Installing A Tankless Water Heater? Consider These 2 Things

Installing A Tankless Water Heater? Consider These 2 Things

3 October 2018
 Categories: , Blog


Are you making the switch to a tankless water heater? If so, be aware that it is not as simple as swapping out your old tank for a new model. There are some considerations that must be made when upgrading this appliance, which is why it helps to know the following tips.

Consider The Ventilation Method

Your current water heater may have been placed where it is for a reason. Most water heaters have direct venting, which means the combustible gases naturally flow out of the tank and go to your chimney where they vent out of your house. If you upgrade to a small tankless water heater, you may be tempted to move the heater to a new location, which will change how you vent the appliance.

Be aware that you'll likely need to switch to a power vent, which uses an electric blower to force the combustible gases out of your home through a PVC pipe. This is not usually a problem for most homeowners, but you may have issues depending on your city's rules for venting a hot water tank. For instance, you may not be able to vent a pipe in close proximity to a neighbor's home, which will cause problems with selecting the wall you want to install the water heater on.

Always consider ventilation to avoid running into problems later on.

Consider Installing An Outdoor Water Heater

Another option is to go with a tankless water heater that actually lives outside your home. This takes care of the ventilation problem since the entire unit lives outdoors. You do not have to worry about the unit freezing in the winter since it is built to withstand cold winters without any issues.

Installing an outdoor water heater also means that you'll free up room inside your house. This can be a great choice if you have a small home with a water heater that takes up space in a first-floor closet. You can actually reclaim that space again instead of placing another water heating appliance in it.

When in doubt about how to ventilate a tankless water heater, reach out to a local plumbing contractor from a place like Preferred Plumbing & Drain. They'll walk you through your options for water heaters, help you select the right model for your home, and handle the entire installation for you. It's the best way to ensure that the water heater is installed properly with proper ventilation.

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Turn Your Bathroom Into a Spa-Like Retreat

Could your bathroom benefit from a little updating? A few years ago, I grew tired of my outdated bathroom. I decided to tackle my own remodel, which consisted of re-painting my vanity cabinets, updating the lighting fixtures and hardware, and giving my bathroom a fresh coat of paint in a modern grey color. I spent very little, but my bathroom now looks modernized, and is a space I can actually enjoy spending time in! I put together this blog to help like-minded homeowners update their own bathroom spaces in a budget-friendly way. I hope you find some great ideas here to try out for yourself!

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