Looking to save money or energy? Why not try installing an instant hot water heater, or tankless heater, in your house to reduce the long wait for hot water.
You can do some of the installation steps yourself, but you will want to have a licensed plumber and electrician handle the nitty-gritty work.
You have two basic options for centralized tankless heaters – gas-powered or electric. After you’ve decided what hot water heater works for you (see www.builderswebsource.com or www.tanklesswaterheatersdirect.com) and measured the space required, you are ready to begin installation.
For electrical units, make sure to check the amps and volts each individual unit requires with what the outlet will support.
The amount varies for each unit, and you should check the instruction manual for complete information. Toolbase Services (www.toolbase.org) recommends having multiple circuits or heavier wire because of the demanding power draw required.
If you go with the less-expensive, gas-powered option, you will have to install an air vent.
Tankless Water Heaters Direct (www.tanklesswaterheatersdirect.com) offers several manuals for the most popular tankless water heaters. The steps vary for each unit.
Do you have a home improvement project that you are proud of or a project that went terribly wrong? If so, we’d love to hear about it. The home improvement tip runs on Wednesdays. Send your questions and comments to nmixter@svnews papers.com or call (408) 847-7216.
