The appliance that heats water for showers, sinks, and appliances — either storing hot water in a tank or heating it on demand.
An appliance that heats and stores (storage type) or heats on demand (tankless type) domestic hot water for distribution throughout a building. Water heaters are fueled by natural gas, propane, electricity, or solar energy and are sized in gallons (storage) or BTU/hour input (tankless). First-hour rating and recovery rate determine performance for a given occupancy load.
The water heater is a high-dollar equipment item whose sizing, fuel type, and venting drive both the plumbing bid and coordination with the electrical or gas scope. Choosing the wrong type or capacity at bid time can mean a major change order, and tankless units in particular add gas-line, venting, and electrical work other trades must price.
On a restaurant build-out, the estimator prices two tankless gas water heaters sized to the kitchen demand, then coordinates with the gas and electrical subs so the upsized gas line and dedicated circuit are carried in their bids instead of surfacing as a change.
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