Tankless Water Heaters
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The general premise behind a tankless water heater is to only heat water "on demand" as it is needed. This eliminates the need for a storage tank and dramatically increases energy efficiency. By heating water only when it's needed, gas tankless water heaters cut water heating expenses by 30%, while also providing continuous hot water delivery. Gas tankless models are a great choice for new construction and major remodeling, but are also becoming popular as a replacement for gas storage water heaters. |
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- Savings and Benefits - Comparison of Conventional to Modern Tankless Water Heaters - How Does It work - Purchasing Tips |
| Savings and Benefits Save energy and money. You don't use hot water 24-hours a day. Yet a standard tank-type water heater consumes energy round the clock to keep the water in its tank hot. By heating water only when you need it, tankless water heaters save the typical family more than $100 per year on gas bills compared to a standard storage model. Larger families can save even more. Continuous hot water. Tankless water heaters provide a continuous flow of hot water, so there's no need to suffer through a cold shower if you're the last one out of bed. Unlike with a conventional tank-type water heater, the hot water is always there when you need it. Space-saving design. A qualified tankless model saves you an extra closet's worth of space compared to a tank-type water heater. Gas tankless water heaters are small and wall-mounted, unlike bulky tank-type water heaters. Models designed for outdoor installation free up even more space and add versatility to your basement, garage, or utility room. Fewer worries. Tankless water heaters have a life expectancy of 20 years, much longer than any conventional tank-type water heater. And with a tankless model, the risk of tank leaks and water damage is a thing of the past. |
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| Problem with Conventional Tank-Type Water Heater |
The Tankless Water Heater Solution |
| Thermal Heat Loss 20-40% of energy consumed by a traditional tank heater is wasted as heat is slowly lost due to radiant heat loss from the storage tank |
Reduce water heating costs as much as 50%! - Tankless water heaters heat entirely on demand only when hot water is needed. Since there is no hot water storage, thermal heat loss is almost completely eliminated. |
| Limited Supply Conventional water heaters frequently run out of hot water after several back-to-back demands and often after only one shower or demand. The user must then wait for a long period of time for the heater to "refresh" |
Tankless heaters never run out of hot water - they can literally run all day long if necessary and they will never stop producing hot water since they heat water instantly on demand. |
Overheating To ensure a traditional heater refreshes at a reasonable rate, most heaters are set at very high temperatures (130F+). This wastes energy and increases risk of scalding, especially for children and the elderly. |
Sophisticated tankless heaters allow you to set the ongoing water temperature to a much more reasonable and safer temperature, closer to the actual temperature you will use the water at, thereby reducing risk of scalding. According to the US. Department of Energy, for each 10°F reduction in water temperature, you can save between 3%-5% in energy costs. |
| Hard Water Minerals Hard water scale forms most readily when water is heated for extended periods. Hard water scale quickly coats the internal components causing a loss of efficiency and shorter life, and often leaks. |
Since hot water is not stored, tankless water heaters generally handle hard water minerals and sediments much better than conventional tanks. This makes them far less likely to leak or rupture, and able to maintain efficiency throughout their whole lifecycle. Accordingly, many have much longer warranties. |
| Short Life / Disposal Conventional water heaters typically last from 6 to 12 years in most residential applications. They are bulky and take up a huge amount of landfill space and are costly to recycle. |
Tankless water heaters can last more than 20 years. |
| Bulky Size Due to their large storage tanks, conventional water heaters are bulky and take up lots of space. |
Tankless water heaters are about the size of a briefcase (electric units) - they save valuable floor space that can be used for storage etc. especially in condos and apartments. |
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How It Works — Whole-Home Gas Tankless Water Heaters Whole-home gas tankless water heaters apply the same principle to heat water as standard gas water heaters, but without a storage tank. They save energy by heating water only when needed, eliminating energy lost during standby operation. When a hot water tap is turned on in the home, cold water is drawn into the water heater. A flow sensor activates the gas burner, which warms the heat exchanger. Incoming cold water encircles the heat exchanger and leaves the heater at its set-point temperature. Combustion gases safely exit through a dedicated, sealed vent system. By heating water only when needed, instead of maintaining a tank full of hot water at all times, tankless water heaters can achieve greater efficiency than standard tank-type water heaters. |
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Purchasing Tips — Whole-Home Gas Tankless Water Heaters
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1. Plan ahead if you can. If you want to replace your current gas water heater don't wait until it fails, as this will leave little time to choose and install a qualified ENERGY STAR tankless model. Because installation may require the upgrade of your existing natural gas line, as well as special venting or electric service, you will need to allow sufficient time to evaluate costs and complete the change out. To make your life easier, try to have a new one installed before it's an emergency. 2. Check product availability. Find out what qualified tankless models are available on the market. 3. Decide what size you need. While the capacity of gas storage water heaters is based on the number of gallons that will fit in the tank, tankless models are rated by how many gallons of hot water they produce per minute (GPM). The more likely you are to have the shower, dishwasher, and clothes washer going at once, the larger the GPM you will need. You will need to consult with an experienced plumber to estimate the hot water demands in your home, but here are some average figures: - Shower and Bathtub — 2.5 GPM - Clothes Washer — 3.3 GPM - Kitchen and Bathroom Sink — 2.2 GPM - Dishwasher — 1.3 GPM 4. Get a quote from a contractor or retailer. You may want to check a manufacturer or retailer's Web site to get a general idea of cost, but you will eventually need an installer to come to your home and give you a customized price. TThe installer should confirm the optimal GPM size for you home, determine whether your existing natural gas line and electrical service is sufficient, and identify how the combustion gases will be vented. When requesting a quote, remember to: - 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 residential building codes. |
