Schematic of a Tankless Water Heater
Regardless of weather, people desire hot water. A nice hot shower relieves an individual of all stress and worries accumulated throughout the day. It is relaxing and provides an opportunity to ponder about life. Tankless water heaters are a great technological innovation. They produce hot water, as it is demanded; this method saves consumers money and energy.
The principles behind tankless water heaters are simple: When hot water is demanded, cold water is released from the house’s water supply, rushes through the pipes, and enters a metal unit. Here, either a gas burner or an electric element heats the water extremely quickly. After this point, the water leaves the heater and is delivered to the desired location.
There are several advantages to switching to a tankless water heater. The major benefit of using a tankless heater is saving energy and money. As mentioned before, tankless water heaters warm water as it is demanded. However, other water heaters keep water heated constantly and release it when it is required. Traditional heaters are always wasting energy; they have to keep the water heated at all times. On the other hand, tankless water heaters only use energy when it is necessary. Although tankless water heaters cost more money upfront, they save the consumer money in the long run. The potential return of investment through its lifespan, 22 years, is over $4,000 and they save you 50% annually on your energy bill (3). Tankless water heaters present consumers with an opportunity to nearly quadruple their initial investment. Furthermore, tankless water heaters have a much greater lifespan than traditional ones. A traditional water heater only lasts for about 10 to 13 years, while a tankless water heater lasts up to about 20 years (2). Consequently, you do not have to replace tankless heaters as often as traditional ones, another way tankless water heaters save money. Also, tankless water heaters are much smaller and use less space compared to traditional water heaters. Homeowners no longer need to worry about if the unit will fit; tankless heaters can be stored just about anywhere.
Tankless water heaters sound flawless, except, we all know nothing is flawless. A major fault in the tankless water heater is its limited production. A typical water heater can store from 40 to 60 gallons of water, while a tankless water heater can only store a few (2). This can be a major inconvenience. Though you won’t run out of hot water, as sometimes happens with traditional water heaters, you also can’t use multiple hot water appliances at once. A tankless water heater prevents an entire family from enjoying the luxury of hot water all at once, so you can’t shower while the washing machine is on. Family members would have to alternate use of hot water. Furthermore, compared to traditional water heaters, tankless water heaters take longer to warm the water. The water takes a few extra minutes to heat up, but that’s only a slight inconvenience. There are definitely some limitations that come with tankless water heaters. However, given the amount of money and energy saved, it is safe to say that they are definitely worth it.
Author: Hamza Shahid
Sources:Tags
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