Hot water fresh from the faucet is something we take for granted but are you wasting energy and your budget by using an old, outdated water heater? A tankless water heater might supply your household's needs more economically and efficiently than a storage model. Tankless water heaters are also called demand water heaters because they supply hot water as you need it.
Tankless Vs Storage
Tankless water heaters work differently than storage water heaters, and that means benefits to homeowners. Storage heaters maintain a tank of water at a constant temperature, but tankless heaters heat water directly as you use it. Unlike storage models, tankless heaters don't allow hot water to sit around losing heat as it's waiting to be used. The resulting reduction in energy use is as much as 10 to 15%. What's more, because the hot water isn't stored, there's no large hot water tank taking up space in your home.
Cost
Tankless water heaters are usually more expensive than storage heaters, but over the long term, you can save money. As well as saving on energy bills, tankless heaters last up to 20 years, which is 5 to 10 years longer than storage models.
Electric or Gas?
If your home has an electric and natural gas supply, it's worth taking the time to choose the right type of tankless heater for your needs. Though tankless heaters use less energy than storage water heaters in total, their energy use while they're running is higher. Check that your gas or electric supply is up to supplying a tankless heater's energy requirements before you make your choice.
Before You Decide
A tankless water heater could be the right choice for your family, but there are some factors to bear in mind. Homes that use 41 gallons or less hot water per day benefit most from tankless water heaters and savings decrease at higher water use rates.
A tankless heater might not start up at a low flow rate, such as for hand washing. In addition, a demand heater's maximum flow rate might not be high enough to meet the needs of a large household. Running a shower and dishwasher or washing machine at the same time might be asking too much of some tankless water heaters. If your family is large, consider purchasing a gas tankless heaters. Gas water heaters are better than electric heaters for supplying a high flow rate of hot water. To avoid paying to maintain a constant pilot light on a gas heater, you can opt for a model with an Intermittent Ignition Device (IID).
For most homes, the benefits of tankless water heaters are clear. You can have an on-demand, endless supply of hot water while paying lower energy bills. For professional advice on what's the best water heater for your family, contact an advisor at Ragsdale. We serve the Atlanta metro area.
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