What Is a Tankless Water Heater

A tankless water heater, also called an on-demand water heater, is a small system that heats water exactly when you need it. Instead of constantly holding a supply of hot water in a large tank, a tankless unit heats water immediately to the right temperature when requested. This innovative water heating method provides a number of advantages, but before you switch to a tankless system it’s smart to first make sure it’s practical for your home in the U.S..

How Do Home Tankless Water Heaters Work?

As soon as you turn on a hot water tap, technology in the tankless unit detects the flow of water. This triggers a gas burner or an electric heating system, depending on your fuel source, which then rapidly heats the water as it flows through the tankless water heater. When you turn off the tap, the tankless unit turns off and stops heating, which prevents inactive energy loss.

Five Ways Tankless Water Heaters Benefit Your Home

Many the U.S. residents have already converted to tankless water heaters to enjoy these amazing perks:

1. Tankless water heaters supply bountiful hot water: Picture your family happily taking several back-to-back showers without water running cold for the last person in line. That’s the benefit that comes with a tankless unit, which provides virtually endless hot water as it flows rather than taking 30 to 60 minutes to warm up a tank of water.

2. Going tankless is an energy efficient solution: Tankless water heaters are up to 34% more energy efficient than tank water heaters. The less hot water you use, the more electricity or gas and money you save. That’s because you only pay to heat the water you need, instead of paying for a tank-style unit to always heat a big tank of hot water in the off chance you might request it.

3. You typically get more years of service from a tankless water heater: If you plan on staying in your home for many years, a tankless water heater is a smart investment. These units last more than 20 years, which is almost two times as long as traditional tank heaters—which only have an estimated lifespan of 10 to 15 years.

4. Tankless units are compact: You may be used to the big, cylindrical tank used by your tank-style water heater. However, it doesn’t need to be this way. Many tankless systems are about the size of a carry-on suitcase attached to the wall. This means you can mount them in tight spaces such as utility closets or small utility rooms.

5. There’s a lower risk risk of water damage with a tankless system: Since tankless water heaters don’t have a tank, there’s no risk of a leaky tank damaging your home.

Is a Tankless Water Heater Right for You?

Tankless water heaters are an efficient type of HVAC equipment, but they aren’t perfect for every home. Evaluate these factors before taking the plunge into installing a tankless water heater in your residence:

• Tankless units have a higher initial cost: Tankless systems usually have a larger upfront investment compared to the old tank-style water heaters. But, tax credits and rebates for energy-efficient home HVAC technology are often available to reduce the cost.

• The power of tankless units varies by design: Tankless units are available in both electric and gas models. Gas units have a higher flow rate but must have venting to safely discharge exhaust gases from your home. If you don’t already have a vent, installing one in your home will add to the installation cost. Electric models are more straightforward to install but are less powerful. They also can’t be purchased with help from those cost-saving HVAC tax credits.

• Tankless models must cope with very cold weather: Tankless systems heat water as it flows through the appliance, which requires a significant temperature boost. The colder the incoming water, the more powerful the heater must be and the more energy the tankless system will need to heat the water to the desired temperature. For instance, if the groundwater temperature is 40°F during the dead of winter in a far northern state, and you want 110-degree water to flow from the tap, your system must handle a 70-degree rise. Although this is possible, it’s near the upper limit of what most gas-fired tankless water heaters can handle.

• Flow rate can be limited if too many appliances are used at once: Since tankless heaters don’t retain heated water, they can only provide a specific amount of hot water at a time. The system’s flow rate indicates how much hot water you can consume simultaneously, which is an important consideration if you have a house full of people with someone always wanting a shower while the dishwasher and washing machine are running! An easy way to prevent a lack of hot water is to set up multiple point-of-use models in high-demand faucets. On the other hand, this boosts upfront and operating costs.

• Tankless water heaters create something known as the cold water sandwich: Tankless water heaters are known for producing a “cold water sandwich,” the short burst of cold water made when the appliance starts and stops. It also occurs if you only run a trickle of hot water that isn’t sufficient to keep the tankless unit running. Although this is only a minor annoyance, it’s better to know about it ahead of time.

Ask the Service Experts Heating, Air Conditioning & Plumbing Team About Tankless Water Heaters in the U.S.

Your local experts at Service Experts Heating, Air Conditioning & Plumbing are here to help you find the right water heating solution, whether that’s a tankless water heater or a traditional storage tank model. Thanks to our 100% satisfaction guarantee, you will have peace of mind knowing that our pros will have your unit set up and operating perfectly. Ready to upgrade? Have more questions? We’re happy to assist! Just call 866-397-3787 today to contact the team at Service Experts Heating, Air Conditioning & Plumbing!