What Is a Tankless Water Heater

A tankless water heater, also referred to as an on-demand water heater, is a small system that heats water exactly when you need it. Instead of constantly keeping a supply of hot water in a big tank, a tankless unit heats water very quickly to the right temperature when requested. This advanced water heating method has a number of benefits, but before you switch to a tankless system it’s important to make sure it’s suitable for your home in the U.S..

Tankless Water Heaters: How Do They Work?

As soon as you use a hot water tap, a sensor in the tankless unit detects the flow of water. This turns on a gas burner or an electric heating element, based on your fuel source, which then quickly heats the water as it passes through the tankless water heater. When you turn off the tap, the system turns off 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 take advantage of these amazing perks:

1. Tankless water heaters supply bountiful hot water: Imagine your family happily taking numerous back-to-back showers without the last person in line running out of hot water. That’s the benefit of installing a tankless unit, which supplies virtually endless hot water when requested rather than taking 30 to 60 minutes to restore a tank of water.

2. Going tankless is an energy efficient solution: Tankless water heaters are up to 34% more energy efficient than tank models. The less hot water you consume, the more electricity or gas and money you save. That’s all due to the fact that you only pay to heat the water you require, instead of paying for a tank-style unit to always heat a big tank of hot water in the off chance you might actually need it.

3. You typically get more years of service from a tankless water heater: If you plan on living in your home for the long haul, a tankless water heater is a great investment. These units last over 20 years, which is almost two times as long as traditional tank heaters—which typically only last 10 to 15 years.

4. Tankless units are compact: You may be accustomed to the large, cylindrical tank used by your tank-style water heater. However, it doesn’t have to be like this. The majority of tankless systems are about the size of a carry-on suitcase mounted to the wall. This means you can install them in tight spaces such as utility closets or small utility rooms.

5. There’s less risk of water damage with a tankless system: Due to the fact that 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 Heating System the Right Choice for Me?

Tankless water heaters are an energy-saving appliance, but they aren’t perfect for every home. Consider 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 require a higher upfront investment compared to traditional tank-style water heaters. But, tax credits and rebates for energy-efficient home HVAC technology are often available to reduce the cost.

• The power of tankless units varies and some models require venting: Tankless units come in electric or gas designs. Gas units have a stronger flow rate but must have venting to safely expel exhaust gases from your home. If you don’t already 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 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 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 the tankless system will need to heat the water to the desired temperature. For instance, if the groundwater temperature is 40°F during the dead of winter in a far northern state, and you want to take a shower in 110-degree water, your system must handle a 70-degree rise. While this is possible, it’s near the maximum of what most gas-fired tankless water heaters can handle.

• Flow rate can be limited if too many users want hot water at the same time: Because tankless heaters don’t retain heated water, they can only heat a certain amount of hot water at a time. The unit’s flow rate tells you how much hot water you can use at the same time, 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 drop in 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 something known as the cold water sandwich: Tankless water heaters are known for producing a “cold water sandwich,” a short burst of cold water made when the unit starts and stops. 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.

? Call Service Experts Heating, Air Conditioning & Plumbing Today!

The team at Service Experts Heating, Air Conditioning & Plumbing is here to help you find the right water heating solution, whether that’s a tankless unit 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 installed and running perfectly. Considering an upgrade? Have more questions? We’re happy to assist! Just call 866-397-3787 today to get in touch with the team at Service Experts Heating, Air Conditioning & Plumbing!