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Title: Measure Guideline: Transitioning to a Tankless Water Heater

Abstract

This Measure Guideline provides information to help residential builders and retrofitters with the design, specification, selection, implementation, installation, and maintenance issues of transitioning from tank-type water heaters to tankless water heaters. The report compares the differences between tankless and tank-type water heaters, highlighting the energy savings that can be realized by adopting tankless water heaters over tank-type water heaters. Selection criteria and risks discussed include unit sizing and location, water distribution system, plumbing line length and diameter, water quality, electrical backup, and code issues. Cost and performance data are provided for various types of tankless and tank-type water heaters, both natural gas fired and electric. Also considered are interactions between the tankless water heater and other functional elements of a house, such as cold water supply and low-flow devices. Operating costs and energy use of water distribution systems for single- and two-story houses are provided, along with discussion of the various types of distribution systems that can be used with tankless water heaters. Finally, details to prepare for proper installation of a tankless water heater are described.

Authors:
;
Publication Date:
Research Org.:
National Renewable Energy Lab. (NREL), Golden, CO (United States)
Sponsoring Org.:
USDOE Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE), Energy Efficiency Office. Building Technologies Office
OSTI Identifier:
1052903
Report Number(s):
NREL/SR-5500-54562; DOE/GO-102012-3568
KNDJ-0-40341-00
DOE Contract Number:  
AC36-08GO28308
Resource Type:
Technical Report
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Subject:
32 ENERGY CONSERVATION, CONSUMPTION, AND UTILIZATION; tankless water heaters; hot water; PEX; homerun distribution; plumbing; tank-type water heater; water heaters; water distribution; residential; residential buildings; IBACOS; Building America

Citation Formats

Brozyna, K, and Rapport, A. Measure Guideline: Transitioning to a Tankless Water Heater. United States: N. p., 2012. Web. doi:10.2172/1052903.
Brozyna, K, & Rapport, A. Measure Guideline: Transitioning to a Tankless Water Heater. United States. https://doi.org/10.2172/1052903
Brozyna, K, and Rapport, A. 2012. "Measure Guideline: Transitioning to a Tankless Water Heater". United States. https://doi.org/10.2172/1052903. https://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/1052903.
@article{osti_1052903,
title = {Measure Guideline: Transitioning to a Tankless Water Heater},
author = {Brozyna, K and Rapport, A},
abstractNote = {This Measure Guideline provides information to help residential builders and retrofitters with the design, specification, selection, implementation, installation, and maintenance issues of transitioning from tank-type water heaters to tankless water heaters. The report compares the differences between tankless and tank-type water heaters, highlighting the energy savings that can be realized by adopting tankless water heaters over tank-type water heaters. Selection criteria and risks discussed include unit sizing and location, water distribution system, plumbing line length and diameter, water quality, electrical backup, and code issues. Cost and performance data are provided for various types of tankless and tank-type water heaters, both natural gas fired and electric. Also considered are interactions between the tankless water heater and other functional elements of a house, such as cold water supply and low-flow devices. Operating costs and energy use of water distribution systems for single- and two-story houses are provided, along with discussion of the various types of distribution systems that can be used with tankless water heaters. Finally, details to prepare for proper installation of a tankless water heater are described.},
doi = {10.2172/1052903},
url = {https://www.osti.gov/biblio/1052903}, journal = {},
number = ,
volume = ,
place = {United States},
year = {Sat Sep 01 00:00:00 EDT 2012},
month = {Sat Sep 01 00:00:00 EDT 2012}
}