Tankless Water Heater

Due to their energy savings advantages and compact design, tankless water heaters are often mistaken for a brand new technology. This may be partially true, at least for us Americans, as they've gained recent popularity in the states. The truth is that they've actually been around for some 80 years. Utilized in Asia and Europe for some time now.

So, just what is a tankless water heater and what are the advantages? To understand this, we need to take a look at what they're replacing; an archaic inefficient technology-the traditional water heater. Tankless water heaters hold an efficiency advantage when compared to their traditional brethren. This is mostly due to the fact that they only heat water when it's needed. Traditional tank type water heaters are constantly heating water. They do so whether we need it or not. They heat water when we're at work, when we're sleeping, and many other periods when it's not necessary. Not only do they waste energy during these periods, but they also need to maintain that heat until it's needed. This is a very inefficient way of heating and storing energy.

Tankless water heaters use an advanced heating element, which heats water quickly, on demand. They spend no wasted energy storing and re-heating water, providing hot water just when it's needed. They come in a compact designed case, which provides for a small footprint. They can be installed in numerous locations, such as attics, closets, or even outside. They come with no earthquake concerns, like those associated with tank type water heaters. You don't have to worry about rust and scale build-up. Yes, that's the water you shower with. Energy savings in excess of 30 percent are not at all uncommon when compared to traditional tank water heaters.

Before you rush out and buy a tankless water heater there are many important factors to consider. Things like installation and application need to be evaluated. Tankless water heaters come in two primary forms, electric and gas. We'll take a look at those next%u2026

Gas tankless water heaters currently hold a number of advantages when compared to their electric powered counterparts. First, they are cheaper to operate, as the price of gas is currently lower than the cost of electricity. They also have superior flow rates and capacity, making them an excellent choice for whole house applications. Electric units just can't match the BTU output of the gas tankless models.

Gas Tankless water heaters do come with some disadvantages. The biggest being installation. Make sure you're working with a qualified contractor experienced in the installation of these units. This is probably not a good do-it-yourself project, unless you're well versed in construction. Installing a gas tankless water heater typically involves the moving of gas lines and certain combustion/venting requirements. In some cases, utilizing the existing tank water heater location can minimize some labor. Regardless, gas tankless water heaters involve a more complicated installation.

Buying a gas tankless water heater isn't always the simplest choice. You'll need to determine your flow rate requirements. Do you want to take a shower, run a dishwasher, and do some laundry? If want to do these things simultaneously, you'll need a powerful tankless water heater. You can even run a series of tankless water heaters to get more power, if necessary. To avoid stand-by energy losses you'll want to select a model with an intermittent ignition device, or IID. This works much like a gas range igniter, so that you don't have to have a pilot light that runs constantly.

Gas tankless water heaters have their advantages when providing hot water for an entire house. But, electric tankless water heaters certainly have a role to play. We take a look at their uses in the following%u2026

Electric tankless water heaters play a valuable role when utilized for a number of applications. Technological advancements are making them more efficient than ever. It won't be long before they are viable solutions for whole house applications. Currently, they just don't produce enough efficient power to compete with gas units for entire house usage. That's okay, though, as they come with a number of their own advantages.

They are excellent point-of-use heaters. They can be installed in kitchens, bathrooms, or wherever hot water is needed. This comes with a number of advantages. First, hot water doesn't have to travel through a long line of pipe to reach the faucet. So, you get hot water instantly. This is an extremely efficient means of getting hot water, as little hot water is wasted. Certain applications, such as remote usage are very convenient. These can provide a remote shower or laundry with unlimited hot water, without the hassle of running gas lines.

Electric tankless water heaters are much easier to install when compared to gas units. No special gas line, venting or combustion requirements. Worst-case scenario: changes to the electrical panel may be necessary. They are also much less expensive; some of the smaller units are less than $100.

When selecting between gas and electric, it comes down to what's more appropriate for your situation. One isn't necessarily better than the other, just better for your unique situation. Some may even choose both gas and electric, for their specialties.