Think of a tankless water heater as an on-demand hot water supplier. The water is heated by either gas or electricity, and the water supply is constant. Tankless heaters are big energy savers, saving up to 50 percent of fuel costs. The possibility of leaks is very low with these types of heaters compared to traditional water heaters.
Tankless water heaters deliver a wide variety to choose from. Consider getting a tankless water heater that suits your household needs. With daily technological improvements, most tankless water heaters are bound to become more efficient and easier to maintain.
A tankless water heater can be of one of these three types: condensing, non-condensing, and hybrid. Condensing water heaters have more than one heat exchanger, allowing them to use the exhaust from the previous heat exchanger to heat the cold water again. This feature makes it more efficient than the non-condensing types. Non-condensing types have only one heating element. This means they need a vent installed for the hot exhaust to be released outside the building. The cost implication that comes with this type is high.
Hybrid heaters are so-called because of their low energy consumption and smaller tanks. These heaters need a lot of open air outside the tank for optimum function. They work by taking heat from the air into the tanks. These types of heaters are more efficient than the other two however, the cost of purchase is higher.
Though different tankless water heaters work in varied ways, there is a general principle of how they function. Inside a tankless water heater box, are hot water pipes. Said pipes flow through heating elements so that when someone in the house turns on the hot water faucet, the incoming cold water flows through as it is heated. Tankless water heaters can be either gas-powered or electric-powered. Their consistency in function is refreshing. However, with tankless water heaters, it is important to know the flow rate to avoid missing out on hot water.
The flow rate determines the quantity of hot water produced by a tankless water heater at a given period of time. The flow rate is measured in Gallons Per Minute (GPM), which measures the gallons of water that come out of a faucet per minute. The fuel type determines the flow rate. A gas tankless water heater can have a GPM of up to 11, while the electric model can have GPMs of up to 7.
Have you been thinking of going tankless? Would you like to have your water hot and uninterrupted as you save energy? Here are some pros and cons of these on-demand heaters to help you decide.
Tankless water heaters are both space-saving and money-saving. Switching from a tank water heater system will save you lots of space. A storage tank takes up much space and not every home can facilitate that. Additionally, storage tank water heaters are prone to leaks and frequent damage. This could cause you to spend tons of money on repair work of the heater and possibly water damage repair for your home. Tankless units are long-lasting which means you save on the cost and hustle that comes with frequent replacement.
Having on-demand water heaters means you will have an unlimited hot water supply every time you turn on the hot water tap. To make all this better, your energy efficiency will be higher. Tankless water heaters provide energy efficiency of up to 30%. Energy saving means you are also saving financially by cutting down on utility bill costs.
The two main cons to having a tankless heater are initial costs and a possible power outage. Any tankless unit even the gas-powered one relies on electricity for it to work. If you live in areas prone to outages, you might be in for an inconvenience. Installing a tankless unit has a high initial cost. If you are in a household with more people, you might need more than one unit to meet your household needs.
Tankless water heaters perform better in areas with soft water. If you are in an area with hard water, you might need to talk to us for solutions before installation. GPM varies on tankless units. GPM determines the flow rate and how much hot water can be produced per minute. If you have a large household, or if most of your household appliances like dishwashers, and washing machines require hot water use, you might need more than one tankless unit.
Going tankless? Which tankless hot water heater should you go for? Determining whether you’ll need a tankless gas water heater or an electric tankless water heater should be your first thought. You should take into consideration the type of heater you would like. Think whether you will go for the electric tankless water heaters, or you want natural gas heaters. some of which, are heated by a gas burner.
Another thing to take into consideration is the temperature rise (the required hot water temperature minus the temperature of groundwater coming in, which gives the temperature rise). The required flow rates for the faucets in the house should also be considered. Taking these details into account means you are able to get a heater that has the right GPM for your household. It is also important to note that the installation cost of the tankless water heater is higher than that of a normal storage water heater, but the upside is they are not costly to maintain and they take up less space compared to storage water heaters.
So, how much is a tankless water heater worth? The cost varies depending on size. It is important to consult with a professional to know what size tankless water heater you need. If you are not sold on the idea of a tankless water heater, you might want to consider a hybrid water heater. These types of heaters are thermostat-activated and heat water from warm to hot. They have the properties of both tanked and tankless heaters. Tankless heaters heat completely cold water to hot water.
When it comes to water flow, gas-fired burner water heaters have higher flow rates than electric models. If you want more heated water in your household, a gas heater will produce hot water better than an electric heater.
When getting ready to switch from tank to tankless heaters, get ready for the initial high cost followed by a constant supply of instant hot water. The benefits of tankless heaters greatly outweigh the disadvantages. The lack of tanks in these units means you will have no standby heat loss as tankless water heaters do not produce standby energy losses. If you have little space in your home, no need to worry about storage tanks with these heaters
Ready to enjoy continuous supply without worrying whether you’ll get hot and cold water?
At JBK Plumbers, we specialize in tankless water heater repair and installation. So you can simply contact us for your tankless water heater repair and installation needs. Call JBK plumbers at 801-874-7976 to schedule your appointment and get options, recommendations, and a free quote on your preferred tankless heater.