Choosing the best tankless water heater for your home can prove to be a difficult task once you go on the internet and spot the variety of options available to you. However, the best decisions are never made hastily, and taking some time to understand the factors that should influence your purchase is vital.

Below, you’ll get to explore the variables that will allow you to make an informed decision, ensuring that you have a steady supply of hot water in your home. Comprehending these factors will also allow you to know whenever you need to perform tankless water heater repair or install an entirely new system.

Understand the Amount of Hot Water You Need

The primary step to take when going for a tankless water heater is to understand the amount of hot water that your family needs. First, you need to consider the number of people in your household and how water gets used up.

A tankless water heater is rated by its maximum flow rate, measured in gallons per minute (GPM). To choose the best tankless water heater size, you need to scrutinize the hot water usage pattern in your home.

For example, running the shower and dishwasher at the same time requires 2.5 GPM and 1.5 GPM respectively. In essence, you’ll need to get a tankless water heater rated at least 4 GPM.

Selecting the Proper Fuel Type

Depending on the water heater, you might get an electric or gas-powered variant. The gas-powered model, which utilizes natural gas comes with a higher flow rate. Nevertheless, they work best when there’s ventilation and this could increase the cost of installation.

Electric variants are easier to install and remain the best option for homes that can’t get natural gas. However, they come with a lower flow rate and this could be a drawback if you have a large household.

Installation Costs

Although tankless water heaters are more expensive than conventional water heater systems, they ensure that you spend less in terms of utility bills and longevity.

Hence, before choosing a tankless water heater, you need to check the purchase price of the system and its installation cost to ensure that it is within your budget. Typically, gas-powered models that require ventilation are the most expensive variants to install.

Energy Efficiency

Before choosing a tankless water heater, you’ll need to check its energy efficiency. The easiest way to determine this is to look for the Energy Star label that depicts the system meets the energy efficiency standards set by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.