Tankless Water Heater: Is One Right for Your Home?
A tankless water heater, often called an on-demand water heater, is a space-saving unit that heats water only when you require it. Rather than storing hot water in a large tank, the unit heats water instantaneously to the right temperature and delivers it directly to your faucet. This advanced water heating method provides many benefits, but make sure it’s feasible for your home before switching to a tankless system.
How Do Tankless Water Heaters Work?
The moment 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 quickly warms the water as it passes through. As soon as you turn off the tap, the system shuts down and stops heating, which eliminates standby energy loss.
Advantages of Tankless Water Heaters
More homeowners in Columbia are choosing tankless water heaters to benefit from these excellent perks:
Endless hot water: Envision your family taking multiple back-to-back showers without the last person in line getting stuck with not enough hot water. That’s the best part of a tankless unit, which delivers virtually unlimited hot water as it flows rather than requiring 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 energy you conserve. After all, you only pay for the hot water you actually need, not the standby energy loss from heating a huge tank of water 24/7.
- Long lifespan: If you intend to stay in your home for an extended term, a tankless water heater is a smart investment. These units last 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 used to your large, cylindrical water heater tank, but water heaters don’t have to look this way. Most tankless systems are about the size of a carry-on suitcase fixed to the wall. This saves space because you can install tankless water heaters in tight spaces like closets or small utility rooms.
- Lower risk of water damage: Because tankless water heaters don’t have a tank, there’s no danger of a burst 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 eco-friendly appliances help decrease these costs.
- Fuel sources and venting requirements: Tankless water heaters are available in electric and gas models. Gas units have a higher flow rate but require venting to safely safely remove exhaust gases. If you don’t already have a vent, adding one will add to the installation cost. Electric models are easier 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 raise the temperature of water as it flows through, which is a significant temperature boost. The lower the incoming water, the more robust 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 accommodate a 70-degree rise. While possible, this is the peak capability of most gas-fired tankless water heaters.
- Limited flow rate: Since tankless heaters don’t retain water, they can only supply a certain amount of hot water at one time. The unit’s flow rate indicates how much hot water you can use simultaneously, a critical consideration if you have a houseful of people trying to shower while the dishwasher and washing machine are running! One solution to mitigate a drop in hot water is to set up multiple point-of-use models in high-demand locations. But, this raises installation and operating costs.
- The cold-water sandwich: Tankless water heaters produce a “cold-water sandwich,” a short blast of cold water when the unit turns off and on again. It also takes place if you only run a small amount of hot water, that isn’t enough to keep the tankless unit running. While it’s a minor annoyance, it’s worth understanding before making the switch.
