The Ins and Outs of Tankless Water Heaters
Tankless water heaters continue to grow in popularity as more and more people learn about the benefits and efficiency they bring to homeowners. With several rebates available from manufacturers and government agencies, there has never been a better time to make the switch to tankless! Read on to learn the ins and outs of tankless water heaters.
How it works
To understand how tankless water heaters operate, it helps to first understand how traditional tank water heaters work. Tank water heaters are constantly heating the water stored in the tank so that hot water is ready whenever it’s needed. Even if hot water isn’t needed at the moment, a tank water heater is consuming energy to keep the water hot for when it is.
Unlike tank water heaters, tankless water heaters are only running when needed. Otherwise, they remain off until hot water is needed again. For example, when you’re about to get in the shower and you turn on the hot water, this would be when the tankless water heater would begin heating the water.
Once hot water is needed, cold water runs into and through the tankless water heater to be heated. The water running through the system activates the heating burner, which immediately warms the water to the temperature that is being called for. Since you’re only warming the small amount of water needed at the time, the tankless system can make it hot immediately. Once hot, the water continues through the plumbing of the home until it reaches the outlet being used. Once hot water is no longer needed, the tankless water heater shuts off.
Benefits
Cost Saving
Since tankless water heaters are not wasting energy by constantly heating standby water, homeowners can expect to see measurable and significant savings on their energy bill if switching from a tank system. In addition, tankless systems typically last twice as long as traditional storage tanks! These benefits almost always make the overall cost of ownership of a tankless water heater less than other water heating options.
Plus, there are typically various tankless water heater rebates that increase the cost savings!
Lifespan and Reliability
The overall lifespan of a tankless water heater is double that of a tank water heater. Double! Tankless water heaters tend to last up to 20 years versus the traditional water heater that usually only last up to 10 years. The warranties that come with tankless systems are usually twice as long too!
Unlimited Hot Water
With tankless water heaters, it’s virtually impossible to run out of hot water. Compared to the traditional water heaters that hold a limited amount of hot water, tankless water heaters heat the water as it’s needed. This means you won’t “run out” of water after several people have showered or if you run several appliances that draw hot water at once.
Space Saving
Unlike a tank water heater, which can be 60” tall and 320 lbs., tankless water heaters are typically only 30” tall and 50lbs. It is considerably less bulky compared to a tank water heater. Since it is so much smaller, it can be mounted on the wall or in a number of more convenient places.
Safety and Cleanliness
Traditional water heaters can collect rust and scale inside the tank, which could potentially affect the cleanliness of the water. Since there is no water being stored in a tankless system, it doesn’t allow for buildup of the contaminants. Cleaner water is better water!
Environmentally Friendly
Tankless water heaters have an efficiency rating of up to 98 percent! This leaves very little room for wasted natural resources. Tankless water heaters maximize efficiency, cut down on wasted energy, and lower your carbon footprint on the environment.
Want to learn more about tankless water heaters and compare the pros and cons? Click here to check out our tankless water heater infographic!
Ready to make the transition to a tankless water heater? G&B Energy offers a FREE consultation and estimate. Be sure to ask about the current rebates! Click below to get started!
