Often times, it is the most simple things in life that are the most appreciated and enjoyed. A hot shower is one of those things that many consumers take for granted until they have experienced a few cold showers. But imagine how great it would be to know that you have an endless supply of hot water at your fingertips, any time you choose to reach for the faucet. This is actually a possibility when you install a tankless water heater.
What Is Hot Water On-Demand?
Tankless water heaters are also sometimes called on-demand water heaters because of the way that they provide your hot water. Traditional water heaters have a large tank that is used to hold and heat water. And one of the big drawbacks to this type of water heater is that the tank size determines just how much hot water you will have access to. So if you are the person taking the third or fourth shower in your home, the limited supply of hot water could be gone. But a tankless water heater begins to heat the water running through a pipe as soon as there is a demand. So when you turn on a faucet or shower, water is instantly heated for you via a gas or electric heating element. And when you turn off the hot water, the heating element is also turned off. With this system, you literally have unlimited hot water.
Other Advantages To Tankless Water Heaters
While you might already be sold on the idea of a tankless water heater just because it provides an endless supply of hot water, there are some other great benefits that you should be aware of.
- SIZE-Tankless water heaters are much smaller than traditional water heaters. They can even be located under a sink.
- ENERGY EFFICIENCY- Tankless water heaters are more energy efficient because they only heat water when there is a demand for it. Traditional water heaters waste energy keeping a large tank of water hot at all times, even when no one is home.
- ENVIRONMENTALLY FRIENDLY- Tankless water heaters greatly reduce the amount of water that is wasted when you are waiting for hot water to reach your faucet or shower. The water is instantly hot so there is no waste of cold water.
- LIFE EXPECTANCY- The average life expectancy for a tankless water heater is 20 years, which is 25 to 50% longer than the life expectancy of a traditional tank-style water heater.
- MONEY SAVINGS- Due to the increased efficiency of a tankless water heater, consumers can expect to save up to 15% on their water heating energy costs.
Design Options
There are several different ways to attain an endless supply of hot water in your home. Your plumber will be able to provide you with a better design analysis for your home, but this will give you some general ideas. The first tankless water heater system provides the hot water for your entire home. This is obviously going to be a larger unit that has a greater capacity and output to meet multiple needs simultaneously. With this design, the tankless water heater is just replacing your traditional water heater.
The other option is to install several smaller tankless water heaters in various locations around your home. These units are smaller, and also less expensive to purchase and install. The benefit of multiple units is that they can be located close to your water sources, such as a shower or sink. By doing this, you are reducing the pipe run where the water can cool off and reducing the time for the hot water to reach you. Many homeowners will opt for a unit in each bathroom, as well as one to provide water for the kitchen. This multi-unit design also ensures that the demand for hot water never exceeds the capability of a single tankless water heater unit.
The Cost Of Endless Hot Water
Many factors will determine the exact cost for you to have unlimited hot water in your home. Some of these factors include:
- the utilities present in your home- natural gas, electric, propane
- the size of your home
- the demand for hot water- showers, sinks, laundry facilities
- the plumbing layout in your home
But all of these factors and any additional question that you might have about tankless water heaters can best be addressed by a professional plumber in your area. It is always wise to get a written estimate from a licensed, bonded, and insured professional plumber when you are considering a replacement or upgrade to any plumbing in your home. And with an estimate or two in hand, you could be surprised to discover that the luxurious benefits of endless hot water are not as expensive as you first thought.