Instant Hot Water Heaters - 3 Things To Consider Before Buying!
Doing your research before buying can save you money and headaches afterwards.

Step 1 - What Size?
Before beginning the process of shopping for an instant hot water heater, do a little homework and determine the proper size needed for your home. Once you have this information in hand, it's a lot easier to start looking for makes and models since you can focus on what you really need. Also, there are rebates, government grants, tax incentives available on certain approved products and knowing the size ahead of time will help narrow your search to the products with these financial benefits.

An instant hot water heater is rated by the maximum temperature rise possible at a given flow rate. So, you need to figure the flow rate for your home. The first thing is to sit down and make a list of all the places in your home where you will need hot water simultaneously. For instance, taking showers and running a dishwasher, etc.

For a quick estimate, here's a simple way to figure the flow:
Figure about two gallons per shower, about one gallon per faucet, figure one-two gallons for running the dishwasher and clothes washer at the same time as the other activities. This will give you an idea of how large or how many units you may need in your home.

Step 2 - Fuel Type
There are several options to choose from when it is time to select the best instant hot water heater for your home. When making your water heater selection, it's very important to consider the type of fuel or energy source you will use. Whatever you choose to use, will cost you money and have an affect not only on the your yearly operating cost, but the heater's energy efficiency and ultimately on the size of the instant hot water heater you will need.

Electricity - Widely available in the U.S. to fuel your water heater. Provides less flow rates than gas.

Natural Gas - Available in many areas of the U.S. to fuel an instant hot water heater. A gas water heater of this type will have flow rates of 2 -5 gallons per minute.

Propane - Available in many areas of the U.S. and can fuel your instant hot water heater.

If you have fuel options in your area, it will be wise to compare fuel costs especially if you will be using the water heater in a new home. If you are replacing an old water heater, using an instant hot water heater can save you money in the long-run.

Step 3 - Energy Efficiency
Use the energy factor (EF) to determine the water heater's overall energy efficiency. This measurement is based o the amount of hot water produced per unit of fuel consumed over a typical day.

So, when choosing an instant hot water heater, base your decision not only on the energy factor, but also on the size needed, the fuel type to be used and overall cost.

Remember, there are other costs such as installation and maintenance costs to consider. Check out the product manufacturer's brochure for information on the specific model and consult with a qualified qualified contractor or plumber to help estimate the costs associated with converting to an instant hot water heater.