Accounting for about 25% of the total energy bill in your household, water heating consumes a sizeable amount of energy. Some water heaters use energy more efficiently than others. On average, water heaters have a life of 12-14 years, so long-term efficiency and savings should be a factor when choosing the right water heater for you and your family.
A great way to save money and energy is to purchase and install a whole house tankless water heater. Also known as on demand water heaters, these models are energy-efficient and effective, and have many advantages over traditional tank heaters. Using a heat exchanger, your tankless model only heats water when you need it.
How it Works
Here are three simple steps that allow us a closer look at how an on demand hot water heater works:
- As the water heaters senses the demand for water flow – whenever you turn a hot water handle at a faucet – the appliance begins heating water as it passes through the heat exchanger.
- An endless supply of hot water is supplied, even instantaneously. This means you can use hot water for multiple tasks simultaneously. This is a huge advantage over traditional tank heaters which have a limited supply of hot water.
- As the flow of the water ceases, the tankless water heater simply powers down. Whereas with traditional tank water heaters you lose energy in the form of heat, there is no loss of energy in heat loss with a tankless heater, meaning you aren’t paying for anything but the hot water you want and need.
Benefits and Advantages
In addition to the previously mentioned advantages, tankless water heaters bring a number of benefits that make them more convenient than traditional tank heaters. For instance, tankless heaters are compact and take up significantly less space than a water heater tank, allowing you to install your heater in even the smallest of spaces and free up storage space. With an average 20-year lifespan, tankless heaters also have the advantage of durability – with a life expectancy of 6-8 years longer than a tank heater system. Part of this longer life expectancy can be attributed to tankless heaters being subject to less corrosion than tank heater units.
Lastly, not only is the tankless heater significantly smaller than a tank, it can be installed in a variety of places. Tankless heaters are easy to zone and can be installed almost anywhere in your home, whether in the garage, attic, or bedroom closet, not to mention the ability to install one on the exterior of your home. Traditional tanks take up a lot of space and need to be positioned correctly to ensure they’re functioning properly and need to be fairly close to your water line. While you can install a tank system in a garage or bathroom closet, they take up a considerable amount of useable storage space and cannot be installed outside of your home.
The Choice
As the world continues to embrace sustainable energy systems, efficiency is a growing demand for many homeowners. In keeping up with the times and such demands, there are changes to be made in many households, including the transition to an energy-efficient tankless water heater. When considering the factors and the glaring advantages, it’s quite clear that the tankless model is a better appliance than conventional water heaters, providing a more reliable and efficient system. Upgrade to an on demand hot water heater if possible and immediately reap the benefits. Such efficient systems have long-term benefits not only pertaining to savings but to the environment. Sustainability is the key in energy decisions, so don’t waste another cent on energy that goes to waste. Toss your tank heater to the curb and invest in a tankless heater today.
Rachael Jones is a blogger for DIYMother, where women aren’t afraid to use power tools in a dress.