If you are trying to save some money on heating costs, a good change from the old routine would be to buy a propane tankless water heater. Tankless water heaters are totally different from the old style tank heaters for a number of reasons. The first and probably the most important is that they save you money on heating costs. With a tank heater, the tank is kept at a constant temperature, even if you aren’t using the hot water. With a tankless heater, you only heat the water when you use it. Here’s how it works. With a tankless water heater, or in line as some people refer to them, there is no ‘real’ tank. The water line comes into the unit, coils around the heat exchange and comes out the other side as hot water. When there is not flow of water, the electronic switch is tripped and the heat stops. You have an unlimited amount of hot water, as long as the usage doesn’t exceed it’s heating ability.
This really, is the only big draw back of a propane tankless water heater. As long as you aren’t doing too many things at once, like showering and running a load of laundry, you should be perfectly fine. It you feel that you need more, you can always install another one closer to the usage point. This is another advantage of tankless heaters. Since they don’t have a big bulky tank, they weigh less, and will fit into many tight spaces, like under a kitchen or bathroom sink. With propane, you water will get hotter, faster, because the heat exchange is direct heat, rather than a heating element, which you find with most electrical models.
The nice thing about buying a propane tankless water heater is that they are relatively the same price as a bulky tank model, and in many cases cheaper. One manufacture lists an LP gas tankless water heater with a 5 liter capacity, and with 1.5 gallons per minute output lists for just under $170 with shipping extra. Other brand name manufactures like Bosch, will run you in the 300 to 600 dollar range, depending on flow capacity, heat exchange rate and electronic components.
When you are looking to buy a propane tankless water heater, it is a good idea to shop around. Compare prices over several brands and companies. You can start by going into one of your home improvement outlets, they may have some assorted models to choose from. Going into a retail store has two advantages. One is that you are able to see a broad spectrum of appliances in one location. The second thing is that you can ask as many questions as you want right there.
It is also a good idea to try to find a propane tankless water heater with the best warranty you can find. Usually getting the best coverage is a great idea, and is just a few dollars more than not getting one. Make sure that you check with each company site for any shipping charges, taxes, and any other hidden fees.
