.1x26.4 inches of space. The part number of the product is RU98iN. Its ASIN is B0084CPE34 and its item model number is RU98IN.
Rinnai 9.8 GPM gas water heater comes in shiny silver color and is specifically designed for wall-mount installation. The maximum energy factor of RU98IN is 0.94.
The product is capable to provide a maximum of 199,000 BTUs. Indoor installation of the unit meets California and Texas NOx emissions standards.
The product bundles heavy duty forged brass Webstone Isolator valves EXP E2 and the MC-91-1US controller. Moreover, the equipment is compatible with full line of Rinnai digital controllers.
The natural gas tankless water heater is able to provide 96 percent efficiency thanks to the condensing technology, which also allows to have comprehensive energy savings.
The product is available in 4 models and is suitable for mid to large sized homes. The manufacturer offers separate warranties on the parts and heat exchanger of the product.
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Rinnai RU98IN Review – This heater is a highly efficient natural gas tankless water heater appropriate for both mid-sized and large-sized home hot water requirements.
It is specifically designed for indoor installation. The unit comes with a preset temperature of 120°F. Also, the equipment lets you save big on energy bills owing to its condensing technology.
The unit has a remarkable efficiency of 96 percent. It can be easily controlled with any Rinnai digital controllers.
In addition to separate warranties offered on the parts and the heat exchanger of the product, Rinnai offers a 1-year labor charges for residential installation.
All the main advantages and issues offered by the RU98IN is summed up as follows:
Rinnai RU98IN Pros
- 98°F-140°F for residential installation and 98°F-185°F for commercial installation temperature range with Rinnai digital controllers
- Flow rate of 9.8 GPM (Gallons Per Minute)
- Energy factor for the unit is 0.94
- Employs condensing technology
- Preset at 120°F temperature
- Significant savings in energy bills
- Optimized for indoor use
- Wall-mount installation
- 5-year warranty on parts and 12-year on the heat exchanger
- Rinnai offers a 1-year labor charges for residential installation
Rinnai RU98IN Cons
- Costly unit
- Heavier than other gas tankless water heaters
Conclusion – Rinnai RU98IN 9.8 GPM Indoor Ultra-NOx Condensing Tankless Natural Gas Water Heater is an ultra-efficient natural gas tankless water heater by Rinnai.
The unit is compatible with full line of Rinnai digital controllers, which can be used with the water heater to easily adjust its temperature settings.
It offers separate temperature ranges for residential and commercial applications. For residential tasks, you can adjust it comfortably anywhere between 98°F and 140°F.
It offers temperature range of 98°F-185°F for commercial errands. The unit is capable to reach a maximum efficiency of 96 percent. Rinnai provides a warranty coverage of 5-year on some specific parts of the equipment and 12-year on the heat exchanger.
The condensing gas water heater is designed for indoor installation and is wall-mountable. Additionally, the manufacturer offers 1-year labor charges for residential installation.
The condensing gas water heater is capable of providing a flow rate of 9.8 GPM. Rinnai RU98IN comes with a comfortable preset temperature of 120°F.
It includes heavy duty Webstone Isolator valves made from heavy duty forged brass. To bring the RU98IN home, you need to spare quite a sum.
To conclude, the product is suitable for consumers looking to spend a little extra on a highly efficient gas water heater with exquisite looks and an unbeatable service.
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Takagi T-KJr2-IN-LP Indoor Tankless Water Heater, Propane
Takagi T-KJr2-IN-LP Indoor Tankless Water Heater, Propane is a gas tankless water heater fueled by propane gas and manufactured by Takagi.The product is lightweight and weighs only 38 pounds and requires about 6.7x13.8x20.3 inches of space. The ASIN for the product is B0057X28EG. Its part number is T-KJr2-IN LP. The product comes in a liquid propane color with the same finish.
T-KJr2-IN-LP is certified by Energy Star that assures you to get a lot of energy savings from the product. The equipment is optimally designed for light residential and radiant heating applications.
The Takagi T-KJr2-IN-LP is the smallest and the lightweight unit in the Takagi gas tankless water heater line-up.
It provides a massive amount of 140,000 BTUs (British Thermal Units). For constant monitoring of temperature, the product offers a separate inlet and outlet thermistor.
The unit requires a 4-inch category III stainless steel venting. Maximum flow rate offered by the product is 6.6 GPM. Its energy factor is 0.81-0.83.
Takagi offers a 10-year warranty on the heat exchanger and a 5-year warranty coverage on its various parts for residential installation.
For commercial installation, Takagi offers a 5-year and a 3-year warranties on the heat exchanger and parts, respectively. The product is a budget purchase priced quite low.
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Takagi T-KJr2-IN-LP Review – It is the most compact unit offered by Takagi in its line-up of gas tankless water heaters. The unit offers 140,000 BTUs of heat.
It requires only a 4-inch category III stainless steel venting. The unit has a remarkable energy factor of 0.81-0.83.
It can easily provide hot water at a maximum flow rate of 6.8 GPM. The equipment is designed to meet light residential and radiant heating requirements.
It comes in a beautiful liquid propane finish and is lightweight, weighing only around 38 pounds. Takagi T-KJr2-IN-LP is certified by Energy Star ensuring energy savings.
The equipment relies on liquid propane for energy input. Both inlet and outlet of the gas tankless water heater comes with a thermistor for continuous temperature monitoring.
The unit is capable of adapting its heat to the temperature of the incoming water supply and runs a small fan when making heat.
Below is a comprehensive list of all the major issues and a few minor issues offered by the unit:
Takagi T-KJr2-IN-LP Pros
- Compact unit, saves size
- Lightweight, weighs only 38 pounds
- Requires only a 4-inch category III venting
- Energy efficiency of 81-83 percent
- Maximum flow rate of 6.8 GPM
- Thermistors included for continuous temperature monitoring
- Supplies 140,000 BTUs
- Consumes less supply of liquid propane
- Energy Star certified
- Easy adjustment of temperature using the dip switches
- Budget purchase
- Takagi provides separate warranties on parts and the heat exchanger for residential and commercial installation
Takagi T-KJr2-IN-LP Cons
- No remote control for adjusting temperature
- If left unattended at temperatures below freezing, the unit can get damaged
Conclusion – Takagi T-KJr2-IN-LP Indoor Tankless Water Heater, Propane by Takagi is a gas tankless water heater fueled by liquid propane.
The unit is specifically designed for indoor use and can be efficiently used for light hot water requirements. It is capable of providing a 6.8 GPM and is easier to control as well as manage.
The unit is also capable to adapt its heat to the temperature of the incoming water supply. Takagi T-KJr2-IN-LP requires less quantity of propane to operate and provide energy savings. The unit has an energy factor of 0.81-0.83.
The equipment is safe to use and produce no harmful gases or by-products other than the flue gases (by-products of the heating operation). It only requires a 4-inch category III stainless steel venting.
The unit is capable to provide about 140000 BTUs (British Thermal Units). No remote control is provided with the water heater and in order to adjust its water heating temperature you need to remove the cover to access the dip switches.
Be sure to not to leave it unattended as it can freeze in lower temperatures. The product is decently priced.
Moreover, Takagi offers separate warranties on its parts and heat exchanger. For residential installation, the warranty period is 10 and 5 years respectively for the heat exchanger and parts.
For commercial installation, warranty is 5 and 3 years respectively for the heat exchanger and parts. The warranty is only claimable if the installation is done by a certified technician.
The product is not suitable for large hot water requirements but is able to fulfil small hot water requirements.
Overall, the product is ideal for consumers looking to purchase a budget propane gas tankless water heater for fulfilling small hot water needs.
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A traditional gas water heater requires a tank for storing the hot water it warms for you, and therefore it is also known as a gas tank water heater. Though installing a tank for hot water storage is only a one-time process, you might have a difficult time if you're having space issues. Also, a tank requires much maintenance and a regular cleanliness over time. Therefore, in order to tackle the situation, the hot water niche has brought modern counterpart of these conventional water heating equipment known as gas tankless water heaters.
A gas tankless water heater, like the gas tank water heater, still requires gas to operate however, it eliminates the requirement of a tank. Hence, it saves space and eliminates the need of a tank as well as its maintenance. Also, unlike the older bulky units these units are comparatively smaller in size and saves space. They also come in various sizes and shapes.
Gas tankless water heaters warm water running in your water supply and is therefore, installed in parallel to your water supply. Some of these equipment can be installed manually while some other might require professional assistance. This modern-day equipment is faster, more efficient and space saving than their convention cousins. Their electric counterpart is dubbed electric tankless water heaters and replaces the gas input requirement with electricity.
Like other products in the market, gas tankless water heaters come in various shapes, sizes and quality. Most of these equipment relies on either natural gas or propane to fuel them. As natural gas or propane is less costly than electricity, the operating cost of these units are much less than the electric tankless water heaters. Unlike electric water heaters, gas water heaters require venting. This is so because during the water heating process, these units produce harmful gaseous by-products known as flue gases. As these gases can cause choking, they need to be vented out.
Though gas water heaters are costlier than electric tankless water heaters, they have much high efficiency than electric water heaters. Moreover, gas units' heat water at much lesser expense than their electric counterparts. However, as these units rely on a non-renewable source of energy they are likely to become outdated with the running out of sources. Therefore, both gas and electric have their own sets of advantages and issues.
Before you decide on to choose a perfect water heater for yourself, do consider about making yourself aware with the basics of electric water heaters too. While gas tankless water heaters may be suitable for some requirements, other set of requirements can only be fulfilled by an electric tankless water heater. So, it's better to have the knowledge about both variants of the tankless water heating systems.
How Do I Find the Best Gas Tankless Water Heater for Me?
Best Gas tankless water heaters are available in all shapes and comes in various sizes as well as designs. Therefore, before making a purchase you should be able to contrast the different options you are having so that you can better draw out the strengths and weaknesses among these units. This will help you to get a best fit product for your requirement which will provide you a longer time of trustworthy service as well.To get a better idea about what the product can offer, there is no better option than to study its specs. Specs provide vital information about the product but before you go for the specs, you should be able to understand what each of them does exactly mean. Gas tankless water heaters have a number of specs which you can understand to get a better idea of the product. These are mentioned as follows:
Activation Flow Rate
Minimum flow rate is also known as the activation flow rate. The specification lets you know the minimum amount of water flow which is required by the heating system of the equipment to ensure you a hot water supply as soon as you turn on the shower.Cheap products can have activation flow rate as high as 1 GPM (gallon-per-minute), which means that if you are having water flow less than 1 GPM then there will be no hot water for you. Therefore, it is essential to check this spec before you decide a purchase for a gas tankless heater product. Simply, look for low activation flow rate. Good gas tankless water heaters will have 0.2-0.5 GPM activation flow rate.
Build Quality
It is best to invest more money in a skillful work than to save a few bucks by purchasing a cheap and frail looking unit. To know the build quality of a product, you can go through various product reviews about the product, which can be easily found over the Web.Even if some product is covered by a good-looking warranty offer doesn't mean that it can't malfunction. A malfunctioning unit can bring you a lot of inconveniences. Firstly, you won't be able to use it and secondly, for getting it repaired you need to reach out to the product service which requires time as well as some sort of effort whether you give them a call, send a mail, visit yourself, or in any other way. Always remember that prevention is always better than cure. Therefore, it is advised to carefully check the build quality of any product you fancy before making up your mind to grab it.
Choosing A Condensing Water Heater, if possible
A non-condensing tankless water heater can usually have an average energy factor of around 0.80-0.85. Whereas, a condensing one may possess an energy factor of somewhere between 0.90 and 0.95. Though condensing units are a bit costly over the non-condensing ones, they are worth the cost. Furthermore, condensing units have a better build quality. These units' extract heat from the flue gas (a mixture of carbon dioxide, nitrogen oxides and water vapor produced as a result of the burning of natural gas or propane) and uses it as a secondary heat source for heating water. Hence, condensing units have a better average energy factor than non-condensing ones.Energy Factor
The Energy factor of a tankless water heater provides a rough sketch about the efficiency of the unit and also provides vital info about how much energy will get wasted in the heating process. As for an example, if a gas tankless unit has an energy factor of 0.8 and its gas consumption input is 10,000 BTU then the actual heating power of the unit will be 8,000 BTU and the rest 2000 BTUs will be of no use. This kind of gas water heating system can provide an 80°F rise in temperature when the water passing through it has a flow rate of 2 GPM. To deduce, the higher the energy factor the less will be the waste of energy.Heating Power
On an average, 500 BTUs per hour is enough to raise the temperature by 10°F when water is flowing through it at a rate of 1 GPM. The fact is deduced from the well-known fact that 1 BTU (British Thermal Unit) is equivalent to 1055 Joules. For an example, suppose you need to raise water temperature by 70°F at a 2 GPM flow rate, then you require 1000 BTUs to rise the temperature of water by 10°F. So, you'll require 7000 BTUs for raising the temperature according to the requirement.Maximum Flow Rate
Maximum flow rate gives you an idea about the amount of water which is allowed to pass through the water heater at a particular instant and is often measured in GPM (gallons-per-minute). A typical gas tankless water heater can have the maximum flow rate anywhere between 2 GPM and 10 GPM. To get an estimate for your water flow requirement you'll need to calculate the number of water fixtures that'll be using hot water along with your regular shower head or faucet, which can have a flow rate requirement of no more than 2 GPM.So, do check for these specs of a tankless water heater equipment you might like to purchase. A careful study of these specs will give you a comprehensive knowledge about what and how much the gas water heater can offer you.
What Are the Advantages of a Gas Tankless Water Heater?
Best Gas tankless water heaters have a rich set of advantages both over the conventional gas tank water heaters as well as electric tankless water heaters. The main two types of gas water heaters are natural gas-fueled and propane-fueled. While natural gas heaters are mostly designed for a permanent installation making them best fit for greater hot water requirements, propane gas heaters are portable and can be taken anywhere ranging from RV to boats. With the propane tankless water heaters you can even get a hot high-powered water stream for sanitizing patios as well as driveways. Therefore, a number of options are available to choose from.Gas tankless water heaters have digital controls installed in them to aid you with the control of the system. These digital systems have flow algorithms that helps easily control the system and also helps to increase efficiency of the system by optimizing it according to the various factors such as input water temperature, surrounding temperature, amount required, et cetera. Most of these water heating equipment comes with very low flow activation rate ranging from 0.26 GPM to 0.40 GPM. Depending on your household habits and needs, these systems can save you up to 60 percent on utility costs each month.
Thanks to their money saving capability, gas tankless water heaters eventually pay for themselves. Let's take an example to understand it better. Suppose a $1500 priced water heating equipment saves you $50 per month then after a period of 30 months, you have been able to save the same amount as you paid for the equipment. In addition, for those 30 months you've been getting an unlimited supply of hot water. This proves that electric tankless water heaters are energy efficient as well as money-saving equipment. Some of the top gas water heating equipment have an efficiency as much as 96 percent. These units are able to save more than $70 per month.
Following is a list of all the major advantages offered by electric tankless water heaters:
- Comes with digital control system for easy manipulation of hot water settings
- High energy factor, 0.80-0.86
- Cost efficient
- Comes with warranty coverage
- Strong and sturdy built
- Free from electric shocks
- Very low flow activation rates
- Perfect fit for homes already having a gas connection
- Eventually pay for themselves
- Comes in different sizes and shapes
- Provides unlimited supply of hot water
What Are Some Common Problems with Gas Tankless Water Heaters?
Many cheap models of gas tankless water heaters can have low flow rates of around 4 GPM. This is ok if you're only using hot water at 1 or 2 faucets. When the hot water output points are increased to 3 or 4, these equipment fails to provide the required amount of hot water. Though it is very uncommon for a normal home to have 3 bathroom faucets, it is quite common to have separate faucets for dishwashing, washing machine, and shower. In such case, the hot water will be just tapped out.Many entry level gas tankless water heaters only provide a net temperature change of 35°F at 4.0 GPM water flow. This is ok for places having hot environments but, the problem arises when this equipment is to be used at colder climates. At such places, the average temperature that water supply has is 37°F. This means, that the 35°F-raising equipment will heat this water to only 72°F which is around 30°F less temperature at which most people prefer the hot water to be. As such, the need of another water heater arises.
Venting is a must for gas tankless water heaters. Two types of venting are most common – a stainless steel venting and a PVC venting. Though stainless steel venting is common, some homes have PVC venting installed which can be sometimes incompatible with the gas tankless water heating systems. This leads to get a new venting installed at the place.
Furthermore, gas tankless heaters produce flue gas during their water heating operation. These gases are harmful and needs to be vented out. That is what the venting for the equipment is required for. However, sometimes there can be some leakage in the venting which may cause the flue gases to escape within the home environment. Therefore, utmost care is required to put a check on gas leakage.
In the following list, we've jot down all the major issues that comes with gas tankless heaters:
- High priced equipment compared to electric tankless water heaters
- Venting is must
- Requires gas connection to be installed at place of application
- Regularly needs to be checked for leaks
- Portability is low than electric tankless water heaters
- Needs more maintenance than electric tankless water heaters
- Installation is a bit complex, sometimes requires professional aid
What Are the Prices of Gas Tankless Water Heaters Today?
Gas tankless water heaters are reliable when comes to heating water along with saving money. Though the early investment i.e. the cost of these equipment can be high, over their service time this equipment successfully proves themselves to be money-saving units.With an increase in the demand of these water heating equipment a lot of companies have jumped into the tankless water heater niche to make the most out of it. This has resulted into benefit for the customers. Today, a lot of choices are available for the units.
You can either have small gas tankless water heaters which you can carry around on your private or RV. These units can cost as low as $200 and are pretty much trustworthy for getting hot water for 1-2 people. Moving ahead, the average ranged one-time installation gas tankless water heaters has a price range of $500-$1000. These water heaters are capable for fulfilling 2-3 hot water requirements simultaneously.
The price range of $1000-$1500 covers more than an average gas tankless heater equipment. These water heating equipment provides a flow rate of around 10-15 GPM and have a very low activation flow rate, which is 0.26 GPM in most of the cases.
On the top of the list comes elite or premium tankless water heaters having a price range starting from $1500 to $2500. These equipment, compared to average gas tankless water heater efficiency of 0.80-0.86, have a very high efficiency of around 90-96 percent. They are capable to provide a flow rate of 15-20 GPM, which is more than efficient to provide hot water at 4 bathroom showers at once.
Nearly all of these units comes with warranty coverage from the manufacturer. Furthermore, these warranties can be split into double warranties; one for the heat exchanger and the other for the parts of the equipment. While most of the warranties are applicable for almost any kind of installation, whether manual or professional, some of them are limited only for professional installation. Moreover, some units have warranties only valid for household applications and do not cover warranty for industrial applications.
Though there are cheap units available starting from $150-$500, it is advisable not to invest into cheap units as they will only bring you problems at their best.
Gas tankless water heaters are becoming more and more popular thanks to the new industrial innovations that are making these units better than ever. These units are very easy to install if you're already having a gas connection installed at the location where you want them to be installed. Though the price of such units is more than their electric variants, these units are more efficient in saving energy and cutting your costs on the energy as well as maintenance.
Like every other product, these units have their own set of advantages as well as issues. In some criterions, these units beat their fellow electric variants while in some they are not able to compete with them. E.g. one of the biggest advantage of using a gas tankless water heater over an electric tankless water heater is that their fuel i.e. natural gas is much cheaper than electricity. While the same is also an issue as natural gas is a non-renewable source of energy, its prices are expected to soar in the near future whereas, prices of electricity aren't going to change that much in the future.
Therefore, it can't be said that a gas tankless water heater is superior over an electric tankless water heating system.
Before going for a purchase, one should clearly know that what requirement set does he/she have. According to the requirement set, one should try to match the advantages and issues offered by the equipment to check whether purchasing and installing the equipment will be fulfilling for him/her or not.
Also, it is advisable to clearly understand all the spec of a gas tankless water heaters as the specs any equipment provide a near about accurate answer to the question, "Will it be best for me?"
On a last note, it is to be advised to check the various reviews of any equipment before making a purchase. The Web is filled with reviews of all the popular equipment out there in the market. Go through the various reviews which will help you to understand better difference between the associated product's written specs and the actual experience. Also, avoid to invest your money into cheap units as these units have a nasty habit of infuriating their owners.
Relax, take your time, research, and have a smart investment. You'll be more than be glad to get a best-fit equipment for yourself.
And happy shopping!