How Much Propane Does a Tankless Water Heater Use

Have you ever wondered, "How much propane does a tankless water heater use?" Understanding your tankless hot water heater's propane usage can help you with budgeting and energy consumption purposes. However, several factors can affect how much you're spending each year. 

In this guide, we'll explain how to determine the amount of propane your tankless unit uses. After reading, you can contact Babe Plumbing to schedule trusted tankless water heater services in Minnesota. We have 40+ years of experience and are well-equipped to assist you.

Why Learning About Your Water Heater's Propane Consumption Matters

Tankless hot water heaters are some of the most energy-efficient, money-saving appliances in the business. With the right care and maintenance, many property owners get 20+ years out of their water heaters and enjoy increased savings on their bills. 

These units run on propane to provide you with on-demand access to hot water whenever you want. Knowing how much propane your system uses on average can help you factor this cost into your budget or find ways to cut costs. While you are already saving money by not using a standard tank system, you can further increase those savings by taking some small steps.

Eventually, you will need to replace your tankless water heater, but until then, you can make the most of the appliance. 

Factors That Contribute to How Much Propane Your Tankless Unit Uses

When trying to determine how much propane your appliance uses, you must consider all contributing factors. The more items you factor into the calculation, the better understanding of your water heater's propane usage you'll have. Some of the most impactful include the following.

1. Temperatures in Your Area

Where you live can directly impact your water heater's propane usage. For example, if you live in a colder climate, your appliance naturally will take longer to heat up. If you're using your water heater often and in a cooler area, you'll likely spend more on propane. When water is already warm because of its environment, you can spend less, as your system doesn't need as much effort or propane to heat up. 

2. How Long You Use Your Water Heater Each Day

Consider your daily activities and the way your family uses your home's water heater each day. Some properties might use their water heater for one to three hours, while others run them for a lot longer, contributing to a higher cost for propane. The more you utilize your unit, the more propane you need.

Taking an average of your daily or weekly water heater usage can help you calculate an accurate ballpark for your monthly costs. You must determine how much propane each hour of use consumes; then, you'll get a better result.

3. Water Heater Capacity

How much propane does a tankless water heater use? Think about the size of your unit, as a large unit is going to use a greater amount of propane. You can perform the following calculation to get a rough estimate of how much you'll spend on propane costs for your tankless hot water heater:

• Heater BTU Rating / 91,451 BTUs (the average amount of energy a gallon of propane produces) = Number of Gallons Your Unit Uses

When choosing a new water heater, it's essential to consider the needs of your household. The last thing you want is to discover that you picked the wrong size unit after installation is complete. Working with a trusted professional can help you find an affordable, Energy Star-approved appliance.

4. Household Size and Demands

The number of people living in your home can directly impact how many gallons of propane your water heater uses each month. Naturally, a home with less than five individuals is going to spend less than one with five or more.

It's vital to consider your habits and those of the people who live in your house. Are multiple people within your residence taking long showers each day, running several loads of laundry, and all cleaning dishware? Perhaps you may need to cut back or make some changes if you feel that your family is using the hot water heater too much. Every home's lifestyle differs and can change over time. 

5. Water Hardness

Does your home have hard water? If so, your tankless water heater could experience an early decline. Hard water can not only decrease its energy efficiency but also take longer to heat up; implementing some type of softener system can make a significant difference.

How to Decrease Your Annual Propane Usage for Your Tankless Water Heater

Consider the following ways to cut down on how much propane your water heater utilizes:

• Schedule maintenance appointments with a professional plumber
• Flush out sediment and other buildup twice a year
• Install an insulation jacket in your water heater
• Replace your old appliances that are costly to run

You can make efforts to save money on your property's propane usage and alter the ways you use your tankless water heater. If you're comfortable with how much you spend, you'll have a strong idea of how much to budget each month.

Contact Babe Plumbing for All Your Water Heater Needs in Mankato, MN

We hope you now have a better answer to, "How much propane does a tankless water heater use?" Do you still have questions? Do you need someone who can help you address water heater concerns? If so, consider contacting our professionals. We have the skills and experience to help with a wide range of needs.

Besides providing water heater repair services, we also offer the following:

• Tankless water heater installation
• Water heater installation and replacement
• Water heater repairs
• Water heater flushing or cleaning

Babe Plumbing has proudly served southern Minnesota for over 40 years and operates out of Mankato, MN. You can contact us online or call our reputable business at (507) 418-8387 today to book a service appointment. Reach out now to work with us! We'd be happy to answer questions like, "How much propane does a tankless water heater use?"