Living luxuriously means you enjoy many modern comforts. A soothingly hot shower is no exception! When you step into the shower at your home, you expect instantaneous hot water. Most of us do not think about how our water is heated. We simply anticipate hot water flowing through any of our household taps and appliances when we need it. Yet, most homeowners do think about ways to make their homes energy efficient.
Let's think about water heaters for a moment. Is your home equipped with the most efficient water heater? Does your water heater affordably meet the needs of your household's hot water usage? A tankless water heater is an eco friendly, financially conscientious solution to providing your home's constant supply of hot water. Throughout an entire community, installing tankless water heaters in homes proves to be a valuable upgrade.
What Are Tankless Water Heaters?
Tankless water heaters have become more prevalent in the past decade. As the name implies, tankless water heaters heat water directly without the use of a storage tank. Turning on the tap initiates the circulation of cold water through your home's plumbing. While in transit, cold water flows through a tankless water heater. Cold water is instantly heated as it passes by a gas burner or electric element inside the tankless heater. At the tap, you receive hot water on demand.
What are the Benefits?
Energy Efficient
The energy used to heat water is the second largest expense for most homes, accounting for 14% to 16% of homeowner utility bills. Considering homes that use 41-gallons of hot water daily, tankless water heaters can be 24% to 34% more energy efficient than storage tank heaters. Providing on demand hot water avoids standby heat losses typically incurred by storage tank heaters. Each homeowner in your community could reduce the cost of his or her utility bills by installing a tankless water heater.
Versatile Installation Options
Tankless water heaters are compact, easy to install in discreet locations throughout any home. Tankless water heaters can be incorporated into pre-existing gas or electric utility systems. It is important to consider the heater's flow rate when determining the best installation location. Proper installation can optimize the heater's energy efficiency.
Tankless water heaters typically generate hot water at a flow rate of 2 to 5 gallons per minute. Gas heaters tend to produce higher flow rates than electric heaters. Depending on your home's hot water usage, one tankless water heater could achieve the task. However, drawing hot water simultaneously from multiple appliances can push the limits of the heater. Tankless water heaters can be installed separately in proximity to appliances that demand the most hot water. Alternatively, multiple tankless water heaters can be connected in parallel at one installation location. There is a versatile installation option for every home.
Low Total Cost of Ownership
Do not be deterred by sticker shock, as the initial cost of a tankless water heater is higher than that of a storage tank heater. Over time, the total cost of ownership is less than that of a storage tank water heater. Due to high energy efficiency, the cost to run a tankless water heater is up to 30% less than that of a storage tank water heater. Tankless water heaters have a life expectancy of 20 years, versus 10 to 15 years for a storage tank water heater. Less maintenance required and easily accessible replacement parts often extend the longevity of tankless water heaters. With the use of a tankless water heater you will experience consistently hot water for as long as you own your home.
What are the Disadvantages?
When selecting a gas fired tankless water heater, it is important to determine how the pilot light operations to gain ultimate energy efficiency. Pilot light operation will vary by model. Standing pilot lights are continuously lit and will waste energy. Pilot lights equipped with an intermittent ignition device will light on command, therefore reducing energy consumption when the heater is not in use.
As you can see, with the benefits of tankless water heaters far outweighing the disadvantages. When homeowners upgrade to tankless water heaters, your community benefits from reduced consumption of energy while homeowners enjoy the luxury of on demand hot water.
