How to Get the Most From Your Tankless Water Heater?

Answer 1

A tankless water heater offers several benefits over electric or gas tank versions. The number one benefit of a tankless water heater is that it is on-demand hot water. Whenever a hot water faucet tap or an appliance such as a dishwasher or washing machine needs hot water the tankless heater instantly goes into action. It produces an unlimited supply of hot water for the whole house. No more lukewarm showers!

There are still modern homes today that apportion the use of hot water because the family knows that the tank in the basement or utility room is only so big and that the hot water will run cool if everyone needs it at once. Maybe mom will postpone washing the dishes in the dishwasher until dad is done running work clothes through the washing machine. Morning showers for a family of four can quickly use up the hot water leaving the last person in line with a chilling experience indeed.

Many residential hot water tanks are still only 40 gallons. The way they work is that cold water runs into the tank while an electric heating coil in the tank or a gas flame below the tank heats up the water. This is fine as long as demand does not exceed capacity. Many opt to put in a bigger tank. The downside is the cost of continuously keeping 40, 50, 60 or more gallons of water heated to an appropriate temperature. Also, tank style water heaters create pressure from being heated. If one should overheat and the pressure relief valve fails, the resulting explosion will literally send the water heater through the roof from the basement. It has happened!

A tankless water heater only goes into action while hot water is being demanded from faucets or appliances and stops heating water when the taps aren’t flowing or the appliances are not running. The tankless water heater will heat the flowing water on its way to the tap or appliance as it passes over an internal heat exchanger of the appliance. There is no tank needed to store heated water because the appliance can continually heat water as it actually flows through the heater. They do come with a higher initial cost but operational savings can greatly offset the cost. Plus be on the lookout for tax benefits. Having an endless supply of hot water on-demand definitely appeals to most customers.