A tankless water heater (right) installed next to a tank-style heater.
If you’re considering an efficient upgrade for your home, I highly recommend starting with a tankless water heater. If you’ve never heard of such a thing, “tankless water heater” may sound a bit oxymoronic, sort of like “wingless airplane” would.
But these things aren’t half as idiotic as they sound. Not only do the help to save tons on heating and utility bills, they offer convenience and safety that a tank-style water heater cannot.
Tankless water heaters—or on-demand water heaters, as they are sometimes called—have been around for quite a while but have not been common in homes as long. The technology and processes that go into a tankless heater were initially developed for high-volume hot water environments, such as hotels and industrial facilities. Fortunately for us, some smart people realized these devices could be scaled down and applied to residential environments with great benefit.
How do they work? Unlike a tank-style heater that collects a large amount of water in its tank and heats it with protruding metal elements, a tankless water heater runs cold water through a series of heated pipes to heat the water instantaneously. What’s more, these heaters are turned on only when a hot-water-using device in the house is turned on. This is not the case for a tank-style heater that heats water 24 hours a day, seven days a week even if hot water is not being used. Because of this, a tankless water heater uses far less energy than its cumbersome competitor.
Aside from their efficiency, tankless water heaters are also safer and more convenient than a tank-style heater. Because their heating process is much more precise, a homeowner can accurately regulate the temperature that the water will be when it leaves the heater. In homes where being scalded is a concern—such as those with small children, elderly, et cetera—a user can set the heater at a lower setting and regulate how hot the water will be when it comes out of the faucet. Even though this is somewhat possible to do on a tank-style heater, it’s not nearly as accurate and dangerously hot water will still be dispensed. Another great feature to a tankless water heater, and perhaps the best feature of all, is an endless supply of hot water. That’s right, tankless water heaters never run out of hot water. As long as cold water is going into the heater, hot water is going to come out. A twenty-minute shower for everyone in a family of eight is a walk in the park for a suitable tankless heater. That’s 480 gallons, on average, of hot water. Good luck doing that with a residential, tank-style dinosaur.
Here are some other attributes to consider, as well:
· Tankless water heaters are small--about the size of a small suitcase. They take up much less space and can be installed almost anywhere.
· Some models can be installed on home’s exterior further decreasing the amount of used interior space.
· Natural gas, propane and electric models are available
· Currently, every tankless water that’s being made qualifies for the tax credit.
Before you rush out and order a tankless water heater, know that they are going to cost considerably more than a tank-style heater. Prices can range from as low as $200 for a small, point of use heater, up to a thousand dollars or more for a whole-home heater. But while you will pay more up front, the savings will far outweigh the cost after a short amount of time. You will also want to hire a professional plumber to install your heater, as well, as electricity and water (if you choose an electric model) and gas lines (if you choose a gas model) can be hazardous to your health if not installed correctly.
Many stores and plumbing companies offer tankless water heaters and would be glad to advise you on the purchase of one. It might be wise to check with Consumer reports on the quality of the available models, as well. No matter what brand or model you choose, the efficiency and the convenience these heaters provide make them a win-win situation.
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