Archive for November, 2009

With rising fuel costs, there is a new type of hot water heater that can give you savings on your utility bills and help the environment at the same time. Tankless Water Heaters, also called Instantaneous, or continuous flow, or inline, or on-demand, provide hot water only as it is needed. They offer a modern and more energy efficient alternative to traditional storage tank hot water systems.

The disadvantage of storing your hot water supply in a tank is that there is standby heat losses associated with storage of keeping the hot water ready for you to use. In contrast, with a tankless hot water heater, the water is heated on demand, so you only use energy to heat up what you need. These devices heat the water as it flows through the device, and do not hold a reserve of hot water like traditional water heaters. The only water that remains in a Tankless Water Heater at all times is the water that fills up the heat exchanger coils.

When you open a hot water tap, cold water enters the heater and triggers the powerful heating elements or burners. Your hot water tap acts as an ignition key for the energy used to heat the hot water you need. The water is heated as it flows through the heating elements or heat exchanger. As the water flow varies, the unit adjusts the heating elements or burner flame to maintain a constant temperature and maximum energy efficiency. When the faucet is turned off, the burners inside the tankless water heater automatically turn off and the system sets itself to a stand-by mode.

There are two different types of instant water heaters, gas and electric.

Gas tankless water heaters tend to have larger capacities than electric ones, and as such the initial costs can be higher. Some gas-fired units can provide up to 5 gallons of hot water a minute, which is sufficient for running two showers at the same time. A gas unit may cost more initially, but could save anything from 20% to 40% annually on your cost of heating water.

An electric tankless water heater might be able to heat 3 gallons per minute. Though they are less expensive initially, electric tankless water heaters can only decrease the cost of heating hot water by around 10% or even 20%.

Other advantages of on demand water heaters is that the units are generally small and compact, saving loads of space compared to a big storage tank. They can be mounted onto an inside wall, in a closet or under a sink. Some models are even suitable for attaching to an outdoor wall if this is more convenient. Tankless water heaters generally also have a longer lifespan than tanks, as they are not prone to corrosion, so buying one can be a great investment for many years to come.

Tankless Water Heaters deliver a virtually endless supply of hot water. So despite the initial installation costs of a tankless water heater, the savings the average household can see are significant. And with the cost of energy set to continue to rise in the future, it makes sense to economize and to improve the energy-efficiency of our homes.