Tankless water heaters heat water directly without the use of a storage tank. When a hot water tap is turned on, cold water travels through a pipe into the unit. Either a gas burner or an electric element heats the water. As a result, tankless water heaters deliver a constant supply of hot water. You don’t need to wait for a storage tank to fill up with enough hot water. Below we share insight so you can determine if a tankless water heater is a right fit for your home.
Never run out of hot water again. A tankless water heater only heats the water as it is being used, providing you usage at any time no matter the circumstance. Even the largest gas-fired model cannot supply enough hot water for simultaneous, multiple uses in large households. For example, taking a shower and running the dishwasher at the same time can stretch a tankless water heater to its limit. To overcome this problem, you can install two or more tankless water heaters, connected in parallel for simultaneous demands of hot water. You can also install separate tankless water heaters for appliances that use a lot of hot water in your home.
It can be more energy efficient. For homes that use 41 gallons or less of hot water a day, a tankless water heater may reduce energy usage. The tankless unit can be 24%-34% more energy efficient than the conventional storage tank water heaters. In addition, for homes that use more than 86 gallons a day, they can be close to 8%-14% more energy efficient. You can achieve even greater energy savings of 27%-50% if you install a tankless water heater at each hot water outlet.
It can save you money over time. Although the initial cost of a tankless water heater is greater than that of a conventional storage water heater, the tankless water heaters will typically last longer and have a lower operating and energy cost, which could offset its higher purchase price. Most tankless water heaters have a life expectancy of more than 20 years. They also have easily replaceable parts that extend their life by many more years. In contrast, storage water heaters last 10-15 years.
Avoid standby heat loss. Standby heat loss is when water is heated constantly in the tank even when the hot water isn’t running. Tankless water heaters avoid the standby heat loss associated with storage water heaters by only heating incoming water as it is being used. In turn, making the tankless system more efficient.
With tankless water heaters, homeowners are able to choose from electric, propane or natural gas models. Which model you choose and what heating source you use is dependent on many factors so it’s important to be informed to make a decision that suits your needs. Be sure to call us today if you need any questions answered and to start enjoying the benefits of a new tankless water heater!
