Commercial Tankless Water Heater Upgrade Transforms a Struggling Facility
- ETS
- Jun 17
- 5 min read
A new commercial client came to ETS expecting a simple hot water fix — instead, they got a fully engineered solution: a commercial tankless water heater retrofit designed for long-term performance, safety, and efficiency.
This job wasn’t just about replacing equipment. It was about solving core plumbing flaws, improving system design, and transforming a cluttered mechanical room into a showcase of precision and professionalism.
Uncovering the Root Causes of a Failing Hot Water System
What started as a routine hot water complaint quickly revealed something far more serious.
When ETS arrived on-site, the client reported sporadic hot water issues—slow flow at some fixtures, no heat at others. But it didn’t take long before our team spotted a major red flag that pointed to a deeper system failure.
The existing boiler system’s injection pumps were installed backwards. This caused poor circulation and pressure imbalance throughout the system — exactly the kind of foundational error that most HVAC contractors overlook or patch over.
Worse yet, the original piping infrastructure was undersized for the equipment they had installed. While the system demanded 3” lines, most of the plumbing was just 1.5” to 2.5”. That bottleneck meant their boilers could never perform as expected, even if installed correctly.
What Is a Commercial Tankless Water Heater?
A commercial tankless water heater is a high-efficiency system that heats water only as it’s needed, eliminating the standby energy loss found in traditional storage tanks or boiler systems.
These units are compact, wall-mounted, and typically installed in multiples to meet the high hot water demands of commercial facilities.
Unlike boiler systems that cycle on and off to maintain temperature in a large tank, tankless systems provide continuous, on-demand hot water, improving energy efficiency and performance.
They're ideal for environments like restaurants, gyms, warehouses, and multi-tenant buildings where hot water use is frequent but varies throughout the day.
Key advantages of a commercial tankless water heater include:
Space-saving design
Scalable installation (multiple units in tandem)
Lower operational costs over time
Reduced downtime due to modular redundancy
Cleaner mechanical room layout and easier servicing
Why a Commercial Tankless Water Heater Made Sense
In this project, the client’s existing boiler system wasn’t just outdated — it was inefficient, oversized, and incorrectly installed. Rather than replace it with another bulky boiler, we recommended a commercial tankless water heater system to address the issues at the source.
This approach allowed us to:
Deliver hot water instantly, without waiting for recovery cycles
Optimize mechanical room space with a cleaner, wall-mounted layout
Improve energy efficiency by heating water only when needed
Provide system redundancy — if one unit needs service, the others keep running
Reduce the complexity of future maintenance and upgrades
The result? A system tailored to the facility’s actual usage — efficient, reliable, and built to last.
The ETS Approach to a Smart Commercial Tankless Water Heater Install
We didn't gut the entire system. Instead, we approached the job like engineers; strategically reworking only what was necessary to restore full functionality and performance.
Here's what we tackled:
Reconfigured and resized piping to match tankless unit requirements
Installed a new mixing valve to ensure consistent, safe output temperatures
Reworked circulation logic to eliminate the pump reversal issue
Routed and labeled plumbing to optimize flow and simplify future maintenance
Custom backboard: All three tankless units were mounted cleanly and uniformly, allowing for easy access and visual clarity.
Rather than cut corners or over-design, ETS delivered a custom-fit solution grounded in real-world usage and technical best practices. This wasn’t just a change of equipment — it was a transformation of the system’s logic and flow.
The Finishing Touches: Insulation, Labeling, and Professional Detailing
A successful mechanical room isn’t just functional — it should be clean, compliant, and organized.
After repiping, we insulated every critical line for thermal efficiency and safety. Then, we added clear labeling and control accessibility so building staff or inspectors could quickly identify zones, shutoffs, and temperature controls.
The before-and-after visuals told the story: what once looked like a messy and aging boiler install was now a professional-grade mechanical room any facility manager would be proud of.
Project Highlights: Our Commercial Tankless Water Heater Retrofit in Action
Before:
Failing boilers with poorly routed pipework
Backwards injection pumps
Undersized lines choking performance
During:
Three new tankless water heaters installed on a clean backboard
New copper and PVC piping sized correctly
Internal view of tankless unit during setup and calibration
After:
Fully insulated water lines
Clean, labeled layout
Mixing valve and pump system optimized for building performance
Why This Project Matters: A Real-World Example of Engineered Solutions
This job wasn’t just about switching heat sources. It was about taking ownership of system-level performance — fixing design flaws, correcting flow logic, and creating something that would work for years, not months.
Key Takeaways for Facility Managers:
Improper pump or pipe sizing can destroy even the best equipment
Tankless systems offer flexibility for high-use environments
Rebuilding doesn’t have to mean overspending — smart redesign works
Clean installs support inspections, maintenance, and future upgrades
ETS: We Don’t Just Install. We Engineer.
At Engineered Temperature Solutions, every project starts with the question: “What does this space truly need to perform better?”
Our answer is never cookie-cutter. Whether it’s a commercial kitchen needing custom airflow or a warehouse needing smarter ventilation zoning, we bring engineering-level precision to every component — plumbing, HVAC, air quality, and beyond.
The ETS Advantage
Engineered by Experts: Licensed professionals lead every project with technical precision and real-world insight.
Balanced Systems, Built to Perform: We fine-tune airflow, water flow, and load capacity to maximize system efficiency.
Energy & Utility Conscious Design: Our solutions are designed to reduce energy use and control long-term operational costs.
Support That Doesn’t Stop at Installation: We offer post-install performance checks, optimization, and ongoing service when you need it.
Ready to Upgrade Your Commercial Water Heating System?
If you’re dealing with boiler failures, uneven hot water, or outdated mechanical room setups, ETS is here to help. We’ll assess your system, design a smarter solution, and install it with precision and clarity.
✅ Schedule Your Free Site Assessment
Let’s engineer your environment. Tell us your commercial/industrial hot water or HVAC challenge, and we’ll bring the insight and expertise to solve it.
Table of Contents
Engineered Solution: A Commercial Tankless Water Heater Retrofit
Uncovering the Root Causes of a Failing Hot Water System
The ETS Approach to a Smart Commercial Tankless Water Heater Install
The Finishing Touches: Insulation, Labeling, and Professional Detailing
Project Highlights: Our Commercial Tankless Water Heater Retrofit in Action
Why This Project Matters: A Real-World Example of Engineered Solutions
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