Tankless Water Heater: Is One Right for Your Home?
A tankless water heater, also known as an on-demand water heater, is a space-saving unit that heats water only when you turn on the tap. Rather than storing hot water in a bulky reservoir, the unit heats water instantaneously to the right temperature and delivers it directly to your faucet. This innovative water heating method delivers many benefits, but make sure it’s feasible for your home before upgrading.
How Does a Tankless Water Heater Work?
When you use a hot water tap, a sensor in the tankless unit identifies the flow of water. This activates either a gas burner or an electric heating element, depending on your fuel source, which rapidly heats the water as it passes through. As soon as you turn off the tap, the system shuts down and quits heating, which avoids standby energy loss.
Advantages of Tankless Water Heaters
More homeowners in Springfield are choosing tankless water heaters to experience these fantastic perks:
Endless hot water: Imagine your family taking multiple back-to-back showers without the last person in line running out of hot water. That’s the best part of a tankless unit, which supplies virtually unlimited hot water as it flows rather than needing 30 to 60 minutes to reheat a tank of water.
- Energy efficiency: Tankless water heaters are up to 34% more energy efficient than tank models. The lower volume of hot water you use, the more you save. After all, you only have to heat the hot water you actually need, instead of wasting money heating a huge tank of water 24/7.
- Long lifespan: If you intend to stay in your home for the foreseeable future, a tankless water heater is a wise investment. These units often are in service more than 20 years, almost double the lifespan of traditional tank heaters—which have a projected lifespan of 10 to 15 years.
- Compact design: You may be accustomed to your large, cylindrical water heater tank, but water heaters don’t have to look this way. Most tankless systems are about as big as a carry-on suitcase attached to the wall. Because of this you can install tankless water heaters in limited locations like closets or small utility rooms.
- Lower risk of water damage: Since tankless water heaters lack a tank, there’s no danger of a ruptured unit damaging your home.
Is Using a Tankless Water Heater Right for You?
Tankless water heaters are energy-saving, cost-effective technology, but they may not be suitable for every home. Consider these factors before switching to a tankless system:
- Higher initial costs: Tankless systems demand a higher upfront investment than traditional models. On the other hand, HVAC tax credits and rebates for energy-efficient appliances help lower these costs.
- Fuel sources and venting requirements: Tankless units are offered in electric and gas models. Gas units have a higher water output but need venting to safely expel exhaust gases. If your home doesn’t already have a vent, putting in one will add to the installation cost. Electric models are simpler to install but are constrained by their less powerful performance. They also aren’t eligible for energy-efficiency tax credits.
- Temperature rise requirements: Tankless systems warm water as it flows through, which demands a significant temperature boost. The chillier the incoming water, the more powerful the heater must be and the more energy it needs. For instance, if the groundwater temperature is 40 degrees F in a northern state, and you need 110-degree water in your sink, your system must handle a 70-degree rise. While possible, this is the upper limit of most gas-fired tankless water heaters.
- Limited flow rate: Since tankless heaters don’t store water, they can only provide a certain amount of hot water at any given time. The unit’s flow rate tells you how much hot water you can use simultaneously, an important factor to consider if you have a houseful of people trying to shower while the dishwasher and washing machine are also being used! One way to prevent a drop in hot water is to implement multiple point-of-use models in high-demand locations. However, this escalates setup and operating costs.
- The cold-water sandwich: Tankless water heaters produce a “cold-water sandwich,” a short surge of cold water when the unit turns off and on again. It also occurs if you only run a small amount of hot water, which is insufficient to keep the tankless unit running. While it’s a small drawback, it’s worth being aware of before making the switch.
