Call your local department of inspections and ask if you need a permit.
Replacing electric water heater with tankless.
Today tankless water heater energy factors range between 64 and 91 for gas fired models and up to 99 for electric models.
The higher the energy factor the more efficient the water heater.
The steps for replacing a propane water heater are exactly the same and those for an electric water heater are similar.
For help choosing a water heater read our water heater buying guide.
I also made a video so you could see our install first hand.
Switching to tankless water heaters isn t that hard.
If you have an electric water heater the nameplate will also list the wattage capacity and voltage of the heating elements.
This information will serve as the starting point in your search for replacement parts or a new water heater.
Now that you have decided to replace your tank hot water heater with a tankless hot water heater you will be saving as much as 100 or more annually on your water heating bills.
So regardless of the type of tankless water heater you have you ll be out of hot water in the event of a power outage.
Department of energy estimates that in homes using 41 gallons or less of hot water on demand tankless units can conserve between 24 to 34 more energy than tank water heaters.
A tankless water heater has no tank you re welcome.
How to switch from propane tank water heater to electric tankless water heaters.
For a household of one or two people a tankless electric unit will probably be adequate.
In any case when you re planning a water heater replacement play it safe.
Here are the steps we took to convert from a propane powered water heater to an electric tankless water heater.
For an electric model assuming energy costs of 0 132 per kwh the payback time to replace a conventional electric tank with an electric tankless ranges from 12 to 20 years.
Replacing your standard water heater is expensive since tankless systems can be up to 80 more expensive than a tank water heater.
Tankless water heaters can be powered by gas or electricity but even gas powered tankless water heaters rely on an electric control panel to operate the system.
In regards to installation there are many things to worry about.