The heating water accounts for about 30% of the average home’s energy budget. Many homeowners who are looking to save money by lowering their energy bills are turning to tankless water heaters, which are 20% more efficient than traditional tank heaters. A tankless water heater will heat water right when one needs it, saving more water as one doesn’t have to keep the water flowing while they wait for it to get hot.
So, what’s the big difference between the two, and why does it matter? Tank water heaters are a fine option for most homes, although they are not as efficient as their tankless water heater counterparts.
Tankless water heaters
Tankless water heaters work as one needs them, not continuously like tank water heaters. This could even save multiple gallons per minute of water, meaning one will have more hot water all while paying less in energy bills per month.
Chapman offers water heater repair, maintenance, and installation for both tank and tankless water heaters
If one is interested in learning more about tankless water heaters (also referred to as on-demand water heaters). Contact Chapman Heating, Air Conditioning & Plumbing to speak with one of their licensed plumbers about having a tankless water heater installed in the home. They’ll let the user know if they think a tankless water heater is the best option for the home and then walk through the entire process. Chapman offers water heater repair, maintenance, and installation for both tank and tankless water heaters.
Cold water flow
Tank water heaters work by heating a tank of water at a consistent temperature, even when one isn’t using it. This constant heating process does some damage to the energy bill, which is why the tankless water heater option is more efficient.
Does one ever have one of those days where they want to take a nice, long, hot shower after a cold day? Well, a tank water heater might have different plans. As soon as the water in the tank is used, one is out of hot water until the tank fills back up and heats the water again. When that happens, one will only find cold water flow from the showerhead. Tankless water heaters, on the other hand, have a flow rate from two to five gallons per minute, giving longer access to hot water than that of a tank water heater.
Gas-Fired burner
One will improve their water usage and save water as it’s heated immediately
That said, tank units typically have a lower cost up front, and they are cheaper to maintain. Tank systems can be repaired easily because they have just a few basic components compared to tankless heaters. Tankless heaters heat only as one needs it. There is no water being heated over and over again waiting to be used. Without getting too technical, when one turns on the hot water, a heat exchanger is used to heat water. One will improve their water usage and save water as it’s heated immediately and ready to use right when one needs it.
The heat exchanger transfers heat from an electric coil or gas-fired burner only when one needs on-demand hot water. With the electric coil or gas-fired burner only heating water when one needs it, they’ll find themselves saving water and energy by not having to wait for the cold water to get hot.
Benefits of tankless water heater
Some of the key benefits of having a tankless water heater installed include:
- Tankless water heaters eliminate standby water loss, which occurs when the hot water in the tank cools back down or when the water cools in the plumbing system before it’s used.
- They provide unlimited hot water.
- Tankless heaters also provide immediate hot water. One doesn’t have to wait a minute or two for the hot water to arrive. With a tankless water heater, hot water is available almost immediately. One will never have to take a shower with cold water again.
- These units have an extremely long lifespan. Tankless water heaters can last 20 to 30 years, much longer than a tank unit.
- They have a higher upfront cost but will save money over time.
- Tankless water heaters use an average of 41 less gallons of water per day.
- On-demand units are installed on the wall and take up less space.
Traditional tank systems
That’s quite a few advantages! But to be fair to traditional tank systems, they should point out that the cost of having a tankless water heater installed takes longer and is more expensive because plumbers typically need to relocate existing piping.
Taking multiple showers at the same time can also cause tankless water heaters to fail to keep up with the demand, as these water heater units have a water flow rate of about two or five gallons of water per minute. If the tankless water heater can’t keep up with the demand, it will only produce cold water.
Water heater installation
Give Chapman, Heating, Air Conditioning & Plumbing a call to have a tankless water heater installed in the home
When one is ready to make the switch to the more efficient and better-working water heating option, give Matt Harold, the plumbing field specialist, a call. From choosing a tankless water heater to the installation itself, he will help with all aspects of tankless water heater installation.
“I would definitely recommend a tankless water heater,” Matt says. “It’s an endless supply of hot water and much more efficient than people realize. They take up less room, save energy and have a much longer life span.”
Give Chapman, Heating, Air Conditioning & Plumbing a call to have a tankless water heater installed in the home. Their team of professional and experienced technicians can install the new tankless water heater as soon as possible.
