When trying to find the best gas tankless water heater for your home, there are a few things to compare. Although many of these units may look very similar, there are minor differences that may make one unit a better fit for your home than another. Knowing a few key facts about your hot water usage before you start shopping can also help the process along and ensure you get the perfect model for your needs.
Tankless water heaters are generally divided into indoor or outdoor models. The difference is significant and there may be a substantial difference in price between them. Outdoor models are easier to install since they don’t require the specialized ventilation of indoor models. This can also save you quite a bit of money when it comes to installation. The savings in ventilation costs are more than offset by the added installation and weatherproofing costs of these outdoor models. Because they are exposed to rain and possible freezing temperatures, they must be more tightly sealed and protected than indoor models. The cost of this waterproofing tends to add to their price slightly, but still makes them a great buy if you have the right house to install them on an exterior wall.
Indoor models of tankless water heaters work much like a conventional water heater and will require access to electricity, gas supply, and ventilation to the outside of the house. Many of these indoor models are used to replace a conventional water heater and this can make installation a breeze for most homes. There are even kits available with the best gas tankless water heaters that allow you to quickly connect the new unit to your existing plumbing to save time. Another advantage these tankless water heaters enjoy over their conventional brethren is their smaller size. This allows many of the best gas tankless water heaters to be installed on the wall of the room they supply hot water to, saving a lot of space in the process. These indoor models can also be used individually to heat a single room’s water supply if required. This can save you a substantial portion of your energy use each month, since you are not forced to heat a large volume of water to use in a small bathroom.
The decision to use an indoor or outdoor tankless water heater usually comes down to the room’s access to a gas supply. If you have a bathroom on the second floor that needs hot water, it is difficult and expensive to extend the gas line to the room and it would be less expensive to locate the heater in the basement to supply hot water to the room. The other consideration is whether to use a larger unit for the entire house or to divide the rooms and their hot water needs. This decision often comes up more with new construction, as you can adjust the plumbing in the home to accommodate this decision. In older homes with an existing conventional heater, a single larger unit is typically used to supply hot water to the entire home.