Everyone loves a nice, steaming hot bath. Hot water is a luxury, one we’re grateful to have here in the US. We rely on hot water for hygiene and cleanliness, not only for us, but for our dishes and clothes as well. If you have a tank-style water heater, however, you’ve probably found yourself with running out of hot water at times. Maybe you were taking a shower. Maybe you were shaving. Or maybe you were just washing some dishes. Whatever it was, you’re familiar with the “left-with-freezing-cold-water” experience.
Today’s article will focus on one way to change that: Tankless Water Heaters. Tankless water heaters are just what they sound like: water heaters with no tanks. While your traditional water heater works by intermittently heating water up in a tank throughout the day, this is wasteful because you’re paying for electricity or gas to constantly keep your water hot instead of just paying for hot water at the moment of use. Because of this, tankless water heaters are much more efficient and “green,” and they’re the norm in countries like Europe and Japan. Tankless water heaters work by activating heating coils when you turn on the hot water faucet. These heating coils then release the heat energy to a powerful heat exchanger, which through water flows and heats up. Within a few seconds, you have a virtually unlimited supply of hot water at the designated temperature.
Generally speaking, there are two basic types of tankless water heaters: Big ones and little ones. The little ones, known better as point-of-use heaters, are meant to provide hot water to one or two outlets in close range. Due to their small and compact size, these heaters can be placed in a cabinet or closet. The great thing about having this small heater is that the lag time (the time it takes for the heated water to reach your faucet) is greatly diminished because of the close range. The big heaters, known better as whole-home heaters, are giant, bulky, and more powerful than the point-of-use heaters. These beasts are meant to provide hot water to many different outlets at a time and can typically service an entire home. While both work to provide the same basic service, consider your needs and budget before purchasing. While point-of-use heaters aren’t too expensive, whole-home heaters typically range from $1,500 and up, depending on the brand.
A tankless heater can be a great benefit to your home, especially if you have a large family that’s always on the move. Because tankless heaters are known as “on demand” heaters, they help reduce standby loss. Standby loss is basically water that didn’t get heated up before it was flushed out of the system to your faucet. This is the water you’ll let drain out before you get the hot water you desire and can be costly on your water bill.
Consider replacing your home’s current storage-style heater with one that provides hot water faster and more efficiently for a long-term decrease on your monthly heating bill. If you’re looking for more information on tankless hot water heaters, or if you’re simply looking for a good place to start your search, check out plumber’s stock’s large selection by clicking on the image above.