 Tankless water heater cost has three components: Show
Here’s an overview. Complete details for each cost type follow the overview. Tankless Water Heater Price Electric tankless water heaters start at about $125. Whole-house electric tankless water heaters range to about $1,000. Gas tankless water heaters start at about $125, but for high-quality, long-lasting gas tankless models, prices start at about $500 and range to more than $2,000. Tankless Water Heater Installation Cost Installing an electric model costs $150 to more than $700. The cost to install a gas water heater costs about $600 to $1,500. DIY installation might be possible for either type based on your skills. Operating Cost / Energy Cost This cost is the cost of energy required to run the water heater. The annual operating costs for electric water heaters averages about $75 for the lowest capacities to more than $300 per year for whole-house electric tankless water heaters. Gas water heaters cost approximately $200 to $600 per year to operate based on their size and efficiency. Content Navigation
This table shows gas and electric tankless WH cost by size.
Installation costs are discussed below. Cost Factors: Tankless Water Heaters How much a gas or electric tankless water heater costs depends on a range of factors – some obvious and others more obscure. #1: Gallons per minute (GPM) flow rate: The more hot water the unit can produce, the more it will cost when all other factors are equal. For gas models, GPM is a factor of the BTU capacity, typically from 140,000 BTUs to 199,000 BTUs. For electric models, GPM is a factor of kilowatts. The range is about 3.5kW to 36kW.
Note on maximum flow rate and incoming water temperature: The coldest ground water temperatures vary tremendously based on climate, as this map shows. The maximum GPM flow rate of a tankless water heater can only be achieved when incoming water is relatively warm. The colder the incoming water is, the higher the rise in temperature required, and the lower the GPM output will be. For example, a water heater that can deliver 5.0 GPM in Florida might only deliver 2.5 GPM during a Michigan winter. There is more information on this topic in our Tankless Water Heater Buying Guide. Note on thermostat setting: Also, the higher you have the thermostat set, the lower the GPM will be. A unit capable of producing 6 GPM in your climate when the thermostat is set to 110F might only manage 5 GPM at 120F or 4 GPM at 140F. #2: Quality: The quality of the units varies significantly. Quality of the major brands is discussed in our brand guides. When comparing models, view warranty information. In general, the better the quality, the longer the warranty. #3: Efficiency (gas only): Gas tankless water heater efficiency starts at about 82% or .82 UEF (uniform energy factor). The most efficient gas models are about 95% efficient. A secondary heat exchanges is used to boost efficiency, and the added equipment raises the cost. #4: Indoor vs. Outdoor (Gas only): Indoor units cost more because they must be built with fittings to connect to a vent. Cost is typically $25 to $75 more for the indoor version vs. the outdoor version of any given model. This affects installation cost too (details below). #5: Recirculating pumps (gas only): A recirculating pump can be installed in a whole-house gas unit to keep water warm in the line between the pump and an outlet. These pumps increase unit cost by $300 to $500 and raise installation cost too. Not sure if you want to install a recirculating pump? Read our article Is a Recirculating Pump Worth the Money? #6: Other Features: Additional features that increase cost for gas and electric models include WiFi capability, wireless remotes and wall thermostats. Tankless Water Heater Installation CostThis table shows installation costs for each water heater type. Cost factors are discussed below the table.
Installation Cost FactorsTankless water heater installation cost ranges from $150 to $1,500. Here are the factors. #1: Whether an outlet must be installed and wired (Electric only): When a 110-120V outlet is available to plug the unit into, an electric tankless unit is easy to install. Cost goes up when an outlet must be installed. #2: 110V vs 220V (Electric): The same scenario exists for 220-240V units. If an outlet must be added and wired back to the electrical box, possibly with the addition of one or more circuit breakers, cost is higher. #3: Vent or no vent (gas): When replacing a tankless water heater and the old vent can be used, cost is lower than when a vent must be installed through the wall ($100-$200) or the roof ($300-$600 or more). #4: Indoor vs. Outdoor (gas): Gas units installed outdoor don’t need a vent, so cost is lower. #5: Installation complexity: When installation is in a crawlspace, attic or other location that is difficult to access and work in, cost will be higher. #6: Where you live: Your location affects general cost of living. It might impact the number of installers in your area too. Competition can lead to lower prices for installation. #7: Recirculation pump (gas): Wiring a recirculating pump takes time and materials. So does installing the piping necessary to achieve recirculation. There are several methods of recirculation. The method you choose will affect cost. We’ve completed a Guide to Tankless Recirculating Pumps where you can research pros, cons and costs. Tankless Water Heater Operating Costs & FactorsAs noted above, energy costs are:
Here are the cost factors: #1: Demand for hot water: How much hot water your household uses is the most important factor in operating cost. Plain and simple, smaller households tend to use less hot water than larger ones. #2: Temperature rise: This is the second most important factor. The more the temperature of incoming water is raised by the water heater, the more energy the unit will consume. As noted above, the temperature of the groundwater (incoming water) and the thermostat temperature setting determine the temperature rise. #3: Electric vs Gas: Gas heat costs less than electric heat. In most areas, burning gas directly at the water heater is a cheaper way to heat than using electricity that is created by burning gas or coal in a power plant. #4: Natural gas vs propane: The cost of propane is 200% to 250% the cost of natural gas. Prices vary by region. See Note on Energy Guides below. #5: Water heater capacity: The larger the kW size of an electric unit, the more energy it will use. The larger the BTU capacity of a gas unit, the more gas it will consume. Larger equals higher energy costs. #6: Recirculation: Using a recirculating pump to keep hot water close to the outlet will increase use. Note on Energy Guides: Most tankless water heaters have an Energy Guide mandated by the US Department of Energy. The yellow label shows the expected cost of operating the unit per year. The guides are based on average use and average energy costs. If you’re considering a gas model, be sure you’re looking at the right label, since there should be one label for natural gas (NG) and another for liquid propane (LP). Consider the Noritz NR662, a 140,000 BTU water heater. The Energy Guide for natural gas is $160 per year. The guide for propane is $365, 228% the cost of natural gas. Written by Rene Langer Rene has worked 10 years in the HVAC field and now is the Senior Comfort Specialist for PICKHVAC. He holds an HVAC associate degree from Lone Star College and EPA & R-410A Certifications. Is it worth the money to get a electric tankless water heater?According to the U.S. Dept. of Energy, a tankless water heater is more efficient and uses less energy than a conventional water heater, providing a $25 to $107 in annual savings. If your hot water use is low (less than 41 gallons per day), a tankless water heater will be 24% to 34% more efficient.
How much does it cost to switch to a tankless water heater?The typical range for tankless heater installation is between $4,500 and $6,500, averaging out to around $5,500 (including the water heater, warranty and tune ups). The tankless heater installation without the unit can cost between $1800 and $3500, averaging out to around $2650.
Can you replace an electric hot water heater with a tankless?Absolutely! In fact, tankless water heaters are becoming the standard for new home construction because of the energy efficiency. Newer tank water heaters have a UEF (Uniform Energy Factor) rating of 0.70 compared to your standard tankless water heater that has a rating of 0.94.
What is the downside of a tankless water heater?In addition to high upfront costs, tankless water heaters have several other disadvantages compared to tank-style water heaters: they take longer to deliver hot water. the water temperature is inconsistent when multiple outlets are on simultaneously. they cannot provide hot water during a power outage.
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How much does it cost to install a tankless electric water heater
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