Tankless Electric Water Heaters: All About Them and Who To Call For Installation

At our old house before we moved at the end of 2019, my husband replaced our outdated water heater with an electric tankless water heater. Don’t worry, he knew what he was doing since he’s an electrician. Not only was our old water heater outdated and leaking water, it was an eyesore and took up way too much space in our laundry room area in the basement. Once the new tankless was installed, we had all the room in the world to rearrange things and make a small room more manageable. The other day, our technician Sean installed a tankless electric water heater for one of our customers and it prompted this blog. Let’s go over what a homeowner should know about tankless electric water heaters, and who to call for installation. 

What Is A Tankless Water Heater?

A tankless water heater is just as it sounds: a water heater with no tank! It is a device powered by either gas or electric that mounts to your wall and provides a source of hot water. 

How Does A Tankless Electric Water Heater Work?

Tankless electric water heaters heat up water by using electricity as the water travels through the unit/device. This heating up of water is instant, producing hot water on an as needed basis. Because the heating of water is instant and constant, it is unlike waiting for a water heater with a tank to fill up and store hot water.

Benefits Of Using Tankless Electric Water Heaters

• Energy Efficient

• Low Operating Costs

• Space-Saver

• Long Life Expectancy

With an electric tankless water heater, you can expect high energy efficiency with lower operating costs than its counterpart (water heater with a tank). According to energy.gov, homes that use less than or equal to 41 gallons of water a day can average an energy savings of 24-34%. 

The spacing-saving option of tankless electric water heaters is a no-brainer, especially in rooms with tight spaces, like our old laundry room I mentioned. A tankless electric water heater mounts right to your wall and is much much smaller in size.

A water heater that lasts? Yes please! A tankless water heater has a long life expectancy. You can get an average of more than 20 years with a tankless as opposed to one with a tank that lasts anywhere from 10-15 years. 

Are Tankless Electric Water Heaters The Right Choice?

A tankless water heater, whether electric or gas powered may not be for everyone. We aren’t here to tell you which way or the other, but from experience, the pros outweigh the cons for my family. Things to consider when thinking about replacing your water heater with an electric tankless water heater:

• Upfront cost– Can you afford to pay for a tankless water heater upfront? They are more expensive in the short term, but long term savings will pay the unit off a few years down the road with its energy savings, longer life expectancy, and lower operating costs. 
• Fluctuating Temperatures– Tankless electric water heaters give instant and constant hot water, but when running multiple appliances at the same time that need hot water like your washing machine, dishwasher, and shower, you may run into the rising and falling of the water temperature. This is simply because the tankless can’t keep up with the demand of all three things going at the same time. Of course there are two work-arounds: installing multiple tankless water heaters and/or not running everything that needs hot water all at once.

Hire A Licensed Electrician To Install Your Tankless Electric Water Heater

Of course a plumber can install water heaters, but did you know that a licensed and insured electrician can install an electric tankless water heater? Bet you didn’t! The master electricians at KB Electric LLC can install tankless electric water heaters correctly, professionally, and efficiently. Do not try installing an electric tankless water heater by yourself if you do not have the experience! It is always recommended hiring a trained professional who knows safety and wiring knowledge (NEC) for proper installation. Call KB Electric today! (267) 467-3178