Cincinnati Water Heater Installation Services

The primary distinction between traditional and tankless water heaters is the way water heats within the system.

• Tankless units add heat to water as it is used in the home, so there is never a limit to the amount of hot water available it can produce. A gas burner and heating element or an electric element are used to heat the water. They don’t run out of hot water, but the flow rate of the model impacts the amount of hot water that gets sent through water lines. You should pick a tankless unit with the appropriate flow rate to deliver enough hot water for all simultaneous requirements around the home, otherwise, your hot water lines will seem like cold water lines!
  
  
• Conventional water heaters, on the other hand, function by preheating big tanks of hot water using a gas burner and heating element for a gas water heater, or an electric water heater uses an electric element. A certain amount of hot water is kept in reserve to meet your entire household’s hot water requirements. The size of the tank matters because if it runs out of hot water, you’ll have to wait for it to replenish before you can feel hot water from the water lines again.

Water heaters do not last forever. As they age, it is important to consider water heater replacement if you find that it is not working at its peak potential or its energy efficiency has dropped. There are several signs that indicate your water heater may need to be replaced, including a reduction in hot water flow and an increase in your monthly utility bills.

If you have an electric or natural gas conventional water heater, you should plan to replace it every 8 to 12 years. Tankless water heaters typically last longer than tank models, with an average lifespan between 20 to 30 years with good maintenance.

Replacement decisions for old water heaters vary from household to household. For some, age is what dictates the decision; for others, a combination of factors can lead them to make the switch. First, though, there are signs that tell you when it may be time:

• If Your Hot Water Heater Doesn’t Work Well Anymore
• If There’s Too Much Sediment Building Up in Your Tank
• If Your Yearly Utility Bill Becomes Increasingly High While Fuel Prices Stay Unchanged
• If You Want an Energy-Efficient Water Heating System With Advance Safety Device Features

The decision isn’t just about buying any new water heater; you need to make a tough choice about which model is right for you! To figure out which water heater is perfect for your home, consider these points:

• If space is a concern, tank water heaters aren’t the best option to install. Tankless models take up less room since they don’t require extra storage tanks, and can usually be installed on a wall instead of consuming valuable area on the floor.
  
  
• Think about what kind of fuel source you want long-term. Do you prefer something affordable like electricity? Or would you rather take on fluctuating fuel prices for natural gas units that offer more comfortable water temperatures?
  
  
• A tankless water heater typically uses less energy than a tank-style unit since it has no storage capability for hot water. An electric heater is usually more energy efficient than one powered by natural gas.
  
  
• Generally, the installation of an electric or gas-powered tankless heater requires more labor and equipment which may make it more expensive than installing a traditional tank-styled unit.
  
  
• To use gas units, gas piping must be installed in the home. You’ll also need a venting system to draw in fresh combustion air and rid the home of exhaust air. The vent pipe can run horizontally or vertically, depending on the venting pipes system. Direct vent uses vertical pipes. A power vent uses equipment not found in direct venting. Power venting involves a blower to move air through horizontal vent pipes.

You might be wondering what those expenses are that come along with existing water heater replacement costs – specifically the costs involved in going from conventional tanks to a tankless or vice versa. What do I really need to know about how much the installation costs will be to switch from one water heater type over to another? Is knowing average costs sufficient enough?

These are all fair questions! For an average size American house, replacing a tank-style water heater is said to start around $1,000 and go up from there depending on the particular design you choose for your water heater replacement. Tankless models offer more expensive prices for basic installation because their installation is more complicated, driving up labor costs. The tankless water heater costs typically start at a couple thousand dollars, including labor costs and additional cost factors.

If you want to switch from an electric to a gas water heater during this water heater installation, you may run into additional expenses if you need to have a gas line installed or extended. For natural gas lines and the gas control valve to be installed by plumbers during this process, labor costs can add a good portion to your final bill. The extent of work needed for gas lines will depend on whether or not your home is already connected to the utility gas line.