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How to
install tankless gas water heater Stay safe. Turn power OFF FYI; Manufacturer's literature and side-by-side research shows whole-house tankless electric, for average family of 4, costs $100 more per year to operate vs ordinary tank-type heater. Large research file General troubleshoot .pdf |
 I have to read ? |
 EcoSmart Buy: EcoSmart tankless Resource EcoSmart manual |
 Rheem tankless Buy: Rheem tankless Resource Rheem manual Breaker size chart |
 Atmor Buy: Atmor tankless Resource Atmor manual |
 Stiebel Eltron Buy: Stiebel Eltron tempra Resource Steible manual |
 Eemax Buy: Eemax tankless Resource Eemax manual |
 Chronomite Buy: Chronomite tankless Resource Chronomite manual |
 iHeat Buy: iHeat tankless |
 Titan Buy: Titan tankless Resource Titan manual |
 Bosch Buy: Bosch tankless Resource Bosch manual |
| Step 1: getting started | |
 Do not install tankless electric if main box is overheated |
Test
if electric service panel is adequate for tankless: 1) Open following link to Stress-Test main breaker and service panel: Main breaker stress test Example: if you have 150 amp service, maximum load is 80% or 120 amps. Exceeding 80% causes main breaker to start getting warm. Over time, the breaker gets weak, and overheats on busbar, damaging panel. So if you add small tankless unit requiring 50-60 amp breaker, you might need larger service. Do the stress test. Example:, if you have 200 amp service, maximum load is 80% or 160 amps. So if you add whole-house tankless requiring 120-180 amps, you probably need up-size to 250 amp service depending on other household loads such as freezer, pool pump, oven etc. 2) To Figure amps for tankless: Read label on side of tankless for Volts and Watts. Divide watts by volts to get amps. 3) Add amps from tankless to service panel stress-test. If electric service is too small, then install new service. Or use ordinary tank-type heater and save your money, and headaches How to increase amount of hot water |
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Look
at rating
plate located on side of unit Read the manual 1) Look at electrical rating plate showing voltage and wattage or -Look at product spec sheet. 2) Consult Tankless manual if available Failure to follow steps in manual will void product warranty 3) Warranty Caution: The warranty covers defects in manufacturer's workmanship, but does not cover DIY installation or electric wiring. Resource Overview of installation steps |
| Step 2: If tankless
has factory-connected wire Do not undersizes wire and breaker |
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Factory-connected
wire/ or pigtail attached to
tankless Read rating plate on side of unit for amps and watts. Connect wire from breaker and factory pigtail inside octagon box using wire connectors This type of tankless will have 1 heating element. Resource How to select and install correct wire connector Select correct wire and breaker size How to wire 240Volt outlets |
| Step
#3 Look
inside tankless unit for wire connections Single wire cannot be split apart to connect to multiple terminals. |
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 This Example shows tankless supplied by 1 wire  Wires can be black-black, white-black or black-red Ground wire is required Tankless MUST be grounded Resource: Color code for wire |
Single
240Volt has L1 and L2 L1 L2 means 240 volt with 2 Hot wires Use 1 circuit breakers  1) Look for single block with L1-L2 terminals where you will install wires under screw plate -or- look for 2 wires where you will connect with wire connectors Single wire cannot be split apart to connect to multiple terminals. 2) Look at rating plate on tankless to determine total watts 3) Scroll down to see wiring examples for breaker Resource How to select and install wire connector 2 wire 240Volt has 2 sets L1 and L2 Single wire cannot be split apart to connect to multiple terminals. Use 2 circuit breakers  Example:Rheem RTE27: use two 60 amp breakers, and two 6 gauge wires 3 wire 240Volt has 3 sets L1 and L2 Single wire cannot be split apart to connect to multiple terminals. Separate wire needed for each set L1-L2 terminals Use 3 circuit breakers  |
 Screws on main breaker are HOT at all times Even when main breaker is OFF, both screws are HOT Only if meter is PULLED are these screws safe to touch |
What size
breaker and wire should you use? 240Volt ratings: greater than 7.7 Kw= 7600 watts / 40 amp breaker/ 8 gauge wire greater than 9.6 Kw = 9600 watts/ 50 amp breaker/ 6 gauge wire greater than 11.5 Kw = 11500 watts/ 60 amp breaker/ 6 gauge wire greater than 13.4 Kw = 13400 watts/ 70 amp breaker/ 4 gauge wire |
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Example
shows 3 wires connected inside tankless Electricity supplied by 3 separate wires from 3 breakers Total electric consumption for typical tankless electric is 96 to 120 amps. Before installing tankless electric, look at main breaker on household service panel. If main breaker is 150 amps, then it is max-ed out carrying this tankless load. Breakers are rated safe maximum at 80% Main breaker 150 amps x 80% = 120amps safe maximum Tankless electric water heaters consume large amount of electricity This is because electric elements cannot heat water as fast as natural gas or propane gas. Tankless electric water heater will cost more to operate than ordinary tank-type electric water heater. This is because so much energy is wasted trying to heat water as it passes quickly in pipe. To reduce energy consumption, add a tempering tank to preheat incoming cold water, keep thermostat setting low, reduce consumption, lower water pressure, add low-flow shower heads. If water moves too slowly through the pipe, tankless may not activate |
Step #4 Inside Main Breaker box |
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Screws on
main breaker are HOT at all times Even when main breaker is OFF, both screws are HOT Only if meter is PULLED are these screws safe to touch |
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Three
50 amp 240Volt breakers Use 50 amp breaker with 6 gauge wire No difference if all breakers on same side of panel, or on different sides. Requires 250 amp service and 250 amp main breaker. Resource Wire size chart Main breaker Stress test Buy: Circuit breakers at Amazon Shop Amazon - Industrial Electric Products |
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Double
check wire size and distance
100'-150' etc requires larger diameter wire 240 volt/ each breaker greater than 7.7 Kw= 7600 watts / 40 amp breaker/ 8 gauge wire greater than 9.6 Kw = 9600 watts/ 50 amp breaker/ 8-6 gauge wire greater than 11.5 Kw = 11500 watts/ 60 amp breaker/ 6 gauge wire 13 Kw = 13400 watts/ 2 60 amp breakers/ 6 gauge wire Resource: Select correct wire and breaker size |
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 Larger image of 240 Volt subpanel Image of 120V-240V subpanel |
240
Volt Subpanel
for Tankless electric ***White Neutral wire is not needed for 240Volt breakers. Ground wire arriving from main panel can be connected to busbar at top of subpanel, or install a separate ground busbar lower on panel. Keep ground wires away from Hot connections and Hot busbars. Sometimes it is easier to add ground busbar near bottom of subpanel so ground wires can be kept away from Hot connections. Illustration shows how to install subpanel for adding more breakers to main panel With tankless electric, install 150amp breaker/ replace any 2-pole breaker close to top of panel Use 2/0 wires with 150 amp breaker 2/0 copper wire between main panel and subpanel, up to 100 feet. Install 3 40-amp breakers in subpanel to supply each of three 240Volt #8 wires going to Tankless. Read nameplate on Tankless for watt rating. #8 wire for 240Volt loads up to 7680 watts Use 50 amp breaker and #6 wire for 240volt loads above 7680 and less than 9600 watts For example tankless with single wiring terminal, might require 9600 watts or more Resources: How to install subpanel *Neutral wire is not needed if subpanel is NOT going to have 120volt breakers. Place subpanel within eyesight of Tankless to avoid disconnect requirement Disconnect lets electrician cut power to Tankless unit. Disconnect is for safety. Electrician or homeowner knows for certain when power is OFF. Never touch leaking water heater or wet water heater unless power is OFF Never run water pipes directly above tankless where leaking and condensation can drip on water heater. If tankless flooded, disconnect power and replace water heater |
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Option:
Install meter on 120-240V subpanel ***White Neutral wire not needed for 240Volt breakers. Neutral wire only necessary for 120Volt breakers Illustration shows Neutral wire in event you want a 120V-240 subpanel Meter will read all voltage that passes to subpanel Buy: New and used electric meters Buy subpanel: Main lugs at Amazon Siemens 125 amp/ 8 space at Amazon Siemens 125 amp/ 12 space at Amazon Resources: How to install electric meter on water heater or subpanel How to get electric service |
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| Step #5 Power cut-off -or- disconnect | |||||
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DisconnectElectrical Code may require disconnect at Tankless unit, if Tankless installation is not within view of main breaker boxCall local electrician for specific local code Buy non fused safety switch: 60 amp 2-pole safety switch Pullout Disconnect at Amazon Fusable pullout disconnect 2-pole 30 amp non-fusable safety switch/ power cut-off 2-pole 60 amp non-fusable safety switch Shop Amazon - Industrial Electric Products |
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| Step #6 Protect with surge protector | |
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Whole
house surge protector Tankless electric water heater is not protected from surge Appliances, water heaters, timers, circuit breakers are not protected from surge Most appliances today have electronics. Few of these appliances are protected from surge Water heaters the plug into outlet are not protected from surge Homeowner insurance might have appliance exclusion. Read policy Water heater warranty does not cover surge event. Protect 120V and 240V circuits with whole house surge protector Resources: How to wire whole house surge protector Intermatic IG1240RC3 whole house surge protector/ pdf |
| Other considerations: | |
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Think
about freezing temperatures Locate tankless in naturally warm location Tank-type heaters are warm full time. Tankless will only heat with water demand. Add tempering tank to passively preheat incoming cold water. Add power to tempering tank in winter. Some tankless will not activate if incoming temperatures exceed set point.  Buy Reliance water heaters Resource: How to wire under counter water heater |
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Water
pressure should not exceed 80 psi Connect pressure gauge to spigot For example 200 psi Rain Bird P2A or 100 psi Brady BTG 100 Use pressure reducing valve and expansion tank on incoming cold water line Buy: Water pressure gauge Temperature-pressure gauge Safety Equipment for Professionals Industrial and scientific Amazon Resource Clogged water lines/ Low water pressure |
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Tankless
cannot be exposed to more than 11 grains hardness in water Efficiency will decline within months. Parts such as pressure sensor will fail within 2 years De-liming will not prevent failure Warranty does not cover failure due to water problems Buy: Hard water testing kits Resources: Bradford White side-by-side study Water softener research pdf |
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Delime
tankless yearly Buy project materials Tankless flushing kits Tankless service valves Submersible pump Filter washers at Amazon Washing machine hoses at Amazon Deliming will not restore full efficiency. Read research Resource: How to delime tankless water heater Maintain water heater 2012/ pdf |
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Clean
water filter monthly Warranty does not cover failure due to water problems Resource Read typical maintenance pdf |
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Tankless
recirculation Resource> How to install Tankless recirculation |
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