Green Up Your Water Heater
Tankless on Demand Water Heaters
At Heaton Plumbing we believe tankless water heaters are the environmentally friendlier option over conventional water heaters. Below please find an in depth description of how they work.
Tankless on demand water heaters provide hot water only as it is needed. Traditional storage tank-type water heaters store heated water in the tank and raise and maintain the water temperature to the temperature setting on the tank. Even if no hot water is drawn from the tank the heater will operate periodically to maintain the water temperature. Also, when cool water enters the tank to replace used water it too needs to be heated to the desired levels. The energy used in those processes is the so called “standby loss”. Standby loss accounts for up to 20 percent of a home’s annual water heating costs.
Tankless water heaters heat water directly without the use of a storage tank. When a hot water tap is turned on, cold water travels through a pipe into the unit where a sensor turns the heat exchanger or heating coils on. Water flows through the heating coils, where it is heated to the desired temperature. Once the faucet is closed, the sensor automatically shuts down the heating coils.
There are different sizes and types of tankless water heaters available. “Whole house” water heaters ensure a big enough hot water supply for simultaneous, multiple uses in large households. For example, taking a shower and running the clothes washer at the same time.
Here is a short list of other advantages tank less heater provide:
- Tankless water heaters are about 20 to 30 percent more energy efficient on average than the traditional storage-tank models.
- They do not waste water since water is heated almost immediately.
- Also, you will not run out of hot water in the middle of a shower.
- The life span of a tankless water heater is about 20 years, which exceeds their traditional counterparts significantly.
- Tankless water heaters are also great space savers which might allow you to fit in the extra bathroom in your basement.
- In some states purchasing a tankless water heater, may make you eligible for a federal or local rebate.
