What Is a Tankless Water Heater
A tankless water heater, also known as an on-demand water heater, is a compact system that heats water only when you need it. Instead of constantly holding a supply of hot water in a large tank, a tankless unit heats water immediately to the right temperature when requested. This advanced water heating method provides a number of benefits, but before you switch to a tankless system it’s smart to first make sure it’s practical for your home in the U.S..
How Do Home Tankless Water Heaters Work?
As soon as you turn on a hot water tap, a sensor in the tankless unit detects the movement of water. This turns on a gas burner or an electric heating system, according to your fuel source, which then quickly heats the water as it passes through the tankless water heater. As soon as you turn off the tap, the unit turns off and stops heating, which prevents inactive energy loss.
Five Ways Tankless Water Heaters Benefit Your Home
Many the U.S. residents have already switched to tankless water heaters to enjoy these fantastic perks:
- Tankless water heaters supply bountiful hot water: Imagine your family happily taking multiple back-to-back showers without the last person in line running out of hot water. That’s the advantage of using a tankless unit, which supplies virtually endless hot water as needed rather than taking up to an hour to warm up a tank of water.
- Increase your home’s energy efficiency: Tankless water heaters are up to 34% more energy efficient than tank models. The less hot water you use, the more power and money you save. That’s all due to the fact that you only pay to heat the water you use, instead of paying for a tank-style unit to continuously heat a big tank of hot water in the off chance you might request it.
- You typically get more years of service from a tankless water heater: If you plan on staying in your home for many years, a tankless water heater is a smart investment. These units last over 20 years, which is nearly double as long as traditional tank heaters—which typically only last 10 to 15 years.
- Tankless units have a space-saving design: You may be accustomed to the large, cylindrical tank that’s part of your tank-style water heater. However, it doesn’t have to be like this. Most tankless systems are about the size of a carry-on suitcase mounted to the wall. This means you can place them in tight spaces such as utility closets or small utility rooms.
- There’s less risk of water damage with a tankless system: Since tankless water heaters don’t have a big storage tank, there’s no risk of a burst tank flooding your home.
Is a Tankless Water Heater the Right Choice?
Tankless water heaters are a cost-effective type of HVAC equipment, but they aren’t ideal for every home. Take into account these factors before making the switch in your the U.S. home:
- The cost of buying and installing a tankless water heater is usually higher: Tankless systems usually have a greater upfront investment compared to traditional tank-style water heaters. However, tax credits and rebates for energy-efficient home HVAC technology are often available to reduce the cost.
- The power of tankless units varies depending on fuel source: Tankless units come in electric or gas models. Gas units have a greater flow rate but must have venting to safely discharge exhaust gases from your residence. If you don’t yet have a vent, installing one in your home will raise the installation cost. Electric models are more straightforward to install but have lower performance. They also don’t qualify for those cost-saving HVAC tax credits.
- Tankless models must cope with very cold weather: Tankless systems heat water as it flows through the appliance, which demands a significant temperature increase. The colder the unheated water, the more powerful the heater must be and the more energy the tankless system will need to heat the water to the desired temperature. For example, if the groundwater temperature is 40°F during the dead of winter in a far northern state, and you want 110-degree water to flow from the tap, your system must handle a 70-degree rise. Although this is doable, it’s near the top of what most gas-fired tankless water heaters can handle.
- Flow rate can be limited when multiple appliances are being used: Because tankless heaters don’t hold heated water, they can only supply a limited amount of hot water at a time. The unit’s flow rate indicates how much hot water you can access simultaneously, which is an important factor to consider if you have a house full of people who always want to shower when the dishwasher and washing machine are running! An easy way to prevent a lack of hot water is to install multiple point-of-use models in high-demand water taps. However, this increases upfront and operating costs.
- Tankless water heaters create a cold water sandwich: Tankless water heaters produce a “cold water sandwich,” the short burst of cold water formed when the water heater cycles off and on. It also occurs if you only run a trickle of hot water that doesn’t provide enough flow to keep the tankless unit running. Although this is only a slight annoyance, it’s better to know about it ahead of time.
Interested in Tankless Water Heaters in the U.S.
Your local experts at Service Experts Heating, Air Conditioning & Plumbing are here to help you find the right water heating solution, whether that’s a tankless water heater or a traditional storage tank model. Thanks to our 100% satisfaction guarantee, you will have peace of mind knowing that our pros will have your unit set up and operating perfectly. Ready to upgrade? Have more questions? We’re ready to help! Just call 866-397-3787 today to get in touch with the team at Service Experts Heating, Air Conditioning & Plumbing!