Should I Consider A Tankless Water Heater?

 

Tankless heaters have positives and negatives, just like many products.  They can supply a virtually endless supply of hot water, and can result in some energy savings.  However, they are limited in the amount of hot water that can flow through at one time and they are currently more expensive to purchase than a conventional storage type water heater – currently, approximately twice as much as conventional water heaters.  They also make it take slightly longer for you to get your hot water, since they don't start heating the water until you turn on the faucet and tankless water heaters can also cause an increase in water use (waste) since you may have to let the water run longer to get hot water.

The benefit though, is the ability to produce virtually unlimited amounts of hot water for you to use.  Thus, convenience can be sited as the main benefit to the installation and use of a tankless system.  Keep in mind, they do rely on either gas or electricity to produce the heat, so a house is limited in that regard.

A conventional tank-type water heater raises and maintains the water temperature to the temperature setting on the tank (usually between 120° -140° F . Even if no hot water is drawn from the tank (and cold water enters the tank), the heater will consume energy (gas or electricity) periodically to maintain the water temperature.  This is known as stand-by heat loss.  This is due to the heat conducted and radiated from the walls of the tank—and in gas-fired water heaters—through the flue pipe. It’s no different than a cup of coffee cooling to room temperature after being steaming hot.  And, since water heating accounts for between 10 and 20 percent of the average U.S. household energy budget, this can be a significant loss.  However, be skeptical of claims of large energy savings or reductions with the installation of a tankless systems – your savings may vary.

Tankless water heaters are rated by the maximum flow rate at which a desired temperature rise is met. Special features may allow the user to set the delivery temperature. Efficiency is higher than an equivalent tank type water heater because standby losses are virtually eliminated. Electric tankless water heaters require a relatively high electric power draw because water must be heated quickly to the desired temperature and may necessitate electrical service improvement. Residential gas models are available that can heat more than five gallons per minute, generally more than enough for two showers to be run simultaneously. Whole house electric units typically have a capacity closer to three gallons per minute.

Another consideration should be the competency of the installation or service company for repairs.  Tankless technology while not new, is new to the United States.  Up until fairly recently, tankless technology was common in Europe and Asia, but less so in the U.S.  In addition to the well trained licensed plumbers Fox Service Company has on staff, Fox has invested in training and education in tankless systems and can be counted upon to service and install most all brands of tankless heaters.