Electric Point of Use Water Heaters – Potential Cost and Installation Problems
Electric Point of Use Water Heaters – Potential Cost and Installation Problems
Small tank type electric point of use water heaters can problems when it comes to their installation including potentially high installation costs.
One of the largest problems involved with the installation of small point of use water heaters is the amount of electricity available. Usually it’s not difficult to get the wiring from an outlet above the sink to down below the sink, but often the circuit is only a 15 amp supply and it’s always 110 Volts which severely restricts the size of heater you can use.
A small point of use water heater’s electric heating element usually requires about 1,500 Watts, which requires a current draw of 12.5 amps. If you use your 1500 watt hair dryer and the heater comes on, you will blow a circuit breaker.
Point-of-use water heaters usually have a small (less than 5 gallon) tank. These heaters are not able to heat water quickly with only 1,500 watts. To quickly heat water, as with a tankless heater, we would require at least 40Amps.
If you want to use a tankless water heater you will most likely need at least 40 amps at 220volts to obtain a temperature rise of 65°F at 1.0 GPM. Most homes have a 100 amp service. In today’s energy intensive world 100 amps it is often not enough.
Upgrading your service to 200 amps can be done. If your homes power comes from overhead wires then it’s not too bad, but if your electric service comes from underground, look out, cause it’s going to be expensive.
Obtaining a service upgrade from 100 amp service to 200 amp service can cost around $ 2000 - $2,500 not including hookup to the water heater.
The kitchen often has a 20 amp service with 20 amp circuit breakers that are only used for the garbage disposal. The garbage disposal electrical service can be used to power a small point of use water heater, but running the disposal when the water heater’s electric heating elements are operating could blow the circuit breaker, and it is often against local building codes.
Small tank type electric point of use water heaters can problems when it comes to their installation including potentially high installation costs.
One of the largest problems involved with the installation of small point of use water heaters is the amount of electricity available. Usually it’s not difficult to get the wiring from an outlet above the sink to down below the sink, but often the circuit is only a 15 amp supply and it’s always 110 Volts which severely restricts the size of heater you can use.
A small point of use water heater’s electric heating element usually requires about 1,500 Watts, which requires a current draw of 12.5 amps. If you use your 1500 watt hair dryer and the heater comes on, you will blow a circuit breaker.
Point-of-use water heaters usually have a small (less than 5 gallon) tank. These heaters are not able to heat water quickly with only 1,500 watts. To quickly heat water, as with a tankless heater, we would require at least 40Amps.
If you want to use a tankless water heater you will most likely need at least 40 amps at 220volts to obtain a temperature rise of 65°F at 1.0 GPM. Most homes have a 100 amp service. In today’s energy intensive world 100 amps it is often not enough.
Upgrading your service to 200 amps can be done. If your homes power comes from overhead wires then it’s not too bad, but if your electric service comes from underground, look out, cause it’s going to be expensive.
Obtaining a service upgrade from 100 amp service to 200 amp service can cost around $ 2000 - $2,500 not including hookup to the water heater.
The kitchen often has a 20 amp service with 20 amp circuit breakers that are only used for the garbage disposal. The garbage disposal electrical service can be used to power a small point of use water heater, but running the disposal when the water heater’s electric heating elements are operating could blow the circuit breaker, and it is often against local building codes.
posted by Hot Water Guy at
6:22 PM
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