Tankless Water Heaters in Cold Weather

For tankless water heaters to work properly in cold climates, it is important to ensure that your tankless water heater unit is sized correctly to meet your hot water needs. All tankless water heaters have a rating known as a flow rate. The flow rate describes how many gallons per minute a water heater can provide. The more hot water a heater can provide per minute, the more likely it will be able to keep up with demands in cold weather.

When it comes to staying warm, no one knows how to do it better than Minnesotans! Here in Minneapolis, we face some of the harshest cold weather in the nation. This means that having a reliable and functioning water heater is crucial for the winter months. Today, tankless water heaters are gaining popularity for many great reasons. They’re energy-efficient, provide a nearly endless supply of how water, and take up much less space than traditional tank heaters. However, some people in Minneapolis might be hesitant to install a tankless water heater because they’ve heard that they don’t work well in cold climates.

A Tankless Water Heater’s Fuel Determines Cold Weather Performance

For cold climates, it’s important to understand that the type of fuel a tankless water heater uses can seriously impact how well it functions during the winter months. Yet, this doesn’t mean that tankless water heaters are a bad choice for residents of Minnesota! The type of fuel your tankless water heater uses can impact how well it works.

Tankless water heaters that use electricity as fuel heat water slower than their natural gas counterparts. This means that electric tankless water heaters might struggle to heat water when it's cold adequately. However, natural gas tankless heaters can keep up and warm water as it comes in from freezing outdoor temperatures.

Make Sure Your Tankless Water Heater Is the Right Size for a Cold Climate

Buying the largest heater possible is not always affordable or space-efficient. So, a plumber will be ready to help you decide what size is right for your needs. They’ll do this by considering how much a heater will need to work to raise the temperature of water at your home during the winter. A heater will need the right flow rate to meet the demands of winter temperatures. The warmer water is as it arrives in a home, the less the flow rate matters. However, areas with cold climates, such as Minnesota, may require a high flow rate thanks to our cold tap water.

As mentioned above, calling a professional is the best way to decide if a tankless water heater is the right choice for your home. At Benjamin Franklin Plumbing® of Greater Minneapolis, we’ll come to your home and help you select the right water heater while considering your needs, budget, and preferences. While tankless water heaters are fantastic options, they’re not the best for everyone—we’ll be prepared to help you make the right decision!

Call our team today at (612) 430-6547 for help with Minneapolis tankless water heater installation.