Tankless Water Heaters

If you've watched any of the home improvement shows recently, you may have seen these hot new products called tankless water heaters. If not it won't be long before you do, as tankless water heaters are about as in vogue as it gets—at least for home appliances. They're actually not that new, just new to us Americans. And thanks to the green movement we're learning of their superior energy savings benefits. Tankless water heaters have actually been in use throughout the world for some time now. though we have been accustomed to the big inefficient tank type water heaters, as efficiency has not been an important issue for us. But, now that the environment has become an issue and energy becomes more and more expensive, finding energy efficient products is a must. Products like tankless water heaters, along with solar and wind solutions can help curb our addiction to foreign energy.

When compared to their traditional tank type water heater counterparts, tankless water heaters hold a number of advantages. First of all, tankless water heaters don't have to constantly heat and reheat stored water. This is a very inefficient way to supply hot water, and puts tankless units at a significant advantage. Conventional tank water heaters have to work constantly to store hot water. They're always heating water whether we need it or not. So, if you're at work, sleeping, or even on vacation you can be assured that your tank type water heater is working away, wasting energy. Tankless units, on the other hand, just supply the required hot water when it's needed. As can be expected, new owners of tankless water heaters report energy savings of 30 to 50 percent, when compared to their replaced old tank units.

In addition to the obvious energy savings, tankless devices offer some unique advantages over their old rusty brethren. They provide clean water. You may never think about it, but that 20-year-old tank in your garage is probably full of rusty water. Tankless water heaters avoid rust and scale buildup, as they just heat the water as it passes through, rather than storing it. This results in a longer life expectancy of these units since they have less corrosion.

They come in a much smaller compact design. In areas where room is an issue, like apartments, these can be located just about anywhere. They're commonly installed in closets, attics, and even on the exterior walls of your home. Replacing your old tank unit will certainly free some space. And since these are mounted you don't need to worry about the safety and earthquake issues so common with tank water heaters.

They also supply endless hot water. That's right, they cannot run out of hot water. Since tank type water heaters store their hot water they run the risk of running out. This limited supply of hot water isn't a problem for tankless devices, since the water is continuously heated as it passes through the heating element. It is important to note, however, that tankless units are limited by the maximum flow rate. In some lower rated units, this can limit the amount of water delivered.

There are two primary types of tankless water heaters available today. Those that are powered by gas, and those powered by electricity. Choosing between the two should depend on your specific application. They both have their unique advantages over one another.

Traditionally, gas tankless water heaters have been the obvious choice when providing hot water for a whole house. This is due to a number of reasons, most notably power and cost. The high-end gas units provide the BTU requirements necessary to provide hot water for an entire house. Though, electric tankless units have made strides when it comes to power, they just can't compete with gas when it comes to power. The other thing is cost; current utility rates have proven that gas is cheaper than electricity. Though, gas units that don't offer an auto pilot light shut off can be more costly to operate. Be sure to choose a unit that will shut down the pilot light when not in use.

The biggest disadvantage when it comes to gas tankless water heaters is installation. Installation costs are higher than that of electric units. Even if you’re a real DIY type, you'll probably want to hire a contractor experienced in gas tankless water heater installations. There are certain requirements that must be met, like running gas lines and certain custom venting requirements. So, installation costs are inherintly more expensive than traditional or electric water heater units.

Even though gas tankless water heaters come with some benefits, electric tankless water heaters are certainly not without merit. They too, have a number of advantages. One big advantage is that they are excellent point of use water heaters. They can be installed right where the water is needed. This is a very efficient way to get hot water, as only the water that is needed is heated. This provides instantaneous hot water with nothing lost in long runs of pipe. In fact, when utilized at each desired hot water point they can be even more efficient than gas tankless units. This isn't always cost effective, however, as it can be costly to install point of use applications at each and every hot water sources. Electric tankless water heaters are commonly utilized in kitchens where the dishwasher and sink are heavily used. They can also provide an excellent solution for remote locations, such as a shower or laundry room.

When it comes to installing electric tankless water heaters, things are quite a bit easier than gas devices. There are no special combustion venting or gas line requirements. There are some cases, though, where additional circuits may have to be added, but nothing too difficult. Choosing between gas and electric should come down to your unique needs. At the current time there really isn't an all-encompassing solution. As these technologies continue to progress we're seeing some impressive advancements in electric tankless water heater development. They are becoming more powerful, and more efficient than ever. So, it will not be long before they rival their gas tankless counterparts for whole house applications.