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. Rather than storing hot water in a bulky reservoir, the unit heats water instantaneously to the optimal warmth and delivers it directly to your faucet. This innovative water heating method delivers many benefits, but make sure it’s practical for your home before switching to a tankless system.
How Does a Tankless Water Heater Work?
The moment you use a hot water tap, a sensor in the tankless unit identifies the flow of water. This activates either a gas burner or an electric heating element, based on your fuel source, which quickly warms the water as it passes through. As soon as you turn off the tap, the system shuts down and stops heating the water, which avoids standby energy loss.
Benefits of Tankless Water Heaters
More homeowners in Goshen are choosing tankless water heaters to experience these impressive perks:
Endless hot water: Imagine your family taking multiple back-to-back showers without the last person in line not having enough hot water. That’s the best part of a tankless unit, which provides virtually unlimited hot water as it flows rather than requiring 30 to 60 minutes to reheat a tank of water.
- Energy efficiency: Tankless water heaters are up to 34% more energy efficient than tank models. The lower volume of hot water you use, the bigger your energy savings. After all, you only pay to heat the hot water you actually need, instead of wasting money heating a huge tank of water 24/7.
- Long lifespan: If you intend to stay in your home for an extended term, a tankless water heater is a wise investment. These units serve homes more than 20 years, which is significantly longer than traditional tank heaters—which have a projected lifespan of 10 to 15 years.
- Compact design: You may be familiar with your large, cylindrical water heater tank, but this isn’t how it has to be. Most tankless systems are no bigger than a carry-on suitcase attached to the wall. This means you can place tankless water heaters in limited locations like closets or small utility rooms.
- Lower risk of water damage: Because tankless water heaters lack a tank, there’s no danger of a leaking unit flooding your home.
Is Installing a a Tankless Water Heater Right for Your Home?
Tankless water heaters are efficient, cost-effective technology, but they aren’t ideal for every home. Think about these factors before upgrading:
- Higher initial costs: Tankless systems have a higher upfront price tag than traditional models. On the other hand, HVAC tax credits and rebates for eco-friendly appliances help reduce these costs.
- Fuel sources and venting requirements: Tankless units are available in electric and gas models. Gas units have a higher flow rate but must have venting to safely safely remove exhaust gases. If your home doesn’t already have a vent, putting in one will raise the installation cost. Electric models are less complicated to install but are restricted in that they have less powerful performance. They also don’t qualify for energy-efficiency tax credits.
- Temperature rise requirements: Tankless systems raise the temperature of water as it flows through, which is a significant temperature boost. The chillier the incoming water, the more efficient the heater must be and the more energy it uses. For instance, if the groundwater temperature is 40 degrees F in a northern state, and you need 110-degree water to flow from the tap, your system must accommodate a 70-degree rise. While possible, this is the maximum capacity of most gas-fired tankless units.
- Limited flow rate: Since tankless heaters don’t retain water, they can only provide a certain amount of hot water at any given time. The unit’s flow rate tells you how much hot water you can use simultaneously, a critical consideration if you have a houseful of people trying to shower while the dishwasher and washing machine are running! One option to prevent a drop in hot water is to implement multiple point-of-use models in high-demand locations. But, this escalates setup and operating costs.
- The cold-water sandwich: Tankless water heaters generate a “cold-water sandwich,” a short burst of cold water when the unit powers off and on again. It also occurs if you only run a small amount of hot water, which is not enough to keep the tankless unit running. While merely a small drawback, it’s worth being aware of before making the switch.
