Washington Water Heaters

Tankless Water Heaters are the latest buzz in the USA, and more specifically here in the Puget Sound region. While the technology has been around for many years, tankless heaters hadn't been widely accepted here in the USA until recently. There are many reasons contributing to the initial lack of acceptance of the tankless concept. First of all, there weren't many manufacturers who were marketing tankless systems in the USA before the late 90's. The few systems that were available were not powerful enough to be used as a "whole house" type heater. In other countries, tankless water heaters are (and have been) widely used, but are typically installed in a "point of use" fashion. A typical house will have several heaters installed in the areas where hot water is used. Point of use works well if the water supply system is laid out as such when the house is built, but the standard layout in the USA builds the home around one hot water source. Contractors quickly lost confidence in the tankless concept after trying to make a point of use heater work in our common "whole house" layout. This lack of confidence trickled down to the customer, thereby stalling the advancement of the tankless water heater home.

Now, companies offer tankless heaters that will supply enough hot water for the "whole house" application. The one common denominator in the whole house concept is that these heaters are GAS FIRED. We get a lot of calls each week from customers who like the tankless concept, but do not have (or want) natural or liquid propane gas at their home. There are electric tankless water heaters available, some of which will work very well in the right environment. However, the electric tankless water heater will not work for MOST "whole house" applications. The most powerful electric tankless water heater is limited to about 2-3 gallons per minute of hot water in the Pacific Northwest climate (This is based on an average. Expect more GPM in the summer, as the incoming water temperature is typically higher, therefore less degree of rise is required, and vice versa for winter). When you also consider the electrical requirements for this type of electric tankless heater, it is easy to see why they are not widely used. These heaters require 3 separate 240 volt, 40 amp circuits, each with 8 gauge conductors. That's 120 amps total, just for the water heater. Most homes will need extensive electrical work to meet this requirement. (an average electric tank heater requires one 240 volt, 30 amp circuit, with 10 gauge conductors)

Who is a good candidate for an electric tankless heater? The ideal candidate will have a smaller home, probably 1 or 2 bedrooms, 1 bathroom, and not more than 2 people living at the home. Electric tankless models are also popular with owners of vacation or remote cabin type homes. These homes aren't typically lived in every day, and the tankless concept eliminates the worry of a leaking tank style heater while the owner is away. Cabin owners also tend to shut down the water heater while they are away, and a tankless heater eliminates the need to wait 2-3 hours for hot water when the owner returns and turns everything back on. Another benefit is the compact size of these models. They are very small, and can be mounted just about anywhere. (typical size is about 16x16x 5 inches). For those interested in the electric tankless water heater, we recommend you check with your electrician to see if the electrical requirements can be met within your budget.

GO TANKLESS TODAY!

Washington Water Heaters – Nobody Gets You Into HOT Water Faster!
Serving King, Pierce, and Snohomish Counties

Toll Free: 1-800-978-8588Fax: 1-866-375-7454


Toll Free: 1-800-978-8588	Tankless Water Heaters are the latest buzz in the USA, and more specifically here in the Puget Sound region. While the technology has been around for many years, tankless heaters hadn't been widely accepted here in the USA until recently. There are many reasons contributing to the initial lack of acceptance of the tankless concept. First of all, there weren't many manufacturers who were marketing tankless systems in the USA before the late 90's. The few systems that were available were not powerful enough to be used as a "whole house" type heater. In other countries, tankless water heaters are (and have been) widely used, but are typically installed in a "point of use" fashion. A typical house will have several heaters installed in the areas where hot water is used. Point of use works well if the water supply system is laid out as such when the house is built, but the standard layout in the USA builds the home around one hot water source. Contractors quickly lost confidence in the tankless concept after trying to make a point of use heater work in our common "whole house" layout. This lack of confidence trickled down to the customer, thereby stalling the advancement of the tankless water heater home. Now, companies offer tankless heaters that will supply enough hot water for the "whole house" application. The one common denominator in the whole house concept is that these heaters are GAS FIRED. We get a lot of calls each week from customers who like the tankless concept, but do not have (or want) natural or liquid propane gas at their home. There are electric tankless water heaters available, some of which will work very well in the right environment. However, the electric tankless water heater will not work for MOST "whole house" applications. The most powerful electric tankless water heater is limited to about 2-3 gallons per minute of hot water in the Pacific Northwest climate (This is based on an average. Expect more GPM in the summer, as the incoming water temperature is typically higher, therefore less degree of rise is required, and vice versa for winter). When you also consider the electrical requirements for this type of electric tankless heater, it is easy to see why they are not widely used. These heaters require 3 separate 240 volt, 40 amp circuits, each with 8 gauge conductors. That's 120 amps total, just for the water heater. Most homes will need extensive electrical work to meet this requirement. (an average electric tank heater requires one 240 volt, 30 amp circuit, with 10 gauge conductors) Who is a good candidate for an electric tankless heater? The ideal candidate will have a smaller home, probably 1 or 2 bedrooms, 1 bathroom, and not more than 2 people living at the home. Electric tankless models are also popular with owners of vacation or remote cabin type homes. These homes aren't typically lived in every day, and the tankless concept eliminates the worry of a leaking tank style heater while the owner is away. Cabin owners also tend to shut down the water heater while they are away, and a tankless heater eliminates the need to wait 2-3 hours for hot water when the owner returns and turns everything back on. Another benefit is the compact size of these models. They are very small, and can be mounted just about anywhere. (typical size is about 16x16x 5 inches). For those interested in the electric tankless water heater, we recommend you check with your electrician to see if the electrical requirements can be met within your budget. GO TANKLESS TODAY! Washington Water Heaters – Nobody Gets You Into HOT Water Faster! Serving King, Pierce, and Snohomish Counties Toll Free: 1-800-978-8588Fax: 1-866-375-7454 Copyright © Washington Water Heaters. All rights reserved