If you’ve ever overtaxed your traditional, tank-style water heater, you know the disappointment that comes with being on the short end of the hot water stick.
If there’s too much demand for hot water—whether you’re the last one to take a shower in the morning or someone turns on the dishwasher while you’re washing your hair—when that tank runs out of hot water, it runs cold.
However, there’s a new, more efficient way to heat water in your home. Tankless water heaters are becoming increasingly popular due to their exceptional efficiency and numerous benefits. Unlike traditional water heaters, which store and continuously heat a large amount of water, tankless water heaters only heat water on demand as it is needed. This eliminates the energy wasted on constantly reheating water that may not be used.
Is a tankless water heater right for your home? Learn more about how tankless water heaters work, the benefits they provide and whether tankless water heater installation is right for you.
What Is a Tankless Water Heater?
A tankless water heater, also known as a demand-type or instantaneous water heater, provides hot water only when it is needed, without storing it in a tank. This is different from the traditional tank-style water heaters, which store water in a large tank and continuously heat the entire tank full of water in case it is needed.
How Does a Tankless Water Heater Work?
Tankless water heaters work by heating the water as it passes through an electric element or gas burner, delivering hot water on-demand.
While traditional tank-style water heaters can take up quite a bit of space because of their large tank, a tankless water heater is much smaller. Oftentimes affixed to a wall, a tankless water heater often looks like a rectangular box with pipes running in and out of it.
When you turn on your hot water faucet or turn on an appliance that uses hot water, a tankless water heater will spring into action and heat water. Once the appliance has enough hot water and you shut the faucet off, it goes into standby mode until you need hot water again.
Different types of models are available. An electric tankless water heater uses electricity to heat the water, whereas a tankless gas water heater uses gas.
What Are the Benefits of a Tankless Water Heater?
Tankless water heaters provide several benefits over tank-style models. Some of the main advantages:
- Energy efficiency: Tankless water heaters are more energy efficient compared to traditional tank-style models. They only heat water as it is needed, eliminating standby heat loss.
- Endless hot water supply: A tankless water heater can provide a continuous flow of hot water as long as there is a demand.
- Compact design: Tankless water heaters take up less space compared to bulkier tank-style models. They can be mounted on walls or installed in small spaces, so they are ideal for homes with limited square footage.
- Cost savings over time: While tankless water heaters cost more to purchase and have a higher installation cost, their energy efficiency and longer life span can lead to cost savings over time in terms of reduced energy bills and fewer replacements.
- Extended life span: Tankless water heaters tend to have a longer life span compared to traditional water heaters. With proper maintenance, they can last up to 20 years or more, whereas tank-style models typically last around 10-15 years.
Choose Home Heating & Cooling for your Tankless Water Heater Needs
When you partner with Home Heating & Cooling for your water heater needs, you can have confidence we’ll get the job done.
The experienced team at Home Heating & Cooling is well-versed in the intricacies of various water heater systems, including tankless water heaters and traditional tank-style models. Whether you are investing in tankless water heater replacement, need tankless water heater repair or just routine maintenance, our technicians are equipped to provide top-notch service. We even have HVAC maintenance plans to make caring for your water heaters easy and convenient.
Learn more about how tankless water heaters can add to your home comfort. Call 618-416-0111 today to schedule a free, no-obligation estimate!