Understanding Tankless Water Heaters
Utility bills are a constant concern for homeowners, and water heating can account for around 18% of a home's energy usage. So, one way to reduce water heating costs is to install a new and more energy-efficient water heater, like a tankless water heater. This article will discuss tankless water heaters, how they work, and their benefits.
Tankless Water Heaters Defined
During normal operation, a traditional storage water heater must keep the water in the tank at a particular setpoint regardless of whether or not the water is being used, so hot water is ready when needed. These tanks both store and provide a space for the water to be heated. Despite being wrapped in thick insulation, some of that heat escapes, so the burners or heating elements must kick on periodically to maintain temperature.
Tankless water heaters do away with the need for a bulky tank. Instead, they use highly efficient burners or heating elements to heat water on demand. When demand ceases, the burners or heating elements shut off to save energy. Tankless water heaters can be up to 34% more energy efficient than storage water heaters if homes use 41 gallons of hot water or less daily.
How Do They Work?
A tankless water heater, which is also called a demand-type or instantaneous water heater, only heats water when needed. This is in contrast to a traditional storage tank water heater, which stores hot water in a tank. Tankless water heaters are more efficient than storage water heaters because they only heat the water used. This can save money on energy costs.
Because they are not limited by tank capacity like traditional storage water heaters, tankless water heaters can provide an endless supply of hot water. This is because they continually heat water when needed and do not have a tank that can run out of hot water. So households don’t have to worry about the order residents take showers because there will be enough hot water for everyone.
Benefits of Tankless Water Heaters
Some of the benefits of tankless water heaters are:
- Efficiency: Tankless water heaters are more energy efficient than storage water heaters.
- Lower Energy Bills: A tankless water heater is more expensive to purchase than a storage water heater but saves homeowners money on energy costs due to its efficiency.
- Unlimited Hot Water: Once a storage water heater’s tank has been depleted, people in the home must wait for more hot water. With a tankless water heater, hot water is always available and ready at a moment’s notice.
- Longer Lifespan: Tankless water heaters can last over 20 years, while storage water heaters have a life expectancy of about 10 to 15 years.
- Small Size: Tankless water heaters are much smaller than storage water heaters because they require no large storage tank.
About Vern Kummers Plumbing, Inc.
Vern Kummers Plumbing, Inc. has over 40 years of experience serving Green Bay and the surrounding areas. They offer honest and competitive pricing, on-time arrivals, and fast turnarounds. Call them today for tankless water heater installation or repair services in Green Bay, WI.
