What Is a Tankless Water Heater
A tankless water heater, also referred to as an on-demand water heater, is a space-saving system that heats water exactly when you need it. Instead of constantly keeping 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 offers a number of advantages, but before you switch to a tankless system it’s important to make sure it’s feasible for your home in the U.S..
How Does a Tankless Water Heater Supply Hot Water?
Once you open a hot water tap, a sensor in the tankless unit detects the movement of water. This triggers a gas burner or an electric heating system, according to your fuel source, which then almost instantly heats the water as it passes through the tankless water heater. As soon as you turn off the tap, the unit shuts down and stops heating, which prevents standby energy loss.
Five Benefits of Tankless Water Heaters
Many the U.S. residents have already switched to tankless water heaters to enjoy these fantastic perks:
- Tankless water heaters supply lots of hot water: Envision your family happily taking several back-to-back showers without the last person in line running out of hot water. That’s the reality of using a tankless unit, which supplies virtually endless hot water as needed rather than taking 30 to 60 minutes to reheat a tank of water.
- Energy efficiency: Tankless water heaters are up to 34% more energy efficient than traditional tank-style models. The less hot water you consume, the more power and money you save. After all, you only pay to heat the water you use, instead of paying for a tank-style unit to constantly heat a big tank of hot water in the off chance you might request it.
- Tankless units have a longer service life: If you think you’ll be residing in your home for an extending time frame, a tankless water heater is a great investment. These units last more than 20 years, which is nearly double as long as traditional tank heaters—which only have an estimated lifespan of 10 to 15 years.
- Tankless units don’t take up much space: You may be used to the bulky, cylindrical tank that’s part of your tank-style water heater. However, it doesn’t need to be this way. 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 damaging your home.
Is a Tankless Water Heating System the Right Choice for Me?
Tankless water heaters are an efficient type of HVAC equipment, but they may not be ideal for every home. Evaluate these factors before switching to a tankless system:
- The cost of buying and installing a tankless water heater is usually higher: Tankless systems usually have a larger upfront investment compared to the old tank-style water heaters. But, tax credits and rebates for energy-efficient HVAC equipment are often available to reduce the cost.
- The power of tankless units varies depending on fuel source: Tankless units are available in both electric and gas designs. Gas units have a higher flow rate but will need venting to safely release exhaust gases from your home. If you don’t yet have a vent, installing one in your home will add to the installation cost. Electric models are more straightforward to install but have lower performance. They also can’t be purchased with help from those cost-saving HVAC tax credits.
- Tankless models must cope with extremely cold temperatures: Tankless systems heat water as it flows through the appliance, which demands a significant temperature jump from the water’s unheated temperature to nice and warm. The colder the unheated water, the more powerful the heater must be and the more energy it uses. 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 possible, 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: Due to the fact that tankless heaters don’t retain heated water, they can only provide a limited amount of hot water at once. The unit’s flow rate indicates how much hot water you can use at once, which is an important consideration if you have a house full of people trying 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 locations. However, this raises upfront and operating costs.
- Tankless water heaters create something known as the cold water sandwich: Tankless water heaters are known for producing a “cold water sandwich,” a short burst of cold water created when the water heater cycles off and on. It also happens if you only run a trickle of hot water that isn’t enough to keep the tankless unit running. While merely a small annoyance, it’s worth knowing about.
Ask the Service Experts Heating, Air Conditioning & Plumbing Team About Tankless Water Heaters in the U.S.
The experienced professionals at Service Experts Heating, Air Conditioning & Plumbing are here to help you select the right water heating solution, whether that’s a tankless unit or a traditional storage tank model. Thanks to our 100% satisfaction guarantee, you can feel confident that our pros will have your unit installed and operating perfectly. Thinking about an upgrade? Have more questions? We’re ready to help! Just call 866-397-3787 today to contact the team at Service Experts Heating, Air Conditioning & Plumbing!