RESIDENTIAL FLOOR PLAN DIAGRAMS

• Single Story Floor Plan
• Two Story Floor Plan
• Florida Style Floor Plan

Location of the tankless water heater in the home or building requires some planning so that the heater is in a position to respond quickly and to handle peak flow demands. Because of tankless water heater’s compact size, it is possible to locate the heater in closets and under stair cases so that it is central to nearly all the faucets. If necessary, a multiple heater system can even fit where most storage tank heaters cannot. These benefits are important to the user, as they help conserve water, reduce the wait for hot water and reduce energy costs.

Typical one story and two story floor plans are provided to help illustrate the possibilities for locating the tankless water heaters in the home to achieve maximum benefits. Also, the single heater and optional multiple heater configurations are shown. For instance, a single RA-28 can effectively provide hot water for the whole house. However, if peak flow demands of the master bath exceed the flow rate capacity of the RA-28, a booster, an RA-18 or RA-22, can be located downstream and closer to the master bath. This arrangement helps reduce the wait for hot water in the master bath as well.

In homes with a basement: There may be additional flexibility to locate the tankless water heater in the basement so that it is still central and directly below the faucets on the first and second floors. Instead of locating the booster in the master bath closet, it could be located in the basement, directly below the master bath floor. Also, there may be needs for hot water to faucets in the basement, such as the washing machine and future baths that may be installed when the basement is finished for living space.

In homes with an attached garage: The garage may be one of the most convenient locations for the tankless water heater, but not necessarily the most central location to the faucets in the home. Typically, if the garage is on one end of the house, then the master bath is usually on the opposite end and probably a long distance from the water heater. This may result in relatively long delays (2 minutes or more) for the hot water to reach the master bath faucets. This arrangement is generally not acceptable by most unless a booster heater is installed within the vicinity of the master bath in combination with the heater in the garage. It may be necessary to avoid installing the tankless water heater in the garage altogether due to possible exposure to high humidity and freezing conditions. If possible, locate the tankless water heater in the adjacent utility room or entrance room in conditioned air space.

Places to avoid installing the tankless water heater are in the crawl space under a house, in the garage (in regions prone to freezing or high humidity) and in the attic (unless the attic has been converted to living space). Like most appliances in the home, it is important to protect the tankless water heater from exposure to damp, humid and freezing conditions. Condensation from sweating pipes above and near the tankless water heater can drip down onto the plumbing connections and/or into the heater. This may cause corrosion at the plumbing connections or on components and electrical connections inside the heater. If it is necessary to install the tankless water heater on the second floor or in the attic, a drip pan with a drain should be installed below the heater to avoid damage to ceilings, walls and floors in the event of a leak. A drip pan is normally required for storage tank heaters located in the attic or on the second floor as well.

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