Tankless Water Heaters: An Easy Guide for Homeowners
Nobody wants to run out of hot water. Unfortunately, because traditional storage water heaters rely on storage tanks, a limited amount of hot water is available, leading to the last person in line for the shower getting stuck with cold water. However, installing a tankless water heater provides an energy-efficient water heating method that delivers a steady supply of hot water that doesn’t run out. This post will discuss more about tankless water heaters and their advantages.
Traditional vs. Tankless: What’s the Difference?
A tankless water heater does not use a large hot water tank like a traditional storage water heater and instead only heats water on demand. Tankless water heaters are often called demand-type water heaters because they only use energy to heat water when hot water is needed instead of having to keep the water in a large tank hot.
Like storage water heaters, tankless water heaters can be fueled by either gas or electricity. Although the upfront cost may be less, traditional storage water heaters typically cost more to run long-term. For homeowners with limited space, storage tank water heaters may not work since they require more room because of the large hot water tank.
How Does a Tankless Water Heater Work?
A tankless water heater heats water on demand, as needed, rather than storing it in a tank. This means that households will always have hot water. Tankless water heaters are also more energy-efficient than traditional tank water heaters because they only heat the water that people use.
Here is how a tankless water heater works:
- A faucet or shower is turned on to hot water, detected by a flow sensor.
- The flow sensor turns on the tankless water heater.
- Cold water enters the tankless water heater and passes through a heating element.
- The heating element heats the water to the desired temperature.
- The hot water is then delivered to the faucet or shower.
- The faucet or shower is turned off, and the flow sensor detects it, which turns off the tankless water heater.
Tankless Water Heater Benefits
Tankless water heaters have many advantages, including saving homeowners money. Since it only uses energy when hot water is needed, instead of storage water heaters that turn on periodically to keep the water in the tank hot, it is energy efficient and can save on energy bills.
The U.S. Department of Energy notes that the average tankless water heater is 24% to 34% more energy efficient than traditional storage water heaters for households using less than 41 gallons of hot water a day. Even if homeowners use much more hot water daily, such as 86 gallons, tankless heaters are still approximately 8% to 14% more efficient. For homeowners, this can save money throughout the whole year.
Traditional storage water heaters also need a significant amount of space. Tankless water heaters are smaller and can be installed on the wall to save even more floor space. This is especially beneficial for those who live in tiny homes or houses without a garage or basement. There is also the benefit of an unlimited hot water supply with a demand-type water heater. So, no more cold showers.
About VanDerBosch Plumbing Inc.
VanDerBosch Plumbing Inc. has over 30 years of experience serving residents throughout Chicagoland. They offer same-day service, after-hours service, and no service charges. Call them today for tankless water heater services in Chicago, IL.
