Why Professional Installation is Important When Having a Tankless Water Heater Installed
If you are one of the many southeast Michigan homeowners who enjoy making repairs or installations yourself, you may want to reconsider when it comes to having a tankless water heater installed. Perhaps you have installed a traditional water heater yourself a time or two, or have a “handy” friend who’s adept at these kinds of things. When it comes to installing a tankless water heater, it’s better to leave it to the professionals for a number of reasons.
When you decide to make the switch to a tankless water heater, Noritz is a manufacturer who helps homeowners find a professional located locally who is highly qualified, trained, and certified.
Here is a quick overview of the tankless water heater and how it works:
Water is circulated through a small heater that is highly efficient as it is drawn toward the faucet once you turn it on. Ultimately, routing the water into the tankless heater and heating the water via a tankless heater powered by propane or natural gas are the two primary (and most important) steps in installation. A tankless water heater is typically mounted on the wall and may be installed in a basement, on an indoor wall, or even on the outside.
Many people wonder if they can use the gas line and water line they have previously used with a traditional water heater, or if it can be vented through a chimney. This is one more reason to let professionals install your tankless water heater! This variety requires more BTU, so if you have a 1/2″ gas line you will definitely want to call in a professional plumber who can determine the right size gas line for your needs. Noritz typically recommends a gas line that is at least 3/4″, and in some cases bigger depending on the BTU load.
The same is true for water lines, which must be 3/4″ to be most effective. The NC380 model requires a 1″ water line. Using a 1/2″ copper water line will likely limit the flow capacity through your tankless water heater.
Venting through the chimney is not advised, as back pressure prevents exhaust escaping and vents must allow the heat to dissipate. They should also be easily accessed for inspection of the joints, so it is not recommended that the venting system is routed through existing masonry or other vents.
As you can see, the installation of a tankless water heater is far more complex than the installation of a traditional storage tank. Leave it to the experts to ensure you enjoy perfect operation of your new hot water system!
Have other questions about tankless water heater installation in your SE Michigan home? Give Haley Mechanical a call today.
