Tankless water heaters are a relatively new invention, but they’ve already found their way into homes across the United States. While tankless systems can offer some benefits in certain situations, there is also the likelihood of plumbing issues down the line. Learn more about how to use these systems and whether or not they are right for you with this informative blog post.
Types Of Tankless Water Heaters
Are there different types of tankless water heaters?
Yes, there are several types of tankless water heaters available on the market, each with its own benefits and drawbacks. The most common type of tankless water heater is the electric tankless water heater, which is well-suited for small homes or apartments. They do not use fossil fuels to operate and require very little maintenance.
Gas tankless water heaters are also available and are a good solution for those homeowners that want heated water at higher pressures throughout the year. However, gas tankless water heaters require more ventilation and are more expensive to purchase and install than electric versions.
Why Are They Called “Tankless”?
Most modern houses have a typical water heater, which stores water in a tank and keeps it hot all day, even when it isn’t in use. A different approach is used by tankless water heaters. Tankless units heat water on demand rather than maintaining a tank of hot water on standby.
When you turn on any hot water faucet or fixture in your house, cold water enters the unit. Water runs over a strong electric heating element or a gas burner and rapidly achieves the temperature needed for a hot shower, hand washing, dishwashing, or doing laundry. You don’t have to wait for a storage tank to refill to have hot water on demand!
There’s Even More To Tankless Water Heaters
It’s great to have hot water without having to store it in a tank, but what does it imply for your house and family? Here are some of the benefits of tankless water heaters:
- There is no risk of water damage since there is no stored water. Did you know that one of the main causes of property damage is traditional water heaters?
- Tankless water heaters are compact (about the size of a fuse box) and may be wall-mounted.
- They can help you save up to 50% on your water heating bills! Tankless water heaters only heat water when it’s required. Thermal heat loss is nearly totally reduced since there is no hot water storage.
- Tankless water heaters offer a near-perfect efficiency rating of about 95%. Tankless water heaters have grown in popularity as people become more concerned about energy saving and environmental problems.
- Storage water heaters have a lifespan of eight to twelve years, but tankless devices have a lifespan of 20 years or more. As a consequence, you’ll save even more money in the long run!
Tankless Water Heaters: Whole-House Vs. Point-Of-Use
A tankless water heater provides tremendous flexibility in addition to all of the other advantages. The first alternative is to replace your current storage tank with a whole-house tankless water heater. This is when water is heated in a central place and then distributed to each hot water fixture through pipes.
While this is the most cost-effective choice in terms of purchase and installation, it also has the following disadvantages:
- Just as with your old storage water heater, you’ll have to wait for the water to heat up at the tap. The longer it takes for hot water to flow through the pipes the farther distant a fixture is from the tankless unit.
- While you have a limitless supply of hot water, the unit’s flow rate is restricted, which might be half that of a storage water heater. As a result, you may only be able to participate in one or two hot water activities at a time.
Point-of-use tankless water heaters excel in this situation. These little units may be placed beneath sinks or in closets all across the home. There’s no need to wait for hot water to travel through many feet of pipes when you have a separate unit for the kitchen, laundry area, and each bathroom. This technique also gets around any flow rate restrictions that a whole-house tankless device could have.
Of course, you may have the best of both worlds by installing a whole-house tankless water heater for most hot water needs, as well as a point-of-use type in areas where you need a boost, such as the master bathroom, laundry room, or kitchen. This is probably the greatest approach to getting the most out of tankless water heaters while avoiding the negatives.
Install A Tankless Water Heater As Soon As Possible
If you want unlimited hot water, lower water heating expenses, and less water waste, it’s time to replace your water heater. A plumber can provide a number of home water heating options, including tankless water heater installation and replacement, ongoing maintenance, and skilled repairs.
To discover more about tankless water heaters, contact a qualified plumber today.
The “natural gas tankless water heater” is a type of water heater that uses natural gas. This type of water heater is much more efficient than the traditional tank-based models.
Once hot water goes down the drain, it heads towards the sewer. You can learn more in Types of Sewer Pipes: A Helpful Guide.
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