Tankless water heaters
Endless hot water has a limit, and the limit is flow.
A tankless heater has no tank to empty. What limits it is how much water it can heat each minute. In a Fargo January the water coming in is far colder than it is in July, so the same unit gives you less hot water at once.
That is why we size a tankless for the cold month, not the warm one. Run the shower, the dishwasher and the washing machine at once, and the unit has to keep up in February.
What a tankless install needs
- A gas line big enough for it, which is sometimes bigger than the old tank's
- A vent through the wall, with the cap placed away from snow and drifts
- A drain for the condensate, run where it will not freeze
- Power for its fan and its controls
Hard water and the yearly flush
Fargo-area water runs hard, and scale builds up inside a tankless heat exchanger. A yearly flush with a pump and a descaling solution keeps the unit working the way it was sized to. We show you the scale that comes out.
Is it for your house?
Questions to ask before you choose one
Where is the gas line?
A tankless wants a larger line than many tanks. If the line has to change, so does the price.
Where does the vent go?
Through an outside wall, away from windows and drifts. Not every wall works.
Where does the condensate drain?
It needs a floor drain or a pump, and a line that stays above freezing.
How many things run at once?
Count showers, the dishwasher, the washer. That is the flow we size for.
Tankless questions
Will I ever run out of hot water?
You will not empty a tank, but you can ask for more water than the unit can heat. Sizing it for January is how we keep that from happening.
Is a tankless easier to repair?
Often a part can be replaced or the unit flushed, and the rest keeps working. We tell you at the visit which it is.
Can a tankless be electric?
A whole-house electric tankless asks for a lot of power. Many panels cannot spare it, so we check the panel first.
How often do I flush it?
In hard water, about once a year. We put the next date on the unit when we finish.
Is a tankless right for your house?
Send a photo of your gas meter and your heater's closet. We tell you what has to change.