A tankless water heater has no storage tank, instead heating on demand as you need it. This allows for endless Hot Water Now and reduced energy bills.
When you turn on a hot water tap, cold water enters your unit through a flow sensor and the computer board turns on the fan and gas valve. Combustion gases then exit through a dedicated vent pipe.
The main benefit of a tankless water heater is that it uses energy only when hot water is needed, rather than constantly running to keep a full tank of hot water heated. This can significantly lower your energy bills. However, the efficiency of a tankless system is also dependent on making sure it’s correctly sized for your household. If you choose a unit that’s too small, it won’t be able to keep up with your demand. It may even overwork itself and break down prematurely, requiring water heater repair.
A professional can help you determine the right size for your home. He or she can use the hot water demand calculator to make sure you choose a model that will easily handle all your needs. A professional will also help you select the best type of unit for your home — gas or electric. He or she can explain how each works and answer any questions you might have about the differences between them.
With a tankless system, cold water enters the unit and passes through a heat exchanger, which is turned on by a flow sensor when it senses hot-water demand. The heat exchanger can be an electric resistance heating coil or a gas burner using natural gas or propane. The unit’s microprocessor delivers important data to the heating modules on a continuous basis, so power is modulated according to the incoming temperature and flow rate. Once the demand for hot water ends, the flow sensor signals the heat exchanger to turn off.
Like other appliances and fixtures in your home, your tankless water heater can become less efficient over time due to the build-up of mineral deposits known as scale. This build-up reduces the heating capacity of the heat exchanger and can lead to clogged pipes, low water flow rates, and excessive energy consumption. If you notice any signs of scale build-up, contact a water heater expert right away to schedule an inspection and descale/repair services.
Space Savings
When you install a tankless water heater, you don’t have to deal with the large tanks that traditional models use. They are much smaller and can be mounted on the wall. This frees up floor space that would have been taken by the tank, making it easier to move around in your home.
A tankless water heater works on demand, heating up your hot water when you turn on a faucet. This means you’ll never run out of hot water again, as long as your system is sized appropriately for your needs.
This on-demand feature also makes for a more energy efficient unit. It uses less energy than a traditional water heater that keeps an entire tank of hot water warm at all times, wasting energy each time you use your water.
Because of this, you’ll save money on your power bills each month. You’ll only pay to heat your water as you need it, rather than paying to heat an entire tank of hot water that may be sitting there all day.
The energy efficiency of a tankless water heater also makes it an ideal choice for those looking to reduce their environmental footprint. The younger generations of homeowners are increasingly interested in the sustainability of the products they use and want to minimize their carbon footprint. Installing a tankless water heater will show future buyers that your home is environmentally responsible and an excellent choice for them to live in.
Whether you’re planning on selling your home in the near future or not, upgrading to a tankless water heater can add value to your property. Newer generations of home buyers are seeking out unique features that set one house apart from another and will be willing to pay more for a sustainable product.
Tankless water heaters are an easy upgrade for those looking to make their homes more sustainable. They’re smaller, more energy-efficient and take up less space than their traditional counterparts. They can also be installed directly on the wall, saving even more space and leaving room for mops and brooms in your home.
Reduced Energy Bills
When you install a tankless water heater, you can enjoy lower energy bills throughout the year. This is because these units don’t have to keep a large amount of water heated at all times, which reduces the energy needed to do so.
Tankless models also heat water on demand, which means they don’t waste energy heating up water that doesn’t need to be hot. For these reasons, tankless units are typically 24% to 34% more energy efficient than traditional water heaters.
If you have a home with multiple showers running at once, you might experience a short burst of cold water as the system switches from using gas to producing hot water for your fixtures. This is due to the fact that it takes a few seconds for the unit to recognize that you’re in need of hot water. Once it does, though, your household is able to enjoy an endless supply of hot water without any interruptions.
Tankless water heaters can also help you achieve LEED certification if you’re seeking green building ratings from the U.S. Green Building Council. This is because they can often offer LEED credits based on their performance and energy efficiency, so they’re worth considering if you’re interested in getting more eco-friendly with your home.
As an added bonus, tankless units are smaller and lighter than traditional water heaters. This can make them easier to move around the home and install in different places. This allows you to put them in places where a conventional water heater wouldn’t be suitable, such as a small closet or laundry room.
Steve Brownell installed a tankless water heater in his 3,000-square-foot Irvine home three years ago. He thought the unit would pay for itself fairly quickly through reduced gas bills.
However, his new water heater has been a big drain on his budget. “The first two or three months, it was all about the water bill,” he says. “Then I started to notice the electric bill going up.”
While this isn’t necessarily a problem for everyone, it is something to consider if you plan on utilizing your tankless water heater for many years to come. A faulty product, incorrect installation, or oversized gas lines can all extend the time it takes for the unit to pay for itself in energy savings.
Added Value
There’s no doubt that home buyers are looking for ways to cut energy bills and increase the overall efficiency of their homes. A tankless water heater is a great way to do both of those things. It’s a great choice for households with a high amount of fluctuation in hot-water usage because it heats the water only as it is needed, which eliminates the risk of running out during peak demand times. Additionally, because a tankless water heater is smaller and can be mounted on the wall, it frees up space in a garage or basement that would otherwise be used for storage.
Tankless water heaters are also more energy-efficient than traditional storage tank units because they heat water on-demand rather than constantly maintaining a supply of hot water in the insulated tank. This means they use 24-34% less natural resources to operate than standard water heaters, which is good for the environment and for your wallet.
Point-of-use units are even more efficient than whole-house systems because they only heat the water as it is used, eliminating thousands of hours of unnecessary energy consumption (stand-by heat loss). When a hot-water faucet or appliance is turned on, the flow sensor in the unit detects the water’s presence and activates the gas valve. Within seconds, the water is heated by the heating element and sent to the fixture.
As the demand for tankless water heaters continues to rise, they can be a great selling point when it comes time to move or sell your home. Younger generations of home buyers place a lot of importance on sustainability and environmental responsibility, and they’re willing to pay more for products that offer both.
A tankless water heater will not only save you money on energy bills, but it will also add value to your home. If you are considering installing a tankless water heater, we strongly recommend you contact a plumbing professional for more information and to discuss your specific needs. They will be able to help you determine the right size unit and installation location for your home and can also give you an estimate for installation costs. These costs may include the installation of new venting to comply with manufacturers’ specifications, as well as a resizing of your existing gas line(s).
