Instantaneous, continuous flow, inline, flash, on-demand, or instant-on. These are names used to describe a tankless water heater. If your home is outfitted with one or you’re considering a tankless water heater, this blog post is for you.
Just as the name implies, a tankless water heater doesn’t retain any water. Instead, when you turn on a hot water tap from anywhere within your residence, cold water travels to the unit from your home’s potable water supply and is then heated by either a gas burner or electric coils. Most tankless water heaters reach their peak temperature and begin heating the water within seconds of the tap being activated. Any delay you experience in receiving hot water can be attributed to the distance between the heater and the tap.
In a world of instant gratification, tankless water heaters are gaining in popularity. They’re a notable compliment for homes using natural gas to heat water, and perfect for users who aren’t routinely calling upon hot water for more than one use at a time – think running a warm shower while also doing a load of laundry.
Installation and Maintenance
Purchasing a tankless water heater is an investment, plus there’s numerous things you’ll need to consider, including fuel type, climate, local building code requirements and safety issues. At Sensible Heating & Cooling, we recommend leaving installation to a qualified heating and cooling professional to protect your equipment and to ensure a proper return on your energy-savings. As for maintenance, if its low hassle you want, you’re in luck. Tankless water heaters call for periodic maintenance to flush limescale from the system and can significantly extend your system’s lifespan and minimize efficiency loss. An exact maintenance schedule depends on usage and the water quality of the area in which you live.
Pros and Cons of a Tankless Water Heater
Pros
· Tankless water heaters allow for plentiful, continuous flow of hot water.
· If your household’s hot water use is low to average, tankless water heaters can be 24-34 percent more energy efficient than their conventional storage counterparts; 8-14 percent more energy efficient for homes with high hot water demands.
· ENERGY STAR® estimates a typical family can save $100 or more per year with an ENERGY STAR qualified tankless water heater.
· The lifespan of a tankless water heater is 20 years, compared to storage water heaters which last 10-15 years.
· Tankless water heater parts are easily replaceable.
Cons
· High initial costs are associated with tankless water heater equipment and installation.
· Depending upon the size of your home and how many people reside there, you may need more than one tankless water heater to adequately heat water from your home’s potable water source.
If a tankless water heater sounds right for your home and you want to replace an existing water heater, or the time has simply come to service your system, call Sensible Heating & Cooling today at 720-876-7166 to schedule free estimate.
