Tankless Water Heaters, Save Energy & Water

Demand (Tankless or Instantaneous) Water Heaters Financial Benefits * Did you know that a tankless water heater can save you $400 to $700 over its lifetime? A tankless gas water heater saves an average of $400 over thirteen years as compared to a conventional gas storage heater, and an electric tankless water heater saves about $700 over thirteen years as compared to a conventional electric storage heater. * Did you know that you can rely on your tankless water heater for more than 20 years? While most conventional water heaters only last 10 to 15 years, most tankless water heaters will last more than 20 years, and their easily replaceable parts make repairs simple and durable. Environmental Benefits * Did you know that a tankless water heater could save your home up to 86 gallons of water per day? Homes that use a lot of hot water can increase energy efficiency by 8% to 14%, saving about 86 gallons of water per day. Homes with typical hot water usage, 41 gallons or less each day, can increase energy efficiency by 24% to 34% by installing a tankless water heater. Installing a tankless heater at every hot water outlet can result in energy savings of 27% to 50%! Note Added by Scotty, Scott's Contracting: Tankless water heaters need 2/3 less space- can be mounted in, Bath/Kitchen, Cabinets. email:scottscontracting@gmail.com for additional info. Installation Quotes free of charge Demand (tankless or instantaneous) water heaters provide hot water only as it is needed. They don't produce the standby energy losses associated with storage water heaters, which can save you money. Here you'll find basic information about how they work, whether a demand water heater might be right for your home, and what criteria to use when selecting the right model. Illustration of an electric demand water heater. At the top of the image, the heating unit is shown. Cold water flows in one end of a pipe, flows through and around several curved pipes over the heating elements, and out the other end as hot water. Beneath the heating unit, a typical sink setup is shown. The sink has two pipes coming out the bottom, one for the hot water line and one for the cold water line. Both pipes lead to the heating unit, which is installed in close proximity to the area of hot water use, and is connected to a power source (110 or 220 volts). How They Work Demand water heaters heat water directly without the use of a storage tank. Therefore, they avoid the standby heat losses associated with storage water heaters. When a hot water tap is turned on, cold water travels through a pipe into the unit. Either a gas burner or an electric element heats the water. As a result, demand water heaters deliver a constant supply of hot water. You don't need to wait for a storage tank to fill up with enough hot water. However, a demand water heater's output limits the flow rate. Typically, demand water heaters provide hot water at a rate of 2–5 gallons (7.6–15.2 liters) per minute. Gas-fired demand water heaters produce higher flow rates than electric ones. Sometimes, however, even the largest, gas-fired model cannot supply enough hot water for simultaneous, multiple uses in large households. For example, taking a shower and running the dishwasher at the same time can stretch a demand water heater to its limit. To overcome this problem, you can install two or more demand water heaters, connected in parallel for simultaneous demands of hot water. You can also install separate demand water heaters for appliances—such as a clothes washer or dishwater—that use a lot of hot water in your home. Other applications for demand water heaters include the following: * Remote bathrooms or hot tubs * Booster for appliances, such as dishwashers or clothes washers * Booster for a solar water heating system. Although gas-fired demand water heaters tend to have higher flow rates than electric ones, they can waste energy if they have a constantly burning pilot light. This can sometimes offset the elimination of standby energy losses when compared to a storage water heater. In a gas-fired storage water heater, the pilot light heats the water in the tank so the energy isn't wasted. The cost of operating a pilot light in a demand water heater varies from model to model. Ask the manufacturer how much gas the pilot light uses for the model you're considering. If you purchase a model that uses a standing pilot light, you can always turn it off when it's not in use to save energy. Also consider models that have an intermittent ignition device (IID) instead of a standing pilot light. This device resembles the spark ignition device on some gas kitchen ranges and ovens. For homes that use 41 gallons or less of hot water daily, demand water heaters can be 24%–34% more energy efficient than conventional storage tank water heaters. They can be 8%–14% more energy efficient for homes that use a lot of hot water—around 86 gallons per day. You can achieve even greater energy savings of 27%–50% if you install a demand water heater at each hot water outlet. Selecting a Demand Water Heater Demand water heaters cost more than conventional storage water heaters. However, you may find that a demand water heater may have lower operating and energy costs, which could offset its higher purchase price. Before buying a demand water heater, you also need to consider the following: * Size * Fuel type and availability. * Energy efficiency (energy factor) * Estimate costs. For information about specific demand water heater models, see the Product Information resources listed on the right side of this page (or below if you've printed out this page). Installation and Maintenance Proper installation and maintenance of your demand water heater can optimize its energy efficiency. Proper installation depends on many factors. These factors include fuel type, climate, local building code requirements, and safety issues, especially concerning the combustion of gas-fired water heaters. Therefore, it's best to have a qualified plumbing and heating contractor install your demand water heater. Do the following when selecting a contractor: * Request cost estimates in writing * Ask for references * Check the company with your local Better Business Bureau * See if the company will obtain a local permit if necessary and understands local building codes, etc. If you're determined to install your water heater yourself, first consult the manufacturer. Manufacturers usually have the necessary installation and instruction manuals. Also, contact your city or town for information about obtaining a permit, if necessary, and about local water heater installation codes. Most tankless water heaters have a life expectancy of more than 20 years. They also have easily replaceable parts that extend their life by many more years. In contrast, storage water heaters last 10–15 years. Periodic water heater maintenance can significantly extend your water heater's life and minimize loss of efficiency. Read your owner's manual for specific maintenance recommendations.