What Is a Tankless Water Heater?
A tankless water heater, often called an on-demand water heater, is a compact system that heats water only when you need it. Instead of storing hot water in a large tank, the unit warms water to the optimal warmth and delivers it directly to your faucet. This innovative water heating method delivers 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 detects 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. Once you turn off the tap, the system shuts down and quits heating, which avoids standby energy loss.
Perks of Tankless Water Heaters
More homeowners in Dallas & Fort Worth are switching to tankless water heaters to experience these fantastic perks:
Endless hot water: Picture your family taking several back-to-back showers without the last person in line getting stuck with not enough hot water. That’s the advantage of a tankless unit, which supplies virtually unlimited hot water as it flows rather than needing 30 to 60 minutes to replenish a tank of water.
- Energy efficiency: Tankless water heaters are up to 34% more energy efficient than tank models. The less hot water you use, the more energy you conserve. After all, you only pay to heat the hot water you actually need, not the standby energy loss from heating a huge tank of water 24/7.
- Long lifespan: If you plan on staying in your home for an extended term, a tankless water heater is a wise investment. These units serve homes more than 20 years, almost double the lifespan of traditional tank heaters—which have an estimated lifespan of 10 to 15 years.
- Compact design: You may be used to your large, cylindrical water heater tank, but it doesn’t have to be this way. Most tankless systems are about as big as a carry-on suitcase fixed to the wall. This means you can install tankless water heaters in tight spaces like closets or small utility rooms.
- Lower risk of water damage: Since tankless water heaters don’t have a tank, there’s no danger of a burst unit damaging your home.
Is Installing a a Tankless Water Heater the Ideal Solution for Your Home?
Tankless water heaters are efficient, cost-effective technology, but they might not be perfect for every home. Think about these factors before upgrading:
- Higher initial costs: Tankless systems have a higher upfront cost than traditional models. But, HVAC tax credits and rebates for energy-efficient appliances help decrease these costs.
- Fuel sources and venting requirements: Tankless water heaters are offered in electric and gas models. Gas units have a higher performance capacity but must have venting to safely safely remove exhaust gases. If you don’t already have a vent, installing one will increase the installation cost. Electric models are less complicated to install but are constrained by their less powerful performance. They also can’t receive energy-efficiency tax credits.
- Temperature rise requirements: Tankless systems raise the temperature of water as it flows through, which requires a significant temperature boost. The lower the incoming water, the more robust the heater must be and the more energy it will consume. 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 upper limit of most gas-fired tankless water heaters.
- Limited flow rate: Since tankless heaters don’t retain water, they can only supply a limited amount of hot water at one time. The unit’s flow rate tells you how much hot water you can use simultaneously, an important consideration if you have a houseful of people trying to shower while the dishwasher and washing machine are also being used! One option to prevent a drop in hot water is to install multiple point-of-use models in high-demand locations. However, this increases setup and operating costs.
- The cold-water sandwich: Tankless water heaters generate a “cold-water sandwich,” a short surge of cold water when the unit switches off and on again. It also happens 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 being aware of before making the switch.
